fhew the futility and abfurdity of applying them to the fpiritualizing scheme of the Chriftian Writers. Whence it is manifeft, that these promises remain to be accomplished at the coming of the true Meffiah.

The fixth prophecy commences chapter xxxiiid. ver. Ift. and is continued to the last verfe of the fame.

Verfe ift.

"And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, whilst he was still confined in the court of the prison, faying." The term a "fecond time," has been variously explained by the different commentators; but without entering into the merits of their different opinions, I fhall offer what appears to me to be the true state of the cafe; and which agrees with the opinion of the learned Abarbanal; and is in perfect coincidence with the arrangement of the chapters.

After the Prophet had delivered the prophecy (which we have just explained) concerning the future redemption of the nation; he, in the immediately fucceeding fection, fpeaks of their return from Babylon: having first premised thus ver. 42. "For thus faith the LORD, As I have brought upon this Bb 2 people

people all this great evil, fo will I bring u on them all the good which I fpeak concer ing them." And which denotes the pr mise of their future redemption, as mentio ed, ver. 37. &c. However,, long before thi he obferves, they will be vifited in their cap tivity in Babylon, and permitted to build th fecond temple, where they will again bu fields &c. ver. 43.-44. "And fields fha be bought in this land, of which ye fay, 1 (is) defolate without man or beast, (it) i given into the hand of the Chaldeans. Field shall men buy with money, drawing up wri tings alfo, and fealing, and caufing witneff es to attest, in the land of Benjamin, and in the environs of Jerufalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the hill (country,) and in the cities of the plain, and in the cities of the fouth; for I will reverfe their captivity, faith the LORD."

*

From the words of the Prophet, it is plain that those purchases fhould only be "in the land of Benjamin, and in the environs of Jerufalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the bill (country,) and in the cities of the

Heb. And written in the book.

plain

plain, and in the cities of the fouth:" All which,
was the inheritance of Judah and Benjamin ;
(as may be feen in Josh. xv. 21.--33.--48.
& xviii. 28.) and by which, the Prophet in-
formed us, that the tribes of Judah and Ben-
jamin only, would return from Babylon, to
the restoration of the fecond temple; and
concerning whom, he fays, "I will reverse
their captivity." But that the other tribes.
whom Sennacherib had carried captive would
not then return. And, after that God had
thus revealed to the Prophet the redemption
from Babylon, in which Judah and Benjamin
were to return; he in another vifion, fhew-
ed him the future reftoration; when not on-
ly Judah and Benjamin should return; but
the kingdom and house of Ifrael also. And
as this vision was concerning the future re-
demption, it says, "And the word of the
LORD came to Jeremiah a second time;" be-
cause the future redemption, is the second in
regard to that of Babylon, which is mention-
ed above. We are also informed that "he
was still confined in the court of the prifon,"
thereby indicating that, his condition was
fimilar to the ftate of the nation; for as
he was confined many days in the court of

the

the prifon, where he received those two v fions; the one, of the particular redemptio of Judah and Benjamin from Babylon; an the other, of the general restoration of th whole nation; fo would Ifrael be confine in the prison of the captivity for a long time where they would be confidered as a butt, o mark to fhoot at; And therefore, the Pro phet made ufe of the term 7

the prison because it alfo denotes a butt or mark to fhoo at, as well a prifon. See Lingua Sacra Radi

.3d נטר

In verse 2d, the Prophet speaks of bot the redemptions. Thus faith the LORD the doer of it," By the pronoun affix IT* the Prophet meant the redemption from Babylon; and which was, as if he had faid it will not be Cyrus that will do it, but Go himself; as he will ftir up his spirit to accomplish it. And of the future redemption

*The manner in which fome Chriftian criticks have attempted the emendation of this expreffion, (See Blaney' Note on this place, in his new Tranflation) which they look upon as corrupt, owing to their ignorance of the idiom of the Sacred Language, the prophetic part efpecially, cannot help provoking the rifibility of the true Hebraift, and induce him to exclaim, Alas, how are the nighty fallen!

the

the Prophet fays, "The LORD formeth it, to prepare it, the LORD is his name." For as the future redemption will be by far a greater miracle than that from Babylon, the Prophet speaks as if it required great prepa

ration.

And as God had before commanded him not to pray for them,-xi. 14, & xiv 11. "And as for thee, pray not for this people, neither lift up cry or prayer for them, neither intercede with me; for I will not hear thee." He therefore now grants him miffion to pray to him, in behalf of the napertion at the time of the future redemption: verfe 3d. "Call unto me, and I will anfwer thee, and I will fhew thee great things, and mighty things, which thou knowest not." For as these great and mighty things did not concern the redemption from Babylon, of which he had spoken in the preceding chapter, he with just propriety said, “which thou knoweft not," because he had not yet fhewn him the vifion; and therefore proceeds verse 4th. "For thus faith the LORD, the God of Ifrael, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the

mounts