Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 51:51
We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’s house.
51. ashamed ] The exiles answer that they are too deeply humiliated to obey the summons; for foreigners are in possession of the holy sites. Cp. Lam 1:10 with note.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Confounded – Or, ashamed. The verse is a statement of the wrong done to the exiles by Babylon, and so leads naturally to Babylons punishment Jer 51:52.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 51. Strangers are come into the sanctuaries] The lamentation of the pious Jews for the profanation of the temple by the Chaldeans.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The words of this verse seem to prove that the Jews were the persons intended in the former verse, whom God would have to go away, and not to stand still; for it is out of doubt that it is of them the prophet here speaketh, and whom the prophet brings in here, saying,
We are confounded, that is, ashamed (as it is expounded in the next words) to hear the enemies reproaching us for our God, or for our religion, as Psa 137:3; and because pagans that were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, who, Num 1:51, might not come near the tabernacle of the Lord, were come, and that not to worship, but to plunder and rifle in the sanctuaries of the Lord, even into the court of the priests and of the Israelites, and into the most holy place; those whose very presence in these places had been a pollution of them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
51. The prophet anticipates theJews’ reply; I know you will say in despair, “We areconfounded,” c. “Wherefore (God saith to you) behold, Iwill,” &c. (Jer 51:52)[CALVIN]. I prefer takingJer 51:51 as the prayerwhich the Jews are directed to offer in exile (Jer51:50), “let Jerusalem come into your mind” (and say inprayer to God), “We are confounded.” This view is confirmedby Psa 44:15 Psa 44:16;Psa 79:4; Psa 102:17-20;Isa 62:6; Isa 62:7.
for strangersThe”reproach,” which especially has stung us, came when theytaunted us with the fact that they had burned the temple, ourpeculiar glory, as though our religion was a thing of naught.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
We are confounded, because we have heard reproach,…. These are the words of the Jews, either objecting to their return to their land; or lamenting the desolation of it; and complaining of the reproach it lay under, being destitute of inhabitants; the land in general lying waste and uncultivated; the city of Jerusalem and temple in ruins; and the worship of God ceased; and the enemy insulting and reproaching; suggesting, that their God could not protect and save them; and, under these discouragements, they could not bear the thoughts of returning to it:
shame hath covered our faces; they knew not which way to look when they heard the report of the state of their country, and the reproach of the enemy, and through shame covered their faces:
for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the Lord’s house; the oracle, or the holy of holies; the temple, or the holy place, and the porch or court; so Kimchi and Abarbinel; into which the Chaldeans, strangers to God and the commonwealth of Israel, had entered, to the profanation of them, and had destroyed them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
It is thought that these words were spoken by the Prophet to the faithful, to confirm them as to their return. But I rather think that they were spoken by way of anticipation. They who think that they were spoken as a formula to the Israelites, that they might with more alacrity prepare themselves for their return, suppose a verb understood, “Say ye, we are confounded (or ashamed), because we have heard reproach;” even that sorrow would wound the minds of the faithful, to the end that they might nevertheless go through all their difficulties. But as I have said, the Prophet here repeats what the faithful might have of themselves conceived in their own minds; and he thus speaks by way of concession, as though he said, “I know that you have in readiness these words, ‘We are ashamed, we are overwhelmed with reproaches; strangers have entered into the sanctuary of God: since the temple is polluted and the city overthrown, what any more remains for us? and doubtless we see that all things supply reasons for despair.’”
As, then, the thoughts of the flesh suggested to the faithful such things as might have dejected their minds, the Prophet meets them and recites their words. He then says, as in their person, We are confounded, because we have heard reproach; that is, because we have been harassed by the reproaches of our enemies. For there is no doubt but that the Chaldeans heaped many reproaches on that miserable people; for their pride and their cruelty were such that they insulted the Jews, especially as their religion was wholly different. As, then, the ears of the people were often annoyed by reproaches, the Prophet declares here that they had some cause according to the flesh, why they could hardly dare to entertain the hope of a return.
To the same purpose is what he adds, Shame hath covered our faces, because strangers have come into the sanctuaries of Jehovah For it was the chief glory of the chosen people that they had a temple where they did not in vain call upon God; for this promise was like an invaluable treasure,
“
I will dwell in the midst of you; this is my rest, here will I dwell.” (Psa 132:13)
As, then, God was pleased to choose for himself that throne and habitation in the world, it was, as I have said, the principal dignity of the people. But when the temple was overthrown, what more remained for them? it was as though religion was wholly subverted, and as though God also had left them and moved elsewhere; in short, all their hope of divine aid and of salvation was taken away from there.
We now, then, understand why the Prophet speaks thus according to the common thoughts of the people, even that they were covered with shame, because strangers had come into God’s sanctuaries; for that habitation, which God had chosen for himself, was polluted. And he says “sanctuaries,” in the plural number, because the temple had many departments, as the tabernacle had; for there was rite vestibule or the court where they killed the victims; and then there was the holy place, and there was the holy of holies, which was the inner sanctuary. It was then on this account that he said that the sanctuaries of the house of God were possessed by strangers; for it was a sad and shameful pollution when strangers took possession of God’s temple, where even the common people were not admitted; for though the whole of the people were consecrated to God, yet none but the priests entered the temple. It was therefore a dreadful profanation of the temple, when enemies entered it by force and for the sake of degrading it. What then remained for the people, except despair?
“
This is your glory,” said Moses, “before all nations; for what people so noble, what nation so illustrious, as to have gods so near to it!” (Deu 4:6)
When, therefore, God ceased to dwell familiarly with the Jews, all their glory fell, and they were overwhelmed with shame. But after the Prophet recited these complaints, he immediately subjoins a consolation, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(51) We are confounded, because we have heard reproach . . .The answer which the prophet seems to hear from the lips of the exiles, is, however, for the present, of a different character. They are cast down and oppressed by the disgrace that has fallen on them and on the Holy City. Aliens in blood and faith have profaned their sanctuaries. Can anything wipe off the stain of that disgrace? The prophet had known the bitterness of that thought himself (Lam. 1:10; Lam. 2:7; Lam. 4:12), and had learnt how to deal with it: Yes, he answers in the next verse, there is comfort in the thought of retribution. The idol-temples which had been enriched with the spoils of their Temple shall be despoiled; the plunderers shall fall by the sword of the destroyer.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
51. We are confounded This verse only recites the wrongs done, and the abject condition into which the people had come.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 51:51. We are confounded The prophet repeats the words of those pious exiles, when they reflected upon the desolation of God’s people and sanctuary. See Lam 2:15-16. Psa 44:15-16; Psa 79:4.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 51:51 We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’S house.
Ver. 51. We are confounded, because we have heard reproach. ] This is the Jews’ lamentation, as in the next verse we have the answer to it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
are confounded: Jer 3:22-25, Jer 31:19, Psa 74:18-21, Psa 79:4, Psa 79:12, Psa 123:3, Psa 123:4, Psa 137:1-3, Lam 2:15-17, Lam 5:1, Eze 36:30
shame: Jer 3:25, Jer 14:3, Psa 44:13-16, Psa 69:7-13, Psa 71:13, Psa 109:29, Eze 7:18, Mic 7:10
for strangers: Jer 52:13, Psa 74:3-7, Psa 79:1, Lam 1:10, Lam 2:20, Eze 7:21, Eze 7:22, Eze 9:7, Eze 24:21, Dan 8:11-14, Dan 9:26, Dan 9:27, Dan 11:31, Rev 11:1, Rev 11:2
Reciprocal: Psa 44:15 – covered Jer 50:28 – voice Eze 16:52 – bear thine Oba 1:10 – shame Mic 6:16 – therefore
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 51:51. This verse expresses the sentiments of the people of Israel over their misfortunes. Strangers or people from the outside had invaded the holy places of God.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
51:51 We are {f} confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for foreigners are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’S house.
(f) He shows how they would remember Jerusalem by lamenting the miserable affliction of it.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Israelites would be ashamed because word that pagans were desecrating the site of the temple would reach them (cf. Neh 1:3). This would be a testimony to their sin, which resulted in captivity and the destruction of the temple.