Thus saith the Lord, behold, a people cometh from the north country ,.... The Assyrians from Babylon, which lay north of Judea, as in Jeremiah 1:14 , and a great nation shall be raised ; that is, by the Lord, who would stir them up to this undertaking. The Targum is, "many people shall come openly:' from the sides of the earth ; afar off, as Babylon was, Jeremiah 5:15 . read more
Verse 22 It was no useless repetition when the Prophet said so often that God said. He might have said only, “Behold, a nation shall come from the north;” but he premises by saying that he derived this message from God, and not only so, but he introduces God as the speaker, that his message might be more impressive. In the former verse he had also said, Thus saith Jehovah, and elsewhere: but he now repeats the same words, that the holy name of God might more powerfully rouse their minds. ... read more
God's appeal for vindication of his vengeance. Note— I. THE CHALLENGE . ( Jeremiah 6:18 .) God summons the nations, the Congregations, the earth, to serve as on a grand jury, and to vindicate by their verdict the righteousness of his procedure. Now, from this challenge we learn: 1. The universality of conscience . There is a moral sense, a knowledge of right and wrong, implanted in all men by God. It is "the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world." 2.... read more
From the north country (so Jeremiah 1:14 (see note); Jeremiah 4:6 ). Shall be raised ; rather, shall be aroused . The sides of the earth ; rather, "the recesses ( i . e . furthest parts) of the earth" (so Jeremiah 35:1-19 :32; Isaiah 14:13 ). read more
The enemy described; the terror consequent on his arrival; a rumored declaration of the moral cause of the judgment. read more
Raised - Or, awakened, to undertake distant expeditions.The sides of the earth - Or ends, the most distant regions (see Jeremiah 25:32). read more
Jeremiah 6:21-26. Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people I will suffer such things to be laid in their way as shall be the occasion of their destruction. Or, I will bring calamities upon them, by which they shall fall. The neighbour and his friend shall perish Men of all sorts and conditions. Behold, a people cometh, &c. The Chaldeans are here again described, as in Jeremiah 5:15; a distant nation, violent, cruel, armed with bows and spears, and well mounted. A... read more
Click image for full-size versionDestruction of Jerusalem and Judah (6:1-30)Jeremiah warns that the enemy forces will invade from the north. The citizens of Jerusalem should therefore flee from the city to the hilly regions south of Jerusalem, where they may be able to find refuge from the invaders (6:1-2). As shepherds lead their sheep to feed in new pastures, so will the enemy commanders lead their forces to ‘devour’ Jerusalem. They will attack by day and by night (3-5). In building their... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 6:18-30
Here, I. God appeals to all the neighbours, nay, to the whole world, concerning the equity of his proceedings against Judah and Jerusalem (Jer. 6:18, 19): ?Hear, you nations, and know particularly, O congregation of the mighty, the great men of the nations, that take cognizance of the affairs of states about you and make remarks upon them. Observe now what is doing among those of Judah and Jerusalem; you hear of the desolations brought upon them, the earth rings of it, trembles under it; you... read more