Jeremiah 8
Verse 1 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. Verse 4 Not arise - Will they never think of rising again? Not return - Will he wander for ever? Verse 5 Deceit - Their false prophets, encouraging themselves in their wickedness, and pleasing themselves, that their miseries should not come upon them. Verse 7 Appointed time - The seasons of her going and coming. The judgment - God's vengeance, hovering over Jerusalem, and Judea. Verse 8 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. Verse 13 Pass away - Shall be taken away by their enemies. Verse 14 Why - The people at length seem to bethink themselves, and thus to bespeak each other. Silent - Keep close within our walls. Verse 16 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. Verse 17 Shall bite - There will be no appeasing their fury by any method. Verse 18 Sorrow - The prophet now seems to speak, how greatly the calamity of this people affected him. Verse 19 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. Verse 21 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.