40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy 33 But this shall be the covenant that I unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, will make with the house of Israel; After nor thrown down any more for ever. 12 Ezek. 18. 2. 13 Heb. 8. 8. 14 Or, should I have continued an husband unto them? 15 Chap 24 7, and 30. 22. 17 Chap. 33. 8. Mic. 7. 18. Acts 10. 43. 18 Gen. 1. 16. 19 Isa. 51. 15. 20 Isa. 54.9. Chap 33. 20. Verse 4. "Thou shall be built, O virgin of Israel.”—“The people of the East metaphorically ascribe the character of females to cities. They represent them as the mothers of the inhabitants; they speak of them as wives of the kings; when they revolt against the sovereign they are adulterous, &c." (Jahn's Archæologia Biblica,' sect. 41.) Compare 2 Sam. xx. 19; 2 Kings xix. 21; Ps. cxxxvii. 8; Isa. xxiii. 12; xlvii. 1—8; lxii. 4; Jer. iii. 8-14; xiii. 26; Lam.i. 1-8, 17; Ezek. xvi. 14; xxiii. 29; Nah. iii. 5, 6.

15. “A voice was heard in Ramah,” &c.—It appears from chap. xl. 1, that Nebuzar-adan had the captives collected at Ramah, in chains, before he marched them off for Babylon. There must needs have been a great lamentation among them; and as this occurred at a place in the tribe of Benjamin, the prophet by a fine and bold figure introduces Rachel as weeping for her children slain and captives. Rachel, being both the mother of Benjamin, in one of the two kingdoms, and (through Joseph) of Ephraim, the leading tribe in the other, is with great propriety made to represent the general mother of the nation; and the weeping for her children is assigned with striking fitness to one by whom children were so passionately desired. Rachel's sepulchre was not, as some commentators explain, near Ramah, so as to be an object before the eyes of the miserable people there assembled; but it was near Bethlehem-at least twelve miles from this Ramah, and in the tribe of Judah: and as this was nearly at the same distance to the south of Jerusalem as Ramah was to the north, perhaps the text, incidentally, by this figure, indicates the extent of the lamentation and sorrow around Jerusalem, by expressing that the voice of Rachel weeping near Bethlehem "was heard in Ramah" by the captives. See the note on Matt. ii. 17, 18.

19. "I smote upon my thigh."-Sorrow is still expressed by the same action in the East; the right thigh being usually smitten. This, as an act of grief, was in use among the classical ancients. Thus, in Homer, when the flames arose from the Grecian fleet, which had been set on fire by the Trojans,

"Achilles saw it, smote his thigh, and said."-ll. xvi. 124.

So also Xenophon describes Cyrus as smiting his thigh when he received intelligence of the death of his generous friend Abradatus. And Cicero mentions it as a common rhetorical action of which he did not approve.

21. "Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps."-This refers to the foretold return of the captives, when they must necessarily cross the desert between Babylonia and Palestine; and it shows that it was customary, as it still is in some cases, to set up waymarks to direct the course of travellers across these desolate regions where man leaves no trace of his footsteps. The first word, DY tzinim, rendered "waymarks,” denotes stones set or heaped up for any comme. morative or indicative purpose. The other, a tamrurim, coming from ♫ tamar, a palm tree, would suggest tall round pillars or poles, having some resemblance to the trunk of the palm. Where such waymarks exist, they are usually set very far asunder, as in the level and bare plains they are visible from a great distance. Their construction varies, being formed of that material which can be most easily obtained; but they are seldom other than heaps of stones, except in those desolate districts over which a settled people have authority, and through which they frequently pass, and then they sometimes erect pillars of brick or stone, and we have occasionally observed cones or pillars of wicker-work filled up with clay or earth.

38. The tower of Hananeel.”—This tower, which probably derived its name from the builder, is one of the three towers mentioned in Nehemiah (xii. 38, 39). Its situation is there intimated with relation to the sheep gate, but here and in Zech. xiv. 10, with respect to the "corner gate ;" and the tower was therefore most probably between the two. In the statement which we have copied from Horne, under Neh. iii. 1, the sheep gate and this tower are placed to the south, as they are also by Lightfoot, who however is very often inaccurate in his own deductions from the topographical indications of the Rabbins. It is more generally conceived that the "sheep gate" was in the eastern wall, a little to the north of the north-east corner of the Temple wall, in the same situation as is now occupied by the gate of St. Stephen, so called from a tradition that the proto-martyr was there slain. The subject is involved in much uncertainty but we rather prefer this conclusion, which of course places it in the north-eastern part of the city, facing the east; although some place it in the same part of the city, but facing the north. The probable situation of the sheep gate determines that of the tower of Hananeel, which was obviously near it; and from the direction in which the boundary line is described, we may infer it to have been to the north of that gate, and consequently was near the north-east corner of the city, and probably faced the east.

:

"The gate of the corner."-This gate is not mentioned in Nehemiah; but it occurs so early as the reign of Amaziah, when Jehoash, king of Israel, "brake down the wall from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate." This would alone intimate that it was in the north wali, as that quarter was, by nature, the most defenceless, and therefore the north wall was that against which besiegers usually directed their principal operations. The gate of Ephraim, which helps to determine the "corner gate," is allowed to have been in the north wall, and regarding the supposed situation of the tower of Hananeel, which seems sufficiently to mark the north-east angle, we may consider the "corner gate" to have been at or near the north-west angle, so that from the tower of Hananeel to the corner gate, describes the north-eastern and the whole of the northern part of the city walls. As this gate is not mentioned after the Captivity, it was perhaps not rebuilt, unless it occurs under another name

39. “Over against it upon the hill Gareb."-Our impression concerning the whole description is, that it describes no boundary of stone, but a boundary of holiness-that is, that not only the city itself, but those parts without the city, which were accounted common or unclean ground, should be considered holy-as holy as the temple. It therefore does not include the temple, which was already holy; and this is a circumstance which, notwithstanding its interest, and the point which it gives to the passage, has escaped notice. The line begins at some distance opposite the northeast angle of the temple precincts, and ends at the horse gate, which was at nearly an equal distance from the south east angle, leaving the temple itself, therefore, unenclosed. So also, although this boundary of holiness coincides with the city wall from the tower of Hananeel to the corner gate, it there ceases to do so; for that gate being at the north-west corner, the boundary does not turn southward, to follow the course of the western wall of the city; but continues westward, across the entrance of the western valley, to the hill Gareb, and then turns westward, and runs round the remainder of the city, parallel to the wall. so as to enclose the western and southern valleys, with part of the valley of the Kidron on the east. This is the clearest idea we can form of the passage and its object. This definition of course infers that the hill Gareb was that opposite the north-west angle of the city, and at the entrance of the western valley. Some writers, observing that the name denotes a species of leprosy, infer that the hill was occupied by the lepers, who were obliged to live outside the city, and that it hence derived its name. This does not seem improbable; and if true, the explanation we have given will suggest that it is mentioned as one of the unclean places which should become holy unto the Lord.

"Goath." This was of course in the further progress westward. As the word wants but the common prefix gal or gol, "a heap," to become Golgoath or Golgotha, some writers have suggested that it is the same place bearing that name in the New Testament, and where our Lord was crucified. This is however a matter which belongs to an inquiry concerning the site of Calvary, which must engage our future attention.

40. "The valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes."-This was undoubtedly the valley of Ben-Himmon, which, after it had been defiled by Josiah, to mark his detestation of the horrid rites which had there been celebrated, became the common receptacle for all the filth of the town. But as the bodies of dead animals, &c. thrown there, might prove very offensive to the city, and tend to produce a pestilence. we are informed by the Rabbins that fires were constantly kept burning in the valley, to consume these and other substances likely to prove injurious to the inhabitants. Hence the "ashes;" although some understand this of the ashes from the temple altar. It seems from ch. vii. 32, that there was also in this valley a buryingplace of some kind-perhaps for foreigners or criminals.

“The horse gate."-The situation of this gate has been indicated in a note on verse 39. It is supposed to have derived its name from being that through which the king's horses usually passed, when taken out to be watered or exer cised; others suppose that it was so called because the market for horses was held there.

* In that extract, three gates are placed on the south side of the city; but we are persuaded that Mr. Horne must have intended to say “on the north," though we do not know that all the gates mentioned by him were there.

CHAPTER XXXII.

1 Jeremiah, being imprisoned by Zedekiah for his prophecy, 6 buyeth Hanameel's field. 13 Baruch must preserve the evidences, as tokens of the people's return. 16 Jeremiah in his prayer complaineth to God. 26 God confirmeth the captivity for their sins, 36 and promiseth a gracious re

turn.

THE word that came to Jeremiah from the
LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of
Judah, which was the eighteenth year of
Nebuchadrezzar.

2 For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.

3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

4 And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;

5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.

6¶And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

7 Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.

8 So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. 9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even 'seventeen shekels of silver.

10 And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.

11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:

12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.

13 ¶ And I charged Baruch before them, saying,

14 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.

15 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.

16 Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,

17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,

19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine 'eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

20 Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;

21 And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;

22 And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;

23 And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them:

24 Behold the "mounts, they are come

3 Levit. 25. 24 Ruth 4. 4. 4 Or, seven shekels and ten pieces of silver. 7 Exod. 34.7. Deut. 5. 10. 8 Heb. doing. Job 34 21. Prov. 5. 21. 10 Exod. 6. 6. 2 Sam. 7. 23. 1 Chron. 17 21. 11 Or, engines of shot.

5 Heb. urote in the book. Chap. 16. 17.

13 Chap. 19. 13. 14 Heb. for my anger. 15 Heb. neck. 18 Chap. 2. 27. 17 Chap. 23.11. 18 Chap. 7. 31, and 19.5.
20 Deut. 30. 3. 21 Chap. 24. 7, and 30, 22, and 31. 33. 2 Ezek. 11. 19.
24 Heb. from after them. 25 Heb. in truth, or stability.

Verse 9. "I bought the field.”—This passage has much interest, as enabling us to perceive very clearly the manner in which, in this later period, the Hebrews conducted their transactions of important purchase and sale; and in this view it may be well to compare it with the account in Gen. xxiii. of Abraham's purchase of a field from Ephron the Hittite. In both. the presence of witnesses is secured, and in both the money is weighed in balances; but there are no other cir 57

cumstances of resemblance. There is also no appearance of the “shoe," which occurs in the transaction recorded in Ruth iv.; which, however, being a transfer of right rather than a sale, does not supply so definite a comparison as the other. In fact, the present is the first instance in which we find written instruments employed in such transactions; and here they are introduced with much of the completeness and care which we find in modern ratifications. It seems that the terms of the agreement were written out in duplicate, and subscribed by the contracting parties and witnesses. The original was sealed and carefully preserved, probably for production at a future period, if judicial evidence of the transaction should be required; while the copy, characterized as "open," we may suppose to have been kept for occasional reference and inspection. The deed seems to have contained the formula of assignment, and a description of the premises, which more clearly appears in Blayney's translation of verse 11: "And I took the purchase deed, that which was sealed, containing the assignment and limitations, and that which was open," &c. This learned translator conceives, we see not on what grounds, that there was but one deed, in two parts-that which contained the assignment being sealed, and the specification being open. But the explanation we have given seems the simpler of the two.

"Seventeen shekels of silver.”—This would not make more than about forty shillings of our money, which seems a very small sum to give for the inheritance of a field, particularly when we see the transaction of purchase conducted with so much legal form and care. But perhaps, when we consider that we are unacquainted with the extent of the land purchased that the same nominal sum probably at that time and place represented a far greater real value than at this time and in this place—and above all, that the circumstances of the times must have tended greatly to lessen the value of land, the country being then actually under the dominion of the Chaldeans, and the purchaser well knowing that the property would not become beneficial to himself or his heirs till after the seventy years had expired-it oecomes unnecessary to suppose that error in the text which has been imagined to exist, and which some have corrected so as to raise the amount to fourteen pounds sterling, by reading "seven shekels of gold, and ten of silver," while others raise it to fifty-three pounds fifteen shillings, by reading, or rather understanding, "seven manehs (each equal to sixty shekels), and ten shekels of silver."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

1 God promiseth to the captivity a gracious return 9 a joyful state, 12 a settled government, 15 Christ the Branch of righteousness, 17 a continuance of kingdom and priesthood, 20 and a stability of a blessed seed.

MOREOVER the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet 'shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

2 Thus saith the LORD the 'maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;

3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and 'mighty things, which thou knowest not.

4 For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;

5 They come to fight with the Chaldeans. but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.

6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

9 ¶ And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

10 Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,

11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

12 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.

13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.

14 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I

Chap 31. 34. Mic. 7. 18. 5 Chap. 7. 34, and 16. 9.