Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 19:3
And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
3. his ears shall tingle ] Cp. 2Ki 21:12.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
3 9. These vv. are probably an editorial insertion, for ( a) the message which God was to give the prophet in the valley of Ben-Hinnom ( Jer 19:2) is here given him ( Jer 19:3 ff.) before he goes there, ( b) the subject-matter of the passage is drawn to a large extent from other portions of the Book, specially from the last part of ch. 7, ( c) as Gi. has pointed out, the style of the LXX rendering differs from that employed elsewhere; so that the Greek was probably added by a later hand, the original translator not having the passage in his copy, ( d) the use of the plural “kings” ( Jer 19:3 and also in Jer 17:20) is strange.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Kings – Plural because the message Jer 19:3-9, related not especially to the reigning king, but to the whole royal house.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
That is, a very great evil; it is a Hebrew way of expression, which we also find 1Sa 3:11; 2Ki 21:12. As a very great glaring light affects our eyes, and blindeth them, so a very great sound affecteth the ear, and makes it tingle, and for some time deaf. This God commandeth the prophet to proclaim, as particularly directed to all, both high and low, as well the
kings of Judah as the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. The scene of their guilt ischosen as the scene of the denunciation against them.
kingsthe king andqueen (Jer 13:18); orincluding the king’s counsellors and governors under him.
tingleas if struck bya thunder peal (1Sa 3:11; 2Ki 21:12).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And say, hear ye the word of the Lord, O kings of Judah,…. The king and his queen; or the king and his sons; or the king and his princes, and nobles; for there was but one king reigning at a time in Judah, and the present king was Zedekiah; see Jer 21:1;
and inhabitants of Jerusalem; the elders of which, and of the priests, were now before him; to whom he said the following things, that they might tell them to the persons mentioned:
thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; who is able to do whatsoever he pleases in the armies of the heavens, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and will do so among his own people, notwithstanding his being the God of Israel:
behold, I will bring evil upon this place; the evil of punishment for the evil of sin; such as the sword, famine, and captivity; meaning not on that spot of ground where the prophet with the elders were, but upon the city of Jerusalem, and on all the land of Judea:
the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle; it shall be astonishing and surprising to him; it shall even stun him; he shall stand as one thunderstruck or be so affected with it as a man is at a violent clap of thunder, or at some exceeding vehement sound, which leaves such an impression upon him, and continues with him, that he cannot get rid of it; but seems to be continually sounding in his ears, and they even echo and ring with it; see 1Sa 3:11. The phrase denotes the greatness of the calamity, and the surprise which the bare report of it would bring with it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Vs. 3-9: A WARNING OF IMPENDING JUDGMENT UPON
UNREPENTED SIN
1. The kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, are summoned to hear “the word of Jehovah” – the Lord of hosts and the God of Israel – Who is sending such a message of judgment as will cause their ears to tingle, (vs. 3; Jer 6:19; 1Sa 3:11-14; 1Sa 4:18).
2. Nor does He leave room for them to question WHY; the necessity of divine judgment is clearly stated, (vs. 4-5).
a. They have forsaken the Lord, (Jer 2:13-17; Jer 17:13; Isa 65:11-12), and desecrated His holy temple, (Eze 7:22; Dan 11:31).
b. They have burned incense to other gods, (Jer 7:9-11; Jer 11:13; Jer 11:17).
c. They have shed innocent blood, (Jer 2:34; 2Ki 21:16; 2Ki 24:4).
d. They have built altars to Baal and murdered their own children – forcing them into the fire as a burnt-offering to Baal! (Jer 7:31; Jer 32:35; 2Ki 21:6; 2Ch 28:2-3; 2Ch 33:6).
e. All this is contrary to the mind, heart, purpose and word of Jehovah, their God!
3. That the valley of Topheth is to be re-named “the valley of slaughter” forebodes incomprehensible tragedy, (vs. 6-8).
a. The plans of Judah and Jerusalem will be “poured out” like water, (Jer 8:8-9; Psa 33:10-11; Isa 28:17-18).
b. The people will be cut down by the sword of their enemies – their bodies given to the birds and beasts for food! (Jer 15:2; Jer 15:9; Jer 16:4; Psa 79:1-3).
c. Jerusalem will be so desolated that by-passers will express both astonishment and derision that the once-proud and haughty people should have come to such an end, (vs. 8; Jer 18:16; 1Ki 9:8-9; 2Ch 7:19-22; comp. La 2:15-16).
4. The siege that is to be laid against Jerusalem will drive its inhabitants to such desperation that they will actually become cannibalistic – EATING THEIR OWN CHILDREN! (vs. 9; comp. Deu 28:53; La 4:10).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
He now adds, Hear ye the word of Jehovah. This is a confirmation of the former sentence. We hence see why it was said, Cry, or, with a clear voice proclaim, what I shall say to thee; it was, that they might know that he spake not according to his own ideas as a man, but that he was a celestial herald to proclaim what God commanded. Hear, he says, ye kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. We see how the Prophet did not spare even kings, according to what God had before commanded him, that he should act boldly and shew no respect of persons, (Jer 1:8.) He then faithfully performed his office, as he did not flatter kings, and was not terrified by their dignity and power. But he addressed them first, and then the people, because they who had most grievously sinned, were made rightly to bear the first reproof. We hence see what the next passage means,
“
Reprove mountains and chide hills,” (Mic 6:1)
and also this passage,
“
I have set thee over nations and kingdoms,” (Jer 1:10)
for heavenly truth ought to bring under subjection, as Paul says, everything high in the world, so that all the pride of man may be subdued. (2Co 10:5.) Kings indeed do very ill bear to be thus boldly treated; for they wish to be exempt from every law and to be free from every yoke. But if they now acknowledge not their subjection to God’s word, they must at last come before his tribunal; and then they shall find how perversely they have abused their power. As to teachers, they ought, small and great, to teach after the example of Jeremiah; they ought to reprove and to rebuke, when necessary, without shewing any respect of persons.
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, and the God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing an evil on this place, of which whosoever shall hear, tingle shall his ears. The prophetic word had more power when the Jews were brought to the very place where the event was exhibited, he might have said the same thing in the Temple or in the gate or in the palace of the king but his prophecy would not have been so effectual. We indeed know how much tardiness there is in men in general; but so great was then the obstinacy of the Jews, that however forcibly the truth might have been set forth, yet it was received with so much indifference, that it was neglected. God then intended to shew to them, as it were, the event itself. He says, Jehovah of hosts and the God of Israel; and he used these words, that they might know, as we have stated elsewhere, that they had to do with God, whose power is dreaded even by angels. And in order to shake off their foolish boasting, that they were the children of Abraham, — “God,” he says, “has sufficient power to chastise you, and the same is the God of Israel, whose name ye falsely and absurdly pretend to profess.” These subjects I only in a brief manner handle, because I have explained them more fully elsewhere.
He says that such a calamity was nigh that place as would make the ears to tingle: when there is a violent noise, our ears are stunned, and there is at the same time a certain tingling or ringing. When a man is killed, or when ten or twelve men are slain, there is a dreadful cry; but in a great tumult occasioned by men perishing, such is the noise that it stuns in a manner the ears, like that which proceeds from cataracts; for the violent noise of the Nile, they say, causes some degree of deafness. So also the Prophet says here, I am bringing, says God, a calamity on this place, which shall not only terrify those who will hear of it, but also render them quite astonished, so that their ears shall tingle, as is the case when there is a violent and dreadful noise. The cause follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) O kings of Judah.The plural seems used to include both the reigning king, Jehoiakim, and his heir-apparent or presumptive.
His ears shall tingle.The phrase, occurring as it does in 1Sa. 3:11, in the prophecy of the doom of the earlier sanctuary, seems intentionally used to remind those who heard it of the fate that had fallen on Shiloh. The destruction of the first sanctuary of Israel was to be the type of that of the second (Psa. 78:60; Jer. 7:14). The phrase had, however, been used more recently (2Ki. 21:12).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Kings of Judah The plural is used, because the message of the prophet referred to more than the reigning king.
Ears tingle See 2Ki 21:12 ; 1Sa 3:21.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 19:3 And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
Ver. 3. Hear the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, ] i.e., O king and thy counsellors, who are so many little kings, as King James was wont to say of the parliament men.
Behold, I bring evil upon this place.
His ears shall tingle.
a Acts and Mon., 1270.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jer 7:3.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.
his ears shall tingle. Reference to earlier books (1Sa 3:11. 2Ki 21:12). Compare the reference to Samuel in Jer 15:1.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jer 19:3-5
Jer 19:3-5
and say, Hear ye the word of Jehovah, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem: thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle. Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, that they knew not, they and their fathers and the kings of Judah; and have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons in the fire for burnt-offerings unto Baal; which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
His ears shall tingle…
(Jer 19:3). This suggests such a shock as comes from a clap of thunder so close that the hearer’s head rings and his ears tingle. The forthcoming destruction of Israel will be the kind of judgment that will get the full attention of the most indifferent.
Ye have estranged this place…
(Jer 19:4). This means that the sins of the people had completely alienated Jerusalem from God’s approval. They had destroyed the very charter of their existence as a nation.
Ye have filled this place with the blood of innocents…
(Jer 19:4). This does not refer to the sacrifice of infants to Molech, but to the senseless murder of innocent people by Manasseh (2Ki 21:16). The sacrifice of children to Molech constitutes a new indictment, which comes in the next verse.
Ye have built the high places of Baal…
(Jer 19:5). The purpose of those high places was stated in the next clause, to burn their sons in the fire as burnt-offerings to Baal; and that identifies the particular Baal here as the horrible Molech.
Keil enumerated the sins of Israel here as follows: “(1) their public practice of idolatry; (2) judicial murder of the innocents; and (3) burning their own children as sacrifices to Molech.”
Hear ye. O kings of Judah …..
(Jer 19:3). The message was not merely to the reigning king, but to the whole dynasty responsible for the apostasy of Israel.
“These verses are said to be strongly Deuteronomic in style and phraseology; but the whole argument turns on the identification of this Deuteronomic style and phraseology.” Amen! Amen! If they mean that Jeremiah was here quoting the true author of Deuteronomy, namely, Moses, very well, we agree with that; but if it is meant that some mythical “Deuteronomic editor” is meant, we reject that false notion altogether.
Which I commanded not…
(Jer 19:5). This establishes a principle that any alleged worship which God did not command is an abomination to the Lord. May we point out some other things that God has not commanded in Christian worship: the playing of instruments of music, communion under one kind, the burning of sacred incense, the sprinkling of holy water, the lighting of blessed candles, etc., etc. Nothing is any more dangerous than the worship of God through the observance of forms and actions that God has not commanded.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Hear: Jer 13:18, Jer 17:20, Psa 2:10, Psa 102:15, Psa 110:5, Mat 10:18, Rev 2:29
his ears: 1Sa 3:11, 1Sa 4:16-18, 2Ki 21:12, 2Ki 21:13, Isa 28:19
Reciprocal: Deu 29:26 – they went 2Ch 18:18 – hear the word 2Ch 34:24 – I will bring Isa 7:3 – Go forth Jer 2:4 – Hear ye Jer 7:2 – Hear Jer 11:11 – I will bring Jer 19:14 – from Jer 22:2 – Hear Jer 25:18 – Jerusalem Jer 44:3 – of their Lam 4:11 – Lord Hos 2:2 – Plead with Hos 4:1 – Hear Mat 21:33 – Hear
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 19:3. When Jeremiah and his selected group reached the place he was to make the speech to them that follows. I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle. The last word is from an original that literally means to vibrate or rattle. However, the word is used figuratively and means the report of what is about to happen to this place of idolatry will overwhelm With astonishment ail who hear ahout it.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 19:3-5. Say, Hear, &c., O kings of Judah See note on Jer 17:20. Behold, I will bring evil upon this place That is, upon Judah and Jerusalem, so surprising and so dreadful that whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle The very report of it shall astonish the hearers. Because they have estranged this place From me, should be supplied to make the sense clearer; the meaning, it seems, being that, by their worshipping other gods, and committing all sorts of crimes, they had caused God not to look any longer upon their city and country as his, but quite foreign from him. Or, as some interpret the expression, They had strangely abused, and alienated from their intended purposes both Jerusalem, the holy city, and the temple, Gods holy house, which were designed for his honour and the support of his kingdom among men. And have filled this place with the blood of innocents Of the children sacrificed to Moloch: see note on Jer 2:34; and Isa 30:33. They have built also, rather, they have even built the high places of Baal For the same sin is here expressed which was mentioned in the latter part of the foregoing verse, and the copulative particle, vau, is sometimes used by way of explication; to burn their sons with fire unto Baal From this, as well as from some other places, it is plain that they slew and burned human victims to Baal as well as to Moloch, if these two names were not promiscuously given, as some suppose they were, to one and the same idol. Which I commanded not, &c. It seems from this that there were not wanting some who maintained that human sacrifices were pleasing to God.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
19:3 And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O {a} kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, which whoever heareth, his ears shall {b} tingle.
(a) By kings here and in other places are meant counsellors and governors of the people; who he calls the ancients, Jer 19:1 .
(b) Read of this phrase in 1Sa 3:11 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The prophet was to call everyone in Jerusalem to hear the Lord’s message, from the kings to the ordinary citizens. Israel’s God-Almighty Yahweh-was about to bring a calamity of unheard of severity on Jerusalem (cf. 1Sa 3:11; 2Ki 21:12).