Jer 2:8, 23:4 | JFB | STEP | 8. The three leading classes, whose very office under the theocracy was to lead the people to God, disowned Him in the same language as the nation at large, "Where is the Lord?" (See ). priests —whose office it was to expound the law ( ). handle —are occupied with the law as the subject of their profession. pastors —civil, not religious: princes ( ), whose duty it was to tend their people. prophets —who should have reclaimed the people from their apostasy, encouraged them in it by pretended oracles from Baal, the Ph nician false god. by Baal —in his name and by his authority (compare ). walked after things . . . not profit —answering to, "walked after vanity, " that is, idols ( ; compare ).

Jeremiah 2:8

8. The three leading classes, whose very office under the theocracy was to lead the people to God, disowned Him in the same language as the nation at large, "Where is the Lord?" (See Jer 2:6).

priests—whose office it was to expound the law (Mal 2:6, 7).

handle—are occupied with the law as the subject of their profession.

pastors—civil, not religious: princes (Jer 3:15), whose duty it was to tend their people.

prophets—who should have reclaimed the people from their apostasy, encouraged them in it by pretended oracles from Baal, the Ph nician false god.

by Baal—in his name and by his authority (compare Jer 11:21).

walked after things . . . not profit—answering to, "walked after vanity," that is, idols (Jer 2:5; compare Jer 2:11; Hab 2:18).

Jeremiah 23:4

3, 4. Restoration of Judah from Babylon foretold in language which in its fulness can only apply to the final restoration of both "Judah" and "Israel" (compare Jer 23:6); also "out of all countries," in this verse and Jer 23:8; also, "neither shall they be lacking," that is, none shall be missing or detached from the rest: a prophecy never yet fully accomplished. It holds good also of the spiritual Israel, the elect of both Jews and Gentiles (Mal 3:16, 17; Joh 10:28; 17:12). As to the literal Israel also, see Jer 32:37; Isa 54:13; 60:21; Eze 34:11-16.

shepherds . . . shall feed them— (Jer 3:15; Eze 34:23-31). Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Maccabees were but typical of the consummating fulfilment of these prophecies under Messiah.