Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 23:12

Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery [ways] in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, [even] the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.

12. The figure is of men forced onwards by a pursuing foe, while they can neither see their way nor keep their footing. Cp. Psa 35:6.

driven on ] lit. thrust. Cp. for the expression Pro 14:32.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Every word denotes the certainty of their fall. Their path is like slippery places in darkness: and on this path they are pushed with violence. External circumstances assist in urging on to ruin those who choose the path of vice.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

As their ordinary course is wicked and sinful, so they shall find that it will in the event be to them pernicious, perilous, and full of danger, as a slippery path is to them that walk in a dark night,

they shall be driven on till they fall therein. Courses of sin may look smooth, but they always prove slippery.

For I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation; for I am resolved to punish their wicked courses, and to visit them with my judgments.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

12. slippery ways in . . .darknessTheir “way” is their false doctrine whichproves fatal to them (Jer 13:16;Psa 35:6; Pro 4:19).

I will bring evil . . .visitationstill more calamities than those already inflicted.See on Jer 11:23; “visitation,”namely, in wrath.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery [ways] in the darkness,…. Their course of life may fitly be compared, and in the issue will prove to be like to a man’s walking in a dark night without any lamp or lantern to light him, and in a slippery way, scarce able to stand upon his legs, and cannot see to pick his way, nor where to step next, which is very uncomfortable and dangerous; such are blind leaders of the blind, and both in danger of slipping and falling into a ditch, Mt 15:14;

they shall be driven on, and fall therein; hurried on by Satan, and their own lusts, in their sinful ways to their ruin; or forced on into captivity and destruction; their enemies and the just judgments of God pursuing them, like a man pursued by others in a dark and slippery way; who cannot stand to feel his way, but is obliged to go on, though he can scarce keep upon his legs, and knows not where to set his foot next; see Ps 35:6;

for I will bring evil upon them: the evil of punishment, which is from the Lord; as sword, famine, pestilence, or captivity:

[even] the year of their visitation, saith the Lord: the precise and exact time appointed by the Lord to visit them in a way of judgment for their iniquities; which was a set time that would certainly come, and they could not escape; and which may not only respect the time of the Babylonish captivity, but the destruction of the Jews by the Romans, which was the time of their visitation, Lu 19:44.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Here he declares to false prophets and unfaithful priests that the Lord’s judgment was nigh at hand, because they had deceived the people. But he speaks figuratively when he says, that their way would be to them as lubricities. By way he understands the means which they thought to be of the best kind, as elsewhere, nearly in the same sense, what is deemed delectable, or what conduces to sustain life, is called “the table” of the wicked. (Psa 69:22.) The meaning then is, that when they thought all things prosperous, as if one made his way through a plain, they would find themselves on a slippery ground. Their way, then, would be to them as lubricities, (91) that is, when they seemed to take a safe counsel and so prudently to set all things in order, as that nothing could happen amiss to them, their way would become slippery, and that in darkness. He doubles the evil; for one may stand on a slippery ground, and yet may take care of himself on seeing danger; but when darkness is added to the slippery ground, he who can neither stand nor move can hardly do otherwise than fall, either on this or that side: hence he says, they shall stumble and fall in it

The reason follows, even because the Lord was displeased with them. They could not then escape ruin, for they had to do with God. But as the ungodly derive false confidence from God’s forbearance, so that they dare to glory in their wickedness, he adds, the year of their visitation Though, then, God would not immediately put forth his hand to punish them, yet their time was to come; for the year of visitation means the suitable time which God has determined within himself. He indeed defers punishment; but when hypocrites and his despisers have long abused his forbearance, he then suddenly begins to thunder against them; and this is the year of visitation. It follows, —

(91) Such is the word literally; but there is here an ellipsis, not uncommon in Hebrew; the word way is left out before “lubricities” or slipperinesses. The word being plural, and a reduplicate, expresses what is extreme — “most slippery,” or, wholly slippery, —

12. Therefore their way shall be to them, As a way wholly slippery in thick darkness; They shall drive on and fall in it; For I will bring on them an evil — The year of their visitation, saith Jehovah.

It is not darkness, but thick darkness is what the word means; and it is connected with the previous words by the Targ. and by all the versions, except the Syr.; which Blayney has thus followed, —

Into darkness shall they be thrust and shall fall therein.

But this spoils the whole force of the passage: their way was to be altogether slippery, and also in thick darkness; along which they would be hurried on, or slide, or drive on, and the inevitable effect would be falling. — Ed.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(12) Slippery ways . . . darkness . . . driven on.The words and the thoughts flow in upon the prophets mind from Isa. 8:22; Psa. 35:5-6.

The year of their visitation.The prophet returns to his characteristic word for the time appointed by the Divine Judge for chastisement. (Comp. Jer. 8:12; Jer. 10:15; Jer. 11:23.)

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

12. Slippery ways in the darkness In the rough and uneven country of Palestine, full of difficult and dangerous paths, most naturally do the perils of travel contribute to its imagery. Such language in the Bible has a force and expressiveness which the modern dwellers in civilized lands, with good roads and abundant facilities for safe and expeditious travel, can but imperfectly realize. See Psa 73:2; Psa 73:18; Psa 35:6; Psa 38:17; Psa 66:9; Psa 121:3, etc., etc.

Driven on Rather, thrust down.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments