Jeremiah 8 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

The bones — This denotes the utter desolation of the city, not only rasing the walls, but turning up the very sepulchres which were accounted sacred, and not to be violated.

Not arise — Will they never think of rising again? Not return — Will he wander for ever?

Deceit — Their false prophets, encouraging themselves in their wickedness, and pleasing themselves, that their miseries should not come upon them.

I — God

Appointed time — The seasons of her going and coming. The judgment — God's vengeance, hovering over Jerusalem, and Judea.

How — These things considered where is your wisdom? He speaks to the whole body of the people. The Lord — This may have a more special eye to the priests. In vain — For any use they made of it; neither need it ever have been copied out by the scribe. A scribe was a teacher, one well versed in the scripture, or esteemed to be so.

Pass away — Shall be taken away by their enemies.

Why — The people at length seem to bethink themselves, and thus to bespeak each other. Silent — Keep close within our walls.

The snorting — The fury of the Chaldeans march is described by the snorting of their horses, which is a noise they make through their nostrils. Heard — Even to Jerusalem. Have devoured — It is spoken in a prophetical style, who use to express the certainty of what shall be, as if it actually were already.

Shall bite — There will be no appeasing their fury by any method.

Sorrow — The prophet now seems to speak, how greatly the calamity of this people affected him.

Why — As if God should seem to reply; let them not think it strange, seeing they have turned their backs upon me, and trusted to idols.

Am I hurt — The prophet here shews how deeply he is affected with the peoples misery. Black — I am as those that are clad in deep mourning.