Jeremiah 33:1-26 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Jeremiah 33. Promises of Restoration. There may be a Jeremianic nucleus in the first half of the chapter, but Jeremiah 33:14-26, being imitative, and omitted by LXX, is probably late. Yahweh the Restorer promises to reveal great and secret things (Isaiah 48:6). In spite of the present state of the city, which is surrounded by besiegers, Yahweh will restore it to health (Jeremiah 33:6, new flesh, Jeremiah 8:22), establish its prosperity (truth means firmness; cf. Jeremiah 14:13), renew its former estate (Jeremiah 33:7, as at the first, Isaiah 1:26; 1 Kings 13:6), cleansing away its sin (Jeremiah 31:34; cf. Ezekiel 36:25), so that men shall be awed at its glory (Jeremiah 33:1-9). The present desolation shall be replaced (contrast Jeremiah 7:34) by a joyful and thankful population, enjoying pastoral peace (Jeremiah 33:10-13). Yahweh will perform His promise (Jeremiah 29:10) to both sections of the nation by raising a Davidic Shoot; the royal (2 Samuel 7:16) and priestly (Deuteronomy 18:5) succession shall be guaranteed with a certainty like that of natural phenomena (Jeremiah 31:35 f.), and in an abundance like that of the stars and the sand (Genesis 22:17, but there of the whole nation). The taunt that Yahweh has rejected Israel and Judah (the two families, Jeremiah 33:24) shall be disproved (Jeremiah 33:14-26).

Jeremiah 33:2. that doeth it: i.e. restoration; in Isaiah 22:11, on the other hand, the phrase denotes the Destroyer.

Jeremiah 33:3. difficult: i.e. unattainable; cf. mg.

Jeremiah 33:4. mounts: see on Jeremiah 32:24.

Jeremiah 33:5 is corrupt; a slight emendation gives the Chaldeans are coming to fight and fill, etc.

Jeremiah 33:10 presupposes the exile.

Jeremiah 33:11. For the refrain, see Psalms 106:1, etc.; for the offering, Jeremiah 17:26.

Jeremiah 33:13. The latter half refers to the counting of sheep; for the districts named, see Jeremiah 32:44.

Jeremiah 33:15. Branch: see on Jeremiah 23:5 f., here repeated, though the city instead of the king now receives the title; cf. Ezekiel 48:35.

Jeremiah 33:18. For the sacrifices named see on Jeremiah 17:26; for the priestly title, Deuteronomy 18:1.

Jeremiah 33:24 is difficult; as it stands, this people means the heathen, but we should probably emend slightly (cf. Duhm and Cornill), and read (after off), and spurns His people. before Him, making this people then refer to disconsolate Jews.

Related Commentaries of Jeremiah 33:1

Jeremiah 33:1-26

1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

2 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;

3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

4 For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;

5 They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.

6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

10 Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,

11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

12 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.

13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.

14 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

17 For thus saith the LORD; Davida shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;

18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

19 And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,

20 Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;

21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.

22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

23 Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,

24 Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.

25 Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;

26 Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.