What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
Ver. 2. What mean you?] Or, What is come to you? - quoe vos dimentia cepit? - that you do so toss this sinful and senseless proverb among you, both at Jerusalem Jer 31:29 and also here at Babylon.
“ Delicta parentum
Immeritus Iudaeae luis? ”
Must I be blasphemed rather than you faulted? Is it for your fathers' sins only that ye suffer? And do ye thus think to put off the reproofs of the prophets, as if yourselves had not seconded and outsinned your fathers, and are therefore justly punished?
The fathers have eaten sour grapes. ] Sin is no better. It is an "evil and a bitter thing to forsake the Lord." Jer 2:19 What wild sour grapes your fathers both bred and fed upon, see Isaiah 5:2; Isaiah 5:8; Isaiah 5:11; Isaiah 5:20,22; and it was woe, woe unto them.
And the children's teeth are set on edge.] Or, Stupefied. But is there not a cause? and are there not sins enough with you, even with you, to procure your ruth and your ruin? but that I must be injurious rather than you be found obnoxious?