Jeremiah 7:16-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 7:16-20

God had shown them, in the foregoing verses, that the temple and the service of it, of which they boasted and in which they trusted, should not avail to prevent the judgment threatened. But there was another thing which might stand them in some stead, and which yet they had no value for, and that was the prophet's intercession for them; his prayers would do them more good than their own pleas: now here that support is taken from them; and their case is said indeed who have lost their interest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:16

Therefore pray not thou for this people ,.... These are the words of the Lord to the Prophet Jeremiah, forbidding him to pray for the people of the Jews; which he either was doing, or about to do, and which, from the great affection he had for them, he was inclined unto; wherefore, to show how much the Lord was displeased with them, and how determined he was to punish them with captivity, he orders the prophet not to make any supplication for them: neither lift up cry nor prayer for them ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:17

Seest thou not what they do in the cities Judah ,.... Not in one city only, but in all of and particularly the chief of them; as follows: and in the streets of Jerusalem ? these words, with what is said next, show the reason why the prophet was forbid to pray for this people, and the Lord was so provoked with them as to cast them out of his sight; and he appeals to the prophet, and to what he saw, or which he might see; for what was done was done not in secret, but openly, in the very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:18

The children gather wood ,.... In the fields, or out of the neighbouring forest; not little children, but young men, who were able to cut down trees, and bear and carry burdens of wood: and the fathers kindle the fire ; take the wood of their children, lay it in order, and put fire to it; which shows that they approved of what their children did, and that what they did was by their direction and order: and the women knead their dough ; so that every age and sex were employed in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:19

Do they provoke me to anger? saith the Lord ,.... No: he cannot be provoked to anger as men are; anger does not fall upon him as it does on men; there is no such affection in God as there is in men; his Spirit cannot be irritated and provoked in the manner that the spirits of men may be; and though sin, and particularly idolatry, is disagreeable to him, contrary to his nature, and repugnant to his will; yet the damage arising from it is more to men themselves than to him; and though he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:20

Therefore thus saith the Lord God ,.... Since these are their thoughts, and this the fruit of their doings: behold, my anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place ; like fire, to consume and destroy it; meaning Jerusalem, which was burned with fire; as an emblem of God's wrath, and an instance of his vengeance upon it, for sins; which came down in great abundance, like a storm or tempest: upon man and upon beast ; upon beasts for the sake of man, they being his property,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 7:16

Therefore pray not thou for this people - They have filled up the measure of their iniquity, and they must become examples of my justice. How terrible must the state of that place be, where God refuses to pour out the spirit of supplication on his ministers and people in its behalf! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 7:18

The children gather wood - Here is a description of a whole family gathered together, and acting unitedly in idolatrous worship. The children go and collect wood, and bring it to the place of sacrifice. The fathers lay it in order, and kindle a fire. The mother and her maids knead dough, make their batch, and out of it form cakes, and bake them for the honor of the queen of heaven; most probably the moon, though perhaps not exclusive of the sun and planets, generally called the host... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 7:16

Verse 16 God, in order to exonerate his servant from every ill-will, forbids him to pray for the people. This might have been done for the sake of the Prophet, as well as of the whole people; for no doubt Jeremiah regarded the ruin of his own nation with great grief and sorrow: as we shall see elsewhere, he had not divested himself of all human feelings. He was doubtless anxious for the safety of his brethren, and he condoled with the miserable, when he saw that they were already given up to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 7:17

Verse 17 Here God shews first why he ought to be implacable towards the people: for the command to the Prophet not to pray for them seems at the first hearing to be very severe; and it might have been objected and said, “What if they repent? Is there no hope of pardon?” God shews that they were past remedy — How so? He says, Dost thou not see? Here he refers the examination of the cause to his servant Jeremiah; as though he had said, “There is no reason for thee to contend with me; open thine... read more

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