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Jer 22:1-30.

EXHORTATION TO REPENTANCE; JUDGMENT ON SHALLUM, JEHOIAKIM, AND CONIAH.

Belonging to an earlier period than the twenty-first chapter, namely, the reigns of Shallum or Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and Jeconiah

(Jer 22:10, 13, 20).

Jeremiah often groups his prophecies, not by chronological order, but by similarity of subjects; thus

Jer 22:3

corresponds to

Jer 21:12.

GROTIUS thinks that Jeremiah here repeats to Zedekiah what he had announced to that king's predecessors formerly (namely, his brother and brother's son), of a similar bearing, and which had since come to pass; a warning to Zedekiah. Probably, in arranging his prophecies they were grouped for the first time in the present order, designed by the Holy Spirit to set forth the series of kings of Judah, all four alike, failing in "righteousness," followed at last by the "King," a righteous Branch raised unto David, in the house of Judah, "the Lord our righteousness"

(Jer 23:6).

The unrighteousness of Zedekiah suggested the review of his predecessors' failure in the same respects, and consequent punishment, which ought to have warned him, but did not.

1. Go down--The temple (where Jeremiah had been prophesying) was higher than the king's palace on Mount Zion

(Jer 36:10, 12; 2Ch 23:20).

Hence the phrase, "Go down."

the king of Judah--perhaps including each of the four successive kings, to whom it was consecutively addressed, here brought together in one picture: Shallum,

Jer 22:11;

Jehoiakim,

Jer 22:13-18;

Jeconiah,

Jer 22:24;

Zedekiah, the address to whom

(Jer 21:1, 11, 12)

suggests notice of the rest.

2. these gates--of the king's palace.

3. Jehoiakim is meant here especially: he, by oppression, levied the tribute imposed on him by Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt

(2Ch 36:3),

and taxed his people, and took their labor without pay, to build gorgeous palaces for himself

(Jer 22:13-17),

and shed innocent blood, for example, that of Urijah the prophet

(Jer 26:20-24; 2Ki 23:35; 24:4).

4. upon the throne of David--literally, "or David on his throne" (see on

Jer 13:13).

This verse is repeated substantially from

Jer 17:25.

his servants--so the Keri. But Chetib, singular, "his servant;" that is, distributively, "each with his servants;"

Jer 17:25,

"their princes."

5. I swear by myself--

(Heb 6:13, 17).

God swears because it seemed to them incredible that the family of David should be cast off.

this house--the king's, where Jeremiah spake

(Jer 22:4).

6. Though thou art as beautiful as Gilead, and as majestic in Mine eyes (before Me) as the summit of Lebanon, yet surely (the Hebrew is a formula of swearing to express certainly: "If I do not make thee . . . believe Me not ever hereafter": so "as truly as I live,"

Nu 14:28;

"surely,"

Nu 14:35).

The mention of Gilead may allude not only to its past beauty, but covertly also to its desolation by the judgment on Israel; a warning now to Judah and the house of David. "Lebanon" is appropriately mentioned, as the king's house was built of its noble cedars.

cities--not other cities, but the different parts of the city of Jerusalem

(2Sa 12:27; 2Ki 10:25)

[MAURER].

7. prepare--literally, "sanctify," or solemnly set apart for a particular work (compare

Isa 13:3).

thy choice cedars--

(Isa 37:24).

Thy palaces built of choice cedars

(So 1:17).

8.

(De 29:24, 25).

The Gentile nations, more intelligent than you, shall understand that which ye do not, namely, that this city is a spectacle of God's vengeance [CALVIN].