Introduction to Jeremiah Chapter 6
This chapter is of the same argument with the former; and contains two things in it, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, and the causes of it, which are intermixedly handled in it; a lively description is made of the notice of the approach of the enemy by blowing of trumpets and firing of beacons, Jeremiah 6:1, and of the siege of the city, by pitching tents around it, casting up a mount against it, and scaling its walls at noon and by night, Jeremiah 6:2, and this destruction is illustrated by the simile of gleaning of grapes, Jeremiah 6:9, and amplified by the universality of it, with respect to persons and things; it reaching to persons of every age, and in every state, as old men, young men, and children, husbands and wives, and to all sorts of possessions, houses and fields, Jeremiah 6:11, a description is given of the instruments of it, the Chaldeans, Jeremiah 6:22 and it is aggravated by the anxiety, distress, and sorrow, the Jews would be in on account of it, Jeremiah 6:24, the causes of it are in general the great aboundings of sin and wickedness in the midst of them, illustrated by a fountain casting out its waters, Jeremiah 6:6, in particular, their neglect and contempt of the word of the Lord, Jeremiah 6:10, the sin of covetousness, which prevailed among all sorts of people, high and low, in civil or religious life, Jeremiah 6:13, the unfaithfulness of the prophets to the people, declaring peace, when there was none, Jeremiah 6:14, their impenitence and hardness, Jeremiah 6:15, their disregard to all instructions and warnings, Jeremiah 6:16, their rejection of the law, and the precepts of it, Jeremiah 6:18, their hypocritical sacrifices, Jeremiah 6:20, and the chapter is concluded with an address to the prophet, setting forth his character and office, and the end of it, Jeremiah 6:27 and his testimony concerning the people, showing their obstinacy and stubbornness, illustrated by a simile of refining metal in a furnace without success, Jeremiah 6:28.