Jeremiah 8:4-17 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Judah's Unnatural Conduct and its Punishment. There is something unnatural in the persistency of the people's misconduct; they show no inclination to return to Yahweh, but pursue a headstrong course away from Him (Jeremiah 8:6 mg.). They put themselves below the level of the very birds of heaven, the stork, the turtle-dove, the swift, and the swallow (so in Jeremiah 8:7), who know the time of their return in spring (after their winter migration; cf. Isaiah 1:3). Their alleged knowledge of Yahweh's teaching (law, Jeremiah 8:8) is delusive; they have been misled by insincere teachers, whose punishment awaits them. (Jeremiah 8:10 b - Jeremiah 8:12 should be omitted, with LXX; they have been repeated from Jeremiah 6:13-15.) They shall perish like a fruitless and withering tree (Jeremiah 8:13; contrast that of Jeremiah 17:8; cf. Psalms 13 ff.). The stricken people urge each other to gather into the cities, but they cannot escape the bitterness of their fate (Jeremiah 8:14). The invader approaches from the north (cf. Jeremiah 4:15), nor can his venomous assault be avoided as a snake-charmer avoids the bite of an adder (Jeremiah 8:17 mg.; the basilisk of RV is a reptile of fable).

Jeremiah 8:5. The emphasis should fall on perpetual. Omit of Jerusalem, with LXX.

Jeremiah 8:8. The reference is apparently to the Book of Deuteronomy, published some dozen years before. With its prophetic attack on heathen modes of worship, etc. Jeremiah was in full sympathy; but its priestly emphasis on the sanctuary and its ritual, and the resultant externalisation of religion, were quite alien to his teaching. [This view is taken by several of the best authorities, and may be correct. But a strong case can be made out for the view that Jeremiah's attitude to the law-book was more sympathetic, in which case the reference will be to regulations made by the scribes, which we do not possess. A. S. P.].

Jeremiah 8:13 f. Read mgg. gall or bile here stands figuratively for some bitter, if not poisonous, plant, which has not been identified; it is rendered hemlock in Hosea 10:4.

Related Commentaries of Jeremiah 8:4

Jeremiah 8:4-17

4 Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?

5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.

6 I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.

8 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain madea he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.

9 The wiseb men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?

10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

13 I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.

14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gallc to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

15 We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!

16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and alld that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.

17 For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.