Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 44:22
So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, [and] because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
22. could no longer bear ] These words contain the pith of the answer to the people’s argument that they had been more prosperous while openly practising idolatry than afterwards. Jeremiah points out that even though their national misfortunes were subsequent to Josiah’s reformation, and therefore after what they might have called the golden age of idolatry had ceased, yet it was owing to the idolatry so long rampant, and even afterwards cherished and practised as far as its votaries dared, that the overthrow came. The long-suffering of God was at last exhausted.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Could no longer bear – The prophet corrects in these words the error of their argument in Jer 44:17. God is long-suffering, and therefore punishment follows slowly upon sin.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 22. Therefore is your land a desolation] I grant that ye and your husbands have joined together in these abominations; and what is the consequence? “The Lord could no longer bear because of your evil doings; and therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, this day.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
So that the Lord could no longer forbear,…. He did forbear a long time, and did not stir up all his wrath, but waited to see if these people would repent of their sins, and turn from them; during which time of his forbearance, things might be well with them, as they had said, and they enjoyed peace and plenty; but persisting in their sins, and growing worse and worse, he could bear with them no longer, but brought down his judgments upon them. The reason is expressed,
because of the evil of your doings, [and] because of the abominations which ye have committed; the incense they had burnt; the drink offerings they had poured out to idols; and such like idolatrous practices, which were evil in themselves, contrary to the law and will of God, and abominable unto him:
therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse,
without an inhabitant, as at this day; the land of Israel, wasted by the Chaldeans, and left uncultivated, was like a barren wilderness, to the astonishment of all that passed through it, who had known what a fruitful country it had been; the curse of God being apparently on it, and scarce an inhabitant left in it; which was the case at this present instant, as the Jews, to whom the prophet directs his discourse, well knew; and to whom he appeals for the truth of it: now all this was for the sins, particularly the idolatry, they had been guilty of; as is further explained in Jer 44:23.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And hence he adds, Jehovah could not endure the wickedness of your works and the abominations which ye have done: therefore, he says, your land has been reduced to a waste The Prophet, in short, shews that had they not been justly exposed to God’s judgment, they would not have been destroyed. For he assumes this principle, that God is not angry without reason; and then he assumes another principle, that as God had chosen the seed of Abraham, and had been always propitious even to the unworthy, they would have been made partakers of his kindness, had not God been wholly alienated from them. It then follows, that God’s vengeance had not been thus kindled by some slight offense, but by many and daily offenses, so that it could no longer be deferred: for the atrocity of punishment shews the atrocity of sin; and hence he says, Jehovah could not endure the wickedness of your works, and the abominations which ye have done: therefore, he adds, your land has been made a waste, an astonishment, and a curse, or execration, so that there is no inhabitant
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
22. Therefore is your land a desolation This is the substance of Jeremiah’s answer. That to which they attributed their prosperity was the one cause of their ruin. The Lord had borne with them for many years, and this explains the prosperity mentioned in Jer 44:17; but when he could no longer bear, calamity and destruction came.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 44:22 So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, [and] because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
Ver. 22. So that the Lord could no longer bear. ] His abused mercy turned into fury. See Jer 15:6 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
bear = forbear.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
could: Jer 15:6, Gen 6:3, Gen 6:5-7, Psa 95:10, Psa 95:11, Isa 1:24, Isa 7:13, Isa 43:24, Eze 5:13, Amo 2:13, Mal 2:17, Rom 2:4, Rom 2:5, Rom 9:22, 2Pe 3:7-9
your land: Jer 44:2, Jer 44:6, Jer 44:12, Jer 18:16, Jer 24:9, Jer 25:11, Jer 25:18, Jer 25:38, Jer 26:6, Jer 29:19, 1Ki 9:7, 1Ki 9:8, Lam 2:15, Lam 2:16, Dan 9:12
Reciprocal: Lev 26:32 – And I Deu 4:26 – ye shall Deu 28:16 – in the city Deu 28:48 – in hunger 2Ki 22:19 – a desolation 2Ch 12:2 – because Ezr 9:7 – as it is this day Neh 9:30 – therefore Neh 13:18 – Did not your Isa 42:14 – long time Jer 2:15 – his cities Jer 5:9 – and shall Jer 14:10 – he will Jer 34:22 – and I will Lam 1:5 – for Eze 33:28 – I will lay Zec 8:13 – a curse Gal 3:13 – being 1Th 3:1 – when Heb 6:8 – beareth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 44:22, Could no longer bear meanB the longsuffering of the Lord finally was exhausted. The result was the desolation of the land and the deportation of its people.