Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations - Volume 2

1Thus saith Jehovah to me, — Go and get thee a linen belt, and put it on thy loins, and

2 In water set it not. So I got for me a belt, as Jehovah had

3commanded, and put it on my loins. Then came the word of

4Jehovah to me again, saying, — Take the belt which thou hast got, which is on thy loins, and rise, go to Euphrates and hide

5 Itthere in the hole of a rock. Then I went and hid it by

6Euphrates, as Jehovah had ordered me. And it was, that at the end of many days, Jehovah said to me, Rise and go to Euphrates, and take thence the belt which I commanded thee

7 To hide there. So I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the belt from the place where I had hid it; and behold the belt

8 Was marred, andit was good for nothing. Then came the word of Jehovah to me, saying, —

9Thus saith Jehovah, — In this way will I mar the excellency of Judah And the great excellency of Jerusalem:

10This wicked people, who refuse to hear my words, Who walk in the wickedness of their own heart, And walk after foreign gods, That they may serve them and worship them, — Shall be even as this belt, Which is good for nothing.

11For as the belt cleaves to the loins of man, So had I joined to me the whole house of Israel And the whole house of Judah, saith Jehovah, That they might be to me a people and a name, Yea, a praise and a glory; But they hearkened not.

12Thou shalt also say this word to them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, — Every bottle shall be filled with wine. When they shall say to thee, Knowing do we not know, that every

13 Bottle shall be filled with wine? then shalt thou say to them, — Thus saith Jehovah, — Behold, I will fill with drunkenness All the inhabitants of this land, And all the kings who sit for David on his throne, The priests also and the prophets, And all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

14And I will dash them, every one against his brother, The fathers also and the sons together, saith Jehovah: I will not spare, nor will I be propitious, Nor shew pity until I destroy them.

15Hear ye and attend, be not lifted up, For Jehovah hath spoken:

16Give to Jehovah your God the glory, Before he makes it to grow dark, And before your feet stumble at the dark mountains, And beforehe turns the light ye hope for Into the shadow of death, And makes it thick darkness. (2:179)

17But if ye will not hear this, In secret will my soul mourn for pride, And weeping my eye will weep And run down with tears; For led captive is the flock of Jehovah.

18Say to the king and to the queen, Be ye humbled, lie ye down, For come down from your heads Shall the crown of your glory.

19The cities of the south are closed up, And there is no one to open them;For carried away has been all Judah, He has been carried away completely. (2:185)

20Raise ye your eyes, And behold them who come from the north: Where is the flock, which has been given to thee, The sheep of thy glory?

21What wilt thou say when he visits thee? But thou hast taught them to be leaders over thy head; Shall not sorrows lay hold on thee, As on a woman in travail?

22But if thou wilt say in thine heart, “Why have these evils happened to me?” For the multitude of thine iniquity Are thy skirts discovered, And naked are made thy heels.

23Can the Ethiop change his skin, And the panther his spots? Even so can ye do good, Who have been taught evil. (2:192)

24I will therefore scatter them like the stubble, That passeth away by the wind of the desert.

25This thy lot isthe portion of thy measures From me, saith Jehovah, For thou hast forgotten me, And thou hast trusted in falsehood;

26And I also will uncover thy skirts on thy face, That seen may be thy shame.

27Thy adulteries and thy neighings, The thought of thy whoredom, On the mountains, in the field, have I seen, Eventhine abominations; Woe to thee, Jerusalem! Wilt thou not at length be made clean? How long yet!