
Text -- Jeremiah 27:17-22 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
JFB: Jer 27:18 - -- That is, in other houses containing such vessels, besides the house of God and the king's palace. Nebuzara-dan, captain of the guard under Nebuchadnez...
That is, in other houses containing such vessels, besides the house of God and the king's palace. Nebuzara-dan, captain of the guard under Nebuchadnezzar, carried all away (2Ki 25:13-17; 2Ch 36:18). The more costly vessels had been previously removed in the reigns of Jehoiakim and Jeconiah.

JFB: Jer 27:22 - -- In wrath by Cyrus (Jer 32:5). In seventy years from the first carrying away of captives in Jehoiachin's reign (Jer 29:10; 2Ch 36:21).
Clarke: Jer 27:19 - -- Concerning the pillars - Two brazen columns placed by Solomon in the pronaos or portico of the temple, eighteen cubits high, and twelve in circumfer...
Concerning the pillars - Two brazen columns placed by Solomon in the pronaos or portico of the temple, eighteen cubits high, and twelve in circumference, 1Ki 7:16-22; Jer 52:11

Clarke: Jer 27:19 - -- The sea - The brazen sea, ten cubits in diameter, and thirty in circumference. It contained water for different washings in the Divine worship, and ...
The sea - The brazen sea, ten cubits in diameter, and thirty in circumference. It contained water for different washings in the Divine worship, and was supported on twelve brazen oxen. Perhaps these are what are called the bases here. See the parallel places at 2Ki 25:13 (note), etc.; Jer 52:17 (note), Jer 52:20-21 (note), and the notes on them.

Clarke: Jer 27:22 - -- They shall be carried to Babylon - Far from those already taken being brought back, those which now remain shall be carried thither, unless ye submi...
They shall be carried to Babylon - Far from those already taken being brought back, those which now remain shall be carried thither, unless ye submit to the Chaldeans. They did not submit, and the prophecy was literally fulfilled; see Jer 52:17-23; 2Ki 25:13, 2Ch 36:18.
Calvin: Jer 27:17 - -- It is not to be wondered at that Jeremiah said the same things so often, for, as we have seen, he had to contend with false prophets. When any one sp...
It is not to be wondered at that Jeremiah said the same things so often, for, as we have seen, he had to contend with false prophets. When any one speaks, and there be no dispute and no adversary opposing him, he may calmly deal with the teachable and confine himself to a few words; but when contention arises, and opponents appear, who may seek to subvert what we say, then we must exercise more care, for they who are thus driven different ways, will not be satisfied with a few words. As, then, Jeremiah saw that the people were fluctuating, he found it necessary, in order to confirm them, to use many words; not that prolixity is in itself sufficient to produce conviction; yet there is no doubt but that Jeremiah spoke efficiently so as to influence at least some portion of the people. Besides, it was necessary to dwell more expressly on a subject not very plausible; the false prophets were heard with favor, and the greater part greedily devoured what was set forth by them; for the hope of impunity is always pleasing and sought after by the world.
But what did Jeremiah say? Serve ye the king of Babylon; that is, “No better condition awaits you than to pay tribute to the king of Babylon; be subject to his authority, and patiently endure whatever he may prescribe to you.” This was indeed a very hard speech; for subjection was not unaccompanied with reproach; besides, he bade them to surrender themselves to a most cruel enemy, as though they were to expose their life to him; and lastly, they were to risk the danger of being spoiled of all that they had. What Jeremiah taught then was very much disliked, as he thus exhorted the people to endure all things. This was, then, the reason why he had not declared in a few and plain words what God had committed to him; it was difficult to persuade the people to undergo the yoke of the king of Babylon, and to submit to his tyranny.
We hence see that there were two very just reasons why the Prophet insisted so much on this one subject, and confirmed what he might have briefly said without any prolixity; Hearken, ye to them, he says; serve ye the king of Babylon and ye shall live 188 We must again bear in mind what we said yesterday, that patiently to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand is the best remedy for mitigating punishment, and that in this way punishment is turned into medicine; so on the other hand, when we are like refractory and ferocious horses, whatever punishment God inflicts on us, is only a prelude to endless destruction. Let us then lay hold on this truth and constantly meditate on it, — that our punishment becomes vivifying to us, when we acknowledge God to be a righteous judge and suffer ourselves to be corrected by him. But I refer only briefly to this subject now, for I spoke of it more at large yesterday.
He adds, Why should this city be a desolation? He set before them the city in which God’s sanctuary was, and by the sight of it he tried to turn them to repentance; for it was extremely base to harden themselves against the warnings of the prophets, so as to cause the Temple of God to be demolished, and also the holy city to be reduced to a waste, in which God designed to have his dwelling, as he had said,
“This is my rest for ever.” (Psa 132:14)
In short, he declared to the Jews that a most awful condemnation awaited them, if they suffered the city to perish through their own fault, and that they would be the authors of their own ruin, if they undertook not the yoke of the king of Babylon. It follows —

Calvin: Jer 27:18 - -- Here the Prophet laughs to scorn the foolish confidence with which the false prophets were swollen, when they promised all happiness in time to come....
Here the Prophet laughs to scorn the foolish confidence with which the false prophets were swollen, when they promised all happiness in time to come. He hence says, that they were not to be believed as to the prosperity of which they prophesied, but that on the contrary they ought to have dreaded a most grievous punishment.
He then says, If they are prophets, let them intercede with Jehovah, that what still remains may not be taken away from Jerusalem. They promised the return of the vessels, which had been already carried away to Babylon; and yet what still remained in the Temple and in the palace of the king and in the whole city, was to be removed to Babylon. We now perceive the Prophet’s design; he compares the future with the past, and shews that these impostors foolishly promised some better state of things, even when God’s heavy judgment was impending over them; for the city and the Temple were doomed to entire ruin. The verb
From this passage we learn that these two things are united — teaching and praying. Then God would have him whom he has set a teacher in his Church, to be assiduous in prayer. And so the Apostles said, when they spoke of appointing deacons, that they could not attend to tables; for they said that they were sufficiently engaged in teaching, and they mentioned also prayers. (Act 6:2.) The same also we learn from this place, where Jeremiah ascribes the office of interceding to God’s true and faithful servants who conscientiously discharged the office of teaching; If they be prophets, he says, let them intercede with Jehovah, that the remaining vessels be not taken away. Let us at the same time notice the definition he gives; for by this he also shews who are to be counted true prophets, even those who have the word of God, as we have found elsewhere,
“The Prophet who has a dream, and who has my true word, let him speak my word.” (Jer 23:28)
We said by these words of the Prophet it may be determined who they are who deserve to be called prophets, even those who have the word of God. Jeremiah confirms the same here when he says, If they are prophets, and if the word of Jehovah is with them These two clauses ought to be read together, for the latter is exegetic, or explanatory of the former. But I cannot now finish the whole, I must therefore defer the rest till to-morrow.

Calvin: Jer 27:19 - -- Jeremiah said, in the passage we considered yesterday, that it was more to be desired that God should keep what remained at Jerusalem, than that what...
Jeremiah said, in the passage we considered yesterday, that it was more to be desired that God should keep what remained at Jerusalem, than that what had been taken away should be restored, for the time of punishment had not yet passed away; and thus he condemned the false teachers, because they had presumptuously and boldly promised a quick return as to the king as well as to those who had been led with him into exile, he now confirms the same thing, and says that what remained as yet at Jerusalem was already destined for their enemies the Babylonians, and would become their prey. Nebuchadnezzar had in part spared the Temple and the city; he had taken away chiefly the precious vessels, but had not entirely spoiled the Temple of its ornaments. As, then, some splendor was still to be seen there, the Jews ought to have learned that he had acted kindly towards them. He now says, that the Temple and the city would be destroyed; and this may be gathered from his words when he says, that there would be nothing remaining.
Thus saith Jehovah concerning the pillars, etc. There is no doubt but that Solomon spent much money on the pillars, as the Scripture commends the work. He adds, concerning the sea, which was a very large vessel, for from it the priests took water to wash themselves whenever they entered the Temple to perform their sacred duties. And though it was made of brass, it was yet of no small value on account of its largeness; and for this reason it was called sea. He mentions, in the third place, the bases 190 Jerome reads, “To the bases,” for the preposition is

Calvin: Jer 27:20 - -- And he also adds, The residue of the vessels which remains, in this city By adding, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not away, he indire...
And he also adds, The residue of the vessels which remains, in this city By adding, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not away, he indirectly condemned the Jews, because they did not acknowledge that the cruelty of their enemy had been moderated by divine power. For we know how cruel were Babylonians, and how insatiable was their avarice, and that nothing would have been left in the Temple had not their hands been in a manner restrained by the hidden power of God. The Jews ought to have duly considered this, and therefore the Prophet alludes to their ingratitude when he says, that Nebuchadnezzar had not taken away the vessels when yet he led captive the king and all the chief men, both of the city and the whole land. There is, indeed, to be understood here a comparison between the less and the greater, as though he had said, “Nebuchadnezzar would not have been so gentle had not God moderated his spirit, for he spared not your king, he led into exile all your chief men; how, then, was it that he left anything to remain in your city, and that the pillars were not taken away? Did he despise them? They have been polished with exquisite skill, and the materials are very costly. Ye hence see that God gave you a proof of his mercy, for some things still remain safe in the city as well as in the Temple; yet ye disregard this so great a benefit bestowed on you by God; what, then, will at length happen to you?” We now perceive the Prophet’s design in these words when he says, that the vessels were not taken away, even when the king was taken captive, and when the chief men of the land were led into exile.
Useful instruction may also be hence gathered. Whenever God chastises us, let us ever consider that he does not proceed to extremities; for the cause of murmuring, and often of despair, is this, — because we think that he deals with us with extreme rigor. But this happens through our sinful and perverted judgment; for God never afflicts us so severely but that some portion of kindness and of moderation ever appears; in a word, his judgments are always founded on his goodness. Were any one, therefore, rightly to call to mind how far he is from suffering extreme evils, it would conduce much to alleviate his sorrows. But when we reject every knowledge of God’s goodness, and only consider his severity, we either murmur or in a manner become furious against him. But this passage teaches us, that when God leaves some residue to us, it is an evidence of his paternal favor, and that therefore something more may be hoped for, provided we from the heart repent.
The design, then, of the Prophet’s warning was, that the Jews might receive this remaining favor of God, and not proceed in their obstinacy until God again stretched forth his hand to destroy them.

Calvin: Jer 27:21 - -- He repeats again the same words, Yea, thus saith Jehovah, etc.; for so ought the particle כי , ki, to be rendered in this place. 191 And he em...
He repeats again the same words, Yea, thus saith Jehovah, etc.; for so ought the particle
It was the same thing as though the Jews were reminded that the exile which had been predicted would be long, and that they foolishly hoped for what the false prophets had promised as to the vessels; for God had no greater care for the vessels than for his chosen people, as the vessels were acceptable to God for the people’s sake. Here, then, Jeremiah confirms what he has said elsewhere, and that often, that the people would be captives until the day of visitation, that is, till the end of seventy years. When, therefore, says God, I shall visit the Jews themselves, I will then bring back also the vessels; and so it was permitted by the command of Cyrus. We now understand the simple meaning of the words. Another narrative follows, —

TSK: Jer 27:18 - -- they : 1Ki 18:24, 1Ki 18:26
let them : Jer 7:16, Jer 15:1, Jer 18:20, Jer 42:2; Gen 18:24-33, Gen 20:17; 1Sa 7:8, 1Sa 12:19, 1Sa 12:23; 2Ch 32:20; Job...

TSK: Jer 27:20 - -- when : Jer 22:28, Coniah, Jer 24:1; 2Ki 24:14-16, Jehoiachin, 2Ch 36:10,2Ch 36:18
when : Jer 22:28, Coniah, Jer 24:1; 2Ki 24:14-16, Jehoiachin, 2Ch 36:10,2Ch 36:18

TSK: Jer 27:22 - -- carried : Jer 29:10, Jer 34:5, Jer 52:17-21; 2Ki 24:13-17; 2Ch 36:17, 2Ch 36:18; Dan 5:1-4, Dan 5:23
until : Jer 25:11, Jer 25:12, Jer 29:10, Jer 32:5...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Poole: Jer 27:17 - -- Believe them not, but satisfy yourselves as to God’ s providence with respect to you, and be content to be subject to the king of Babylon, so m...
Believe them not, but satisfy yourselves as to God’ s providence with respect to you, and be content to be subject to the king of Babylon, so may you have your lives for a prey; though you be straitened as to your accommodations and plenteous and splendid way of life: if you do not, your city will certainly be laid waste; and why should you pull such a judgment upon your own heads?

Poole: Jer 27:18 - -- If they be true prophets, End have any communion with God, instead of foretelling the bringing back of the vessels carried away, let them apply them...
If they be true prophets, End have any communion with God, instead of foretelling the bringing back of the vessels carried away, let them apply themselves to hinder the carrying away of what vessels yet remain, and that either in the house of the Lord, or the king’ s house, or in Jerusalem; which is to be done no other way than by pleading with God to turn away his wrath, and not to bring those sore judgments which he is most certainly bringing upon you.

Poole: Jer 27:20 - -- Concerning the persons and things which the king of Babylon then carried away, see 2Ki 24:13-15 .
Concerning the persons and things which the king of Babylon then carried away, see 2Ki 24:13-15 .

Poole: Jer 27:21 - -- The prophet enlargeth his prophetical threatening, and makes it extend to all other vessels of price, in the houses of the king, the nobles, or more...
The prophet enlargeth his prophetical threatening, and makes it extend to all other vessels of price, in the houses of the king, the nobles, or more wealthy citizens.

Poole: Jer 27:22 - -- They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be: see the fulfilling of this prophecy, 2Ki 25:13-15,2Ch 36:18 ; and that they abode in Babyl...
They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be: see the fulfilling of this prophecy, 2Ki 25:13-15,2Ch 36:18 ; and that they abode in Babylon till the end of the captivity, appeareth from Dan 5:2 , where we read of Belshazzar’ s sending for them to drink wine in at his fatal feast.
Until the day that I visit them that is, until the expiration of the time of the Jewish captivity, which was seventy years.
Then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place the fulfilling of that part of the prophecy we have Ezr 1:7-11 , in these words, Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods; even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand. All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem . So punctually was Jeremiah’ s prophecy in this place fulfilled, and so exactly doth one part of holy writ agree with another, which are great arguments to prove the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures.
PBC -> Jer 27:18
PBC: Jer 27:18 - -- In Jer 27:18 God had said that if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, tha...
In Jer 27:18 God had said that if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon. Then in Jer 27:22 God says " They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place."
He had said in Jer 27:18 that they should pray that they not go into Babylon and then in Jer 27:22, God said that they would. I cannot imagine God telling them to pray that it not happen which was His desire and yet He had ordained that they would go into Babylon.
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This and other texts can be used to show that God knows all things, but does not by that knowledge cause them to happen. In this His sovereignty is unaffected. Because of His foreknowledge He has intervened when He desires to do so and in times when He does not intervene He is longsuffering.
God cannot both be longsuffering and also be pleased at what comes to pass. To be longsuffering means to allow the situation to take place and even continue even though it is against what He desires. When God is longsuffering, He is not causing what is happening, else it would not be longsuffering to Him, but would be what He desires.
When God is longsuffering it is by definition a circumstance that God is allowing to happen, but not one He desires or has caused. He suffers long because His creation has disobeyed and walked in paths contrary to His desire. He neither desires this contrary walk nor causes it, but rather allows it for the time being. But he brings things to pass so that in the end His Sovereign will is fullfilled. This is seen in Jer 27:18-22. It was not His desire that the vessels be taken to Babylon. Nevertheless, God suffered it to be so for the time being, but brought it to pass that they would be returned at a later point in time.
Let us ponder on God’s longsuffering, and we will find that while His Sovereignty is never in question, He chooses to allow things for the short term, but always brings things to pass in the long term that fullfills His desire.
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Haydock: Jer 27:18 - -- Hosts. If they prevail, account me a false prophet. (Calmet) ---
The things taken shall not be soon restored; but more shall be conveyed away. (W...
Hosts. If they prevail, account me a false prophet. (Calmet) ---
The things taken shall not be soon restored; but more shall be conveyed away. (Worthington)
Gill: Jer 27:17 - -- Hearken not unto them,.... The false prophets:
serve the king of Babylon, and live; pay homage and tribute to him; which is the way to live in your...
Hearken not unto them,.... The false prophets:
serve the king of Babylon, and live; pay homage and tribute to him; which is the way to live in your own land, and enjoy the benefits of that, and of the temple worship; which, if not, you will be utterly deprived of:
wherefore should this city be laid waste? as it certainly will, should you rebel against the king of Babylon; and as it was in a few years after, when they did.

Gill: Jer 27:18 - -- But if they be prophets, and if the word of the Lord be with them,.... The true prophets of the Lord are sent by him, and have his word put into them:...
But if they be prophets, and if the word of the Lord be with them,.... The true prophets of the Lord are sent by him, and have his word put into them:
let them now make intercession to the Lord of hosts: use their interest with him, as they must have one, if they are true prophets; let them pray unto him, who doubtless will hear them; and this will be acting in character, for prophets ought to be praying persons; and this will turn to some good account:
that the vessels which are left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon; instead of prophesying about the return of what are gone, let them pray for the preservation and continuance of what are left, that they do not go also; of which there was great danger, yea, certainty, in case of non-submission to, and rebellion against, the king of Babylon; there were some vessels of the sanctuary which yet remained, as well as others in the king's palace, and in the houses of the noble and rich men in Jerusalem; for the keeping of which they would do well to show a proper concern, and make use of proper means; and nothing more effectual than prayer to God; and, next to that, submission to the Chaldean yoke.

Gill: Jer 27:19 - -- For thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars,.... The pillars of brass that stood in the temple; the one called Boaz, and the other Jachin,...
For thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars,.... The pillars of brass that stood in the temple; the one called Boaz, and the other Jachin, 1Ki 7:15;
and concerning the sea; the sea of molten brass, which stood upon twelve oxen, 1Ki 7:23;
and concerning the bases: the ten bases, which also were made of brass, 1Ki 7:27;
and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city; in the king's palace, and in the houses of the noblemen, and of the rich and wealthy inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Gill: Jer 27:20 - -- Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not,.... For he seems only to have taken the vessels of gold, and left the vessels of brass, as the above we...
Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not,.... For he seems only to have taken the vessels of gold, and left the vessels of brass, as the above were; see 2Ki 24:13;
when he carried away captive Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem; of which see 2Ki 24:12.

Gill: Jer 27:21 - -- Yea, thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,
concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the Lord,.... Which are mentioned in Jer ...

Gill: Jer 27:22 - -- They shall be carried to Babylon,.... As they were; and of which, with others, there is a particular account in 2Ki 25:13;
and there shall they be ...
They shall be carried to Babylon,.... As they were; and of which, with others, there is a particular account in 2Ki 25:13;
and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith to the Lord; the Chaldeans in a way of wrath, and the Jews in a way of grace and favour; which was at the end of the seventy years' captivity; and so long the vessels of the sanctuary continued there; here we read of them as in use the very night that Belshazzar was slain, and Babylon taken, Dan 5:2;
then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place; which was fulfilled when the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia to give leave to the Jews to return to their own land, and rebuild their temple; and at the same time delivered into the hands of Sheshbazzar, prince of Judah, the vessels of the temple, Ezr 1:1.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Jer 27:17 According to E. W. Bullinger (Figures of Speech, 954) both this question and the one in v. 13 are examples of rhetorical questions of prohibition / ...

NET Notes: Jer 27:18 Heb “…speaking to them, let them entreat the Lord…so that the valuable articles…will not go to Babylon.” The long origin...

NET Notes: Jer 27:19 The bronze stands are the movable bronze stands described in 1 Kgs 7:27-37. They were the stands for the bronze basins described in 1 Kgs 7:38-39. Acc...

NET Notes: Jer 27:20 27:19-20 are all one long sentence in Hebrew. It has been broken up for the sake of English style. Some of the sentences still violate contemporary En...

NET Notes: Jer 27:21 Some of the flavor of the repetitive nature of Hebrew narrative is apparent in vv. 19-21. In the Hebrew original vv. 19-20 are all one long sentence w...

Geneva Bible: Jer 27:18 But if they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them now ( g ) make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which ...

Geneva Bible: Jer 27:22 They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit ( h ) them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restor...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Jer 27:1-22
TSK Synopsis: Jer 27:1-22 - --1 Under the type of bonds and yokes he prophesies the subduing of the neighbour kings unto Nebuchadnezzar.8 He exhorts them to yield, and not to belie...
MHCC -> Jer 27:12-18; Jer 27:19-22
MHCC: Jer 27:12-18 - --Jeremiah persuades the king of Judah to surrender to the king of Babylon. Is it their wisdom to submit to the heavy iron yoke of a cruel tyrant, that ...

MHCC: Jer 27:19-22 - --Jeremiah assures them that the brazen vessels should go after the golden ones. All shall be carried to Babylon. But he concludes with a gracious promi...
Matthew Henry -> Jer 27:12-22
Matthew Henry: Jer 27:12-22 - -- What was said to all the nations is here with a particular tenderness applied to the nation of the Jews, for whom Jeremiah was sensibly concerned. T...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Jer 27:16-22
Keil-Delitzsch: Jer 27:16-22 - --
The priests and all the people are warned to give no belief to the false prophesyings of a speedy restoration of the vessels carried off to Babylon....
Constable: Jer 2:1--45:5 - --II. Prophecies about Judah chs. 2--45
The first series of prophetic announcements, reflections, and incidents th...

Constable: Jer 26:1--29:32 - --B. Controversies concerning false prophets chs. 26-29
These chapters contrast the true prophet of Yahweh...

Constable: Jer 27:1--28:17 - --2. Conflict with the false prophets in Jerusalem chs. 27-28
Chapters 27 and 28 record the contro...
