Jer 41:5, Mic 1:16 | JFB | STEP | 5. beards shaven, &c.—indicating their deep sorrow at the destruction of the temple and city. cut themselves —a heathen custom, forbidden ( ). These men were mostly from Samaria, where the ten tribes, previous to their deportation, had fallen into heathen practices. offerings —unbloody. They do not bring sacrificial victims, but "incense," &c., to testify their piety. house of . . . Lord —that is, the place where the house of the Lord had stood ( ). The place in which a temple had stood, even when it had been destroyed, was held sacred [PAPINIAN ]. Those "from Shiloh" would naturally seek the house of the Lord, since it was at Shiloh it originally was set up ( ).

Jeremiah 41:5

5. beards shaven, &c.—indicating their deep sorrow at the destruction of the temple and city.

cut themselves—a heathen custom, forbidden (Le 19:27, 28; De 14:1). These men were mostly from Samaria, where the ten tribes, previous to their deportation, had fallen into heathen practices.

offerings—unbloody. They do not bring sacrificial victims, but "incense," &c., to testify their piety.

house of . . . Lord—that is, the place where the house of the Lord had stood (2Ki 25:9). The place in which a temple had stood, even when it had been destroyed, was held sacred [PAPINIAN]. Those "from Shiloh" would naturally seek the house of the Lord, since it was at Shiloh it originally was set up (Jos 18:1).

Micah 1:16

16. Make thee bald, &c.—a token of deep mourning (Ezr 9:3; Job 1:20). Mourn, O land, for thy darling children.

poll—shave off thy hair.

enlarge thy baldness—Mourn grievously. The land is compared to a mother weeping for her children.

as the eagle—the bald eagle, or the dark-winged vulture. In the moulting season all eagles are comparatively bald (compare Ps 103:5).