Jeremiah 32:27-35
27. Jehovah retorts Jeremiah's own words: I am indeed, as thou sayest (Jer 32:17), the God and Creator of "all flesh," and "nothing is too hard for Me"; thine own words ought to have taught thee that, though Judea and Jerusalem are given up to the Chaldeans now for the sins of the Jews, yet it will not be hard to Me, when I please, to restore the state so that houses and lands therein shall be possessed in safety (Jer 32:36-44).
29. burn . . . houses upon whose roofs . . . incense unto Baal—retribution in kind. They burnt incense to Baal, on the houses, so the houses shall be burnt (Jer 19:13). The god of fire was the object of their worship; so fire shall be the instrument of their punishment.
to provoke me—indicating the design, not merely the event. They seemed to court God's "anger," and purposely to "provoke" Him.30. have . . . done—literally, "have been doing"; implying continuous action.
only . . . evil . . . only provoked me—They have been doing nothing else but evil; their sole aim seems to have been to provoke Me. their youth—the time when they were in the wilderness, having just before come into national existence.31. provocation of mine anger—literally, "for mine anger." CALVIN, therefore, connects these words with those at the end of the verse, "this city has been to me an object for mine anger (namely, by reason of the provocations mentioned, Jer 32:30, &c.), that I should remove it," &c. Thus, there will not be the repetition of the sentiment, Jer 32:30, as in English Version; the Hebrew also favors this rendering. However, Jeremiah delights in repetitions. In English Version the words, "that I should remove it," &c., stand independently, as the result of what precedes. The time is ripe for taking vengeance on them (2Ki 23:27).
from the day that they built it—Solomon completed the building of the city; and it was he who, first of the Jewish kings, turned to idolatry. It was originally built by the idolatrous Canaanites.32. priests . . . prophets— (Ne 9:32, 34). Hence, learn, though ministers of God apostatize, we must remain faithful.
33. (Jer 2:27; 7:13).
34. (Jer 7:30, 31; Eze 8:5-17).
35. cause . . . pass through . . . fire—By way of purification, they passed through with bare feet (Le 18:21).
Molech—meaning "king"; the same as Milcom (1Ki 11:33). I commanded . . . not—This cuts off from the superstitious the plea of a good intention. All "will-worship" exposes to God's wrath (Col 2:18, 23).