Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 45:4
Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, [that] which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
4. Thus him ] omit as a gloss. Baruch himself, not the prophet, is still addressed.
Behold, that which I have built, etc.] Baruch is pained at the calamities in which his country is involved, but let him be sure that the Lord, in bringing Himself to overthrow His cherished people, can only be thus acting because no other course is possible (see introd. note).
and this land ] probably a gloss (LXX omit). If the clause stands, the reference is to the overthrow of kingdoms by Nebuchadnezzar.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
land – Or, earth. Baruchs lot was cast in one of those troublous times when God enters into judgment with all flesh Jer 45:5. It was not Judaea only but the whole known world that was thrown into turmoil by Nebuchadnezzars energy Jer 25:26.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Behold, that which I have built] I most certainly will fulfil all those threatenings contained in the roll thou hast written; for I will destroy this whole land.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
4. that which I have built . . .planted I will pluck up (Isa5:5). This whole nation (the Jews) which I founded and plantedwith such extraordinary care and favor, I will overthrow.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thus shalt thou say unto him,…. This is spoken to Jeremiah, and is an order from the Lord to him, what he should say in his name to Baruch:
the Lord saith thus, behold, [that] which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up; the Jewish nation, both as to church and state; which the Lord had built up as a spacious and beautiful house to dwell in, and had planted as a vineyard, and set it with pleasant plants; but now would demolish this building, and destroy this plantation:
even this whole land; not a few cities only, or only Jerusalem the metropolis, but the whole land of Judea; no part of it but what should be left desolate. So the Targum,
“even the whole land of Israel, which is mine.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He afterwards adds, Thus shalt thou say to him, etc. Here the Prophet shews that he was not roused against Baruch through any private displeasure, but that he had only conveyed to him God’s message. Behold, what I have built I pull down, and what I have planted I root up. Here it is evident that the cause of the reproof was, that Baruch loved himself too much, and wished to evade dangers when God ordered him to engage in the conflict. Jeremiah sets forth what would be to the whole people. The comparison shews what I have stated, that Baruch, disregarding the public safety, was too cautious, and was thus timid and tender as to his own life. This is the reason why God mentions the whole people, as though he had said, “Dost thou wish to be deemed of more importance than the whole people? Is thy life of more value than the wellbeing of the whole community?” It was a disgrace to Baruch to prefer himself to the whole people, and even to the Temple and the worship of God. When, therefore, the severity of God was now ready to fall on the whole people, though Baruch might have endangered his life a hundred times, yet he ought not to have made so much account of his life. Then the Prophet shews here that Baruch was too delicate as to himself; and because he was blinded by the love of himself, he did not consider the public safety of the people, nor did he regard the Temple and the holy land.
These metaphors of building and planting often occur in Scripture, I shall not therefore dwell on them here. But we must observe, that though God be the creator of the whole world, yet the people of Israel were peculiarly his work, and also the land of Israel. For God had consecrated that land to himself that he might be served in it, and had adopted the people. Hence he often compares that people to a vineyard.
“
O my vineyard, I have planted thee.” (Jer 2:21.)
I will not multiply quotations, for in a thing so easy it would be a foolish ostentation to heap together many texts. God, then, had built his people, because they dwelt there as in their own habitations, and the land was called his rest He had also planted his people. We may remark, in short, that the building mentioned here and also the plantation, refer to those special favors which God had bestowed on that people. For though he had planted the whole world and all nations, yet the people of Israel was especially his planting, as it is said by Isaiah,
“
The planting of the Lord is for glory,”
that is, this people had been planted, that God through them might manifest his own glory. (Isa 61:3)
Let us come now to what is here declared; he says, I pull down what I have built, I root up what I have planted; as though he had said, “I have hitherto adorned this people with singular endowments; for I chose them as a heritage to myself, it is a holy race, it is a priestly kingdom, I dwell in the midst of them, I have undertaken the care of defending them, I am their Father, they are to me not only as a son, but also as a first-born; and titan this land is holy, because I have set my name in it: I have therefore built and planted this people and this land; but now, he says, I am pulling down and rooting up.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
4. Built break down This announces God’s purpose and his right. His proprietorship is involved in that he is the builder, and out of this comes his right to destroy.
Even this whole land Rather, whole earth. The original word is ambiguous, but the parallel all flesh in the following verse limits its import to that land.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 45:4. Behold, &c. “The land and people which have so long flourished under the peculiar care of my providence, I resolve now to give up to utter destruction: (see chap. Jer 31:28.) And art thou better (Jer 45:5.) than the rest of my people, that thou shouldst expect to be exempted from the common evils?” Houbigant renders the last words, For the whole land is mine.
REFLECTIONS.Baruch had been the prophet Jeremiah’s faithful assistant, chap. 36: and thereby involved himself in trouble, and exposed himself to the fury of the enraged Jehoiakim. We have,
1. The consternation that God observes in him when the warrants were out for apprehending him. Woe is me now! he looked upon himself as a dead man; for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow: after all the pains that he had taken, and the reproaches that he had endured, now his very life is in danger; and the anguish that he felt, on transcribing the dreadful doom of his people, is increased by his own sufferings. I fainted in my sighing, unable to support the load of grief that oppressed him; and I find no rest, from his sorrow, or any composure of mind under his troubles. Note; (1.) Our hearts are very unwilling to bear the cross. (2.) Many of our complaints arise more from our unbelieving fears, than our real danger. (3.) We should watch over the temper of our hearts, and the door of our lips, when tempted to impatience or despair under our sufferings; for God observes, and will reprove us for it.
2. Jeremiah, from God, checks his aspiring thoughts, the disappointment of which seems to have been at the root of his complaints. He was a man of abilities, a scribe to the prophet, and a follower of his piety; and he might hope that this would recommend him to his countrymen, and enable him to rise to some distinguished post: but it was absurd in him to seek great things for himself, when the whole nation was devoted to ruin. Note; (1.) If we had less expectations from the world, we should have fewer disappointments and less cause to complain. (2.) Even good men in general are slow of heart to believe what Jesus hath spoken, My kingdom is not of this world, and too often have their hearts been too much attached to worldly hopes and prospects.
3. Though his hopes of greatness are blasted, his life is secured to him, and that is a distinguishing mercy, when death spreads around his universal ravages. In all places, and amidst every danger, God promises to protect him, and with this he has cause to be abundantly satisfied and thankful.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I have often found this gracious answer of the Lord, by his servant Baruch, very profitable. Shall the children of God, while going home to their Father’s house, and conscious that they are passing through a wilderness, expect velvet paths, and the easiest accommodation, by the way? Reader! in a world like this, where desolations are all around, let us bless God if we escape the storm. Amidst general shipwreck, let us consider our lot peculiarly favoured that we are not stranded, or overwhelmed with the waves.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 45:4 Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, [that] which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
Ver. 4. Behold, that which I have built, &c. ] A metaphor, as is before noted, ab architectura et agricultura. I am turning all upside down, and wouldst thou only go free and untouched of the common calamity? It is no whit likely; thou must share with the rest.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
built . . . break down . . . planted . . . pluck up. See note on Jer 1:10.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
that which: Jer 1:10, Jer 18:7-10, Jer 31:28, Gen 6:6, Gen 6:7, Psa 80:8-16, Isa 5:2-7
Reciprocal: 2Ch 7:20 – I pluck Psa 41:2 – preserve Ecc 3:2 – a time to plant Ecc 3:3 – a time to break Isa 5:6 – I will lay Jer 11:17 – that Jer 12:2 – hast Jer 39:18 – but Dan 11:4 – be plucked
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 45:4, God. instructed Jeremiah to hold Baruch’s attention to the calamity to be brought upon the general work He had in the nation. The whole land was to be brought down in chas`tisement for its corruptions. That would be a far greater matter for grief than the interests of just one man.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
45:4 Thus shalt thou say to him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, [that] which I have built I will {d} break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
(d) Meaning that God could destroy this people, because he had planted them.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Lord was about to tear down and uproot Judah (cf. Jer 1:10; Jer 2:21; Jer 31:5; et al.).