Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 27:18
But 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.
18. that the vessels Babylon ] omitted in LXX, and thus omitting any actual mention of a subject for their prayer. This harshness would naturally lead to such an addition as that in MT. For the idea of prophets as intercessors cp. Gen 20:7.
19 22 are much briefer in LXX, viz.: “For thus saith the Lord, And of the rest of the vessels, which the king of Babylon took not, when he carried away Jechonias from Jerusalem, they shall go to Babylon, saith the Lord.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 kings 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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. at Jerusalemthat is, inother houses containing such vessels, besides the house of God andthe king’s palace. Nebuzara-dan, captain of the guard underNebuchadnezzar, carried all away (2Ki 25:13-17;2Ch 36:18). The more costlyvessels had been previously removed in the reigns of Jehoiakim andJeconiah.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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 פגע , pego, means to meet, to go to meet, and is taken metaphorically in the sense of interceding; for he who meets one as an intercessor, in a manner restrains the opponent; and the Scripture uses this word, when it speaks of the saints as supplicating God; the proper word is interceding. (189)
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.
(189) Both the Sept. and Vulg. give the first meaning, to meet with, and not the second, to intercede with, and thus convey no sense whatever. The Syr. uses the word, pray, “let them pray the Lord,” etc. See Gen 23:8; Job 21:15. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(18) But if they be prophets . . .The rivals of Jeremiah had, as has been said, staked their credit upon the return of the vessels that had already been taken. He stakes his On the prediction that what had been spared in the first invasion should be taken on the second. They had better use their gift of the Spirit, if they had any, in interceding for their preservation.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Vessels left Only the more costly vessels, and those most readily accessible, were at first removed. Those remaining were not only in the temple, but sacred utensils were probably kept in other places also.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 27:18 But 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.
Ver. 18. Let them make intercession to the Lord of hosts. ] Let them pray in the Holy Ghost, by whom they pretend to be inspired. Let us see what answer. So Elias called upon the Baalites to call aloud unto their god; and forasmuch as he heard them not, the people were satisfied that they were false prophets. God will fulfil what he hath foretold; but then he looketh that his servants should make intercession. Elias had foretold Ahab that there should be store of rain after a long drought; but then he went up into Mount Carmel to pray for that rain. I came for thy prayer, said the angel to Daniel. God’s prophets are his favourites, and may have anything of him.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Be = exists; or, he and remain. Hebrew. yesh. Compare Jer 31:6, Jer 31:16, Jer 31:17, and see notes on Pro 8:21; Pro 18:24.
the LORD of hosts = Jehovah Zebaoth. See note on Jer 6:6. 1Sa 1:3.
at. Some codices, with three early printed editions, omit this “at”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
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 42:8, Job 42:9, Eze 14:14, Eze 14:18-20, Eze 22:30, Mal 1:9, Jam 5:16-18
Reciprocal: Gen 20:7 – pray Exo 7:22 – magicians 2Ch 36:10 – goodly vessels 2Ch 36:18 – all the vessels Ezr 6:5 – the golden Eze 13:2 – prophesy against Eze 13:5 – have not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 27:18. Not all of the vessels of the Lord’s house had been taken to Babylon at this time. Had the proper conduct been performed by the king of Judah and his leading people, many of the articles of service could have been retained at Jerusalem. The necessary number of priests could have been left in the city to continue the service, even though they would have been under the rule of the Babylonians. These false prophets had claimed to be speaking by the sanction of God. Now Jeremiah challenges them to act consistently and pray to that same God whom they profess to be serving and ask him to spare these vessels.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
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 are left in the house of the LORD, and [in] the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.
(g) For it was not only the prophet’s office to show the word of God, but also to pray for the sins of the people, Gen 20:7 which these could not do because they had no express word: for God had pronounced the contrary.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
If the false prophets were true, they should ask Yahweh to keep the remaining temple, palace, and city furnishings and accessories still in Jerusalem, from being taken captive to Babylon (cf. 2Ki 25:13-17; Dan 1:1-2). The granting of their petition would validate them as authentic prophets.