Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 9. Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets] Who pretend to have a revelation from heaven.
Nor to your diviners] ”kymsq kosemeychem, from ”sq kasam, to presage or prognosticate. Persons who guessed at futurity by certain signs in the animate or inanimate creation.
Nor to your dreamers] ”kytmlj chalomotheychem, from ”lj chalam, to break in pieces; hence ”wlj chalom, a dream, because it consists of broken fragments. Dream-interpreters, who, from these broken shreds patch up a meaning by their own interpolations.
Nor to your enchanters] ”kynn[ oneneychem, from n[ anan, a cloud-cloud-mongers. Diviners by the flight, colour, density, rarity, and shape of clouds.
Nor to your sorcerers] ”kypk cashshapheychem, from Pk kashaph, to discover; the discoverers, the finders out of hidden things, stolen goods, &c. Persons also who use incantations, and either by spells or drugs pretend to find out mysteries, or produce supernatural effects. Every nation in the world had persons who pretended to find out hidden things, or foretell future events; and such were gladly encouraged by the ignorant multitude; and many of them were mere apes of the prophets of God.
Man knows that he is short-siphted, feels pain at the uncertainty of futurity, and wishes to have his doubts resolved by such persons as the above, to put an end to his uncertainty.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The destruction of the temple and city foretold. (Jer. 26:1-6 Jeremiah's life is threatened. (Jer. 26:7-15) He is defended by the elders. (Jer. 26:16-24)
Jer. 26:1-6 God's ambassadors must not seek to please men, or to sav themselves from harm. See how God waits to be gracious. If the persisted in disobedience, it would ruin their city and temple. Can an thing else be expected? Those who will not be subject to the command of God, make themselves subject to the curse of God.
Jer. 26:7-15 The priests and prophets charged Jeremiah as deservin death, and bore false witness against him. The elders of Israel came to inquire into this matter. Jeremiah declares that the Lord sent him to prophesy thus. As long as ministers keep close to the word they have from God, they need not fear. And those are very unjust who complain of ministers for preaching of hell and damnation; for it is from a desir to bring them to heaven and salvation. Jeremiah warns them of their danger if they go on against him. All men may know, that to hurt, or put to death, or to show hatred to their faithful reprovers, wil hasten and increase their own punishment.
Jer. 26:16-24 When secure sinners are threatened with taking away the Spirit of God, and the kingdom of God, it is what is warranted from the word of God. Hezekiah who protected Micah, prospered. Did Jehoiakim who slew Urijah, prosper? The examples of bad men, and the ba consequences of their sins, should deter from what is evil. Urijah wa faithful in delivering his message, but faulty in leaving his work. An the Lord was pleased to permit him to lose his life, while Jeremiah wa protected in danger. Those are safest who most simply trust in the Lord, whatever their outward circumstances may be; and that He has all men's hearts in his hands, encourages us to trust him in the way of duty. He will honour and recompense those who show kindness to such a are persecuted for his sake _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ואתם859 אל408 תשׁמעו8085 אל413 נביאיכם5030 ואל413 קסמיכם7080 ואל413 חלמתיכם2472 ואל413 ענניכם6049 ואל413 כשׁפיכם3786 אשׁר834 הם1992 אמרים559 אליכם413 לאמר559 לא3808 תעבדו5647 את853 מלך4428 בבל׃894
