Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 16:1-9
The prophet is here for a sign to the people. They would not regard what he said; let it be tried whether they will regard what he does. In general, he must conduct himself so, in every thing, as became one that expected to see his country in ruins very shortly. This he foretold, but few regarded the prediction; therefore he is to show that he is himself fully satisfied in the truth of it. Others go on in their usual course, but he, in the prospect of these sad times, is forbidden and therefore forbears marriage, mourning for the dead, and mirth. Note, Those that would convince others of and affect them with the word of God must make it appear, even in the most self-denying instances, that t…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 16:7
tear themselves--rather, "break bread," namely, that eaten at the funeral-feast (Deu 26:14; Job 42:11; Eze 24:17; Hos 9:4). "Bread" is to be supplied, as in Lam 4:4; compare "take" (food) (Gen 42:33).
give . . . cup of consolation . . . for . . . father--It was the Oriental custom for friends to send viands and wine (the "cup of consolation") to console relatives in mourning-feasts, for example, to children upon the death of a "father" or "mother."
John Gill on Jeremiah 16:7
Neither shall men tear themselves,.... Either their flesh, or their clothes: or, "stretch out" (y); that is, their hands, and clap them together, and wring them, as persons in great distress do: or "divide", or "break", or "deal unto them" (z); that is, bread, as at their funeral feasts. Thus the Septuagint version, neither shall bread be broken in their mourning; and to the same sense the Targum; so the word is used in Isaiah 63:7, a practice that obtained among the Heathens; see Deuteronomy 26:14 and now with the Jews, as it seems: which they did
for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; they used to carry or send food to the surviving relations, and went and ate with them, in o…
Read the whole note in the consoleJohn Calvin
