251 The word that hath been unto Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah,—it 'is' the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon,— 2 Which Jeremiah the prophet hath spoken concerning all the people of Judah, even unto all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: 3 'From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, and unto this day—this three and twentieth year—hath the word of Jehovah been unto me, and I speak unto you, rising early and speaking, and ye have not hearkened; 4 And Jehovah hath sent unto you all His servants, the prophets, rising early and sending, and ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear, saying: 5 'Turn back, I pray you, each from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell on the ground that Jehovah hath given to you and to your fathers from age unto age, 6 And ye do not go after other gods to serve them, and to bow yourselves to them, nor do ye provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands, and I do no evil to you; 7 And ye have not hearkened unto Me—an affirmation of Jehovah—so as to provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands for evil to you.
8 'Therefore thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Because that ye have not obeyed My words, 9 Lo, I am sending, and have taken all the families of the north—an affirmation of Jehovah—even unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and have brought them in against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations round about, and have devoted them, and appointed them for an astonishment, and for a hissing, and for wastes age-during. 10 And I have destroyed from them the voice of rejoicing, and the voice of joy, voice of bridegroom and voice of bride, noise of millstones, and the light of lamps. 11 And all this land hath been for a waste, for an astonishment, and these nations have served the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 'And it hath come to pass, at the fulness of seventy years, I charge against the king of Babylon, and against that nation—an affirmation of Jehovah—their iniquity, and against the land of the Chaldeans, and have appointed it for desolations age-during.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 25:1-12
Commentary on Jeremiah 25:1-7
(Read Jeremiah 25:1-7)
The call to turn from evil ways to the worship and service of God, and for sinners to trust in Christ, and partake of his salvation, concerns all men. God keeps an account how long we possess the means of grace; and the longer we have them, the heavier will our account be if we have not improved them. Rising early, points out the earnest desire that this people should turn and live. Personal and particular reformation must be insisted on as necessary to a national deliverance; and every one must turn from his own evil way. Yet all was to no purpose. They would not take the right and only method to turn away the wrath of God.
Commentary on Jeremiah 25:8-14
(Read Jeremiah 25:8-14)
The fixing of the time during which the Jewish captivity should last, would not only confirm the prophecy, but also comfort the people of God, and encourage faith and prayer. The ruin of Babylon is foretold: the rod will be thrown into the fire when the correcting work is done. When the set time to favour Zion is come, Babylon shall be punished for their iniquity, as other nations have been punished for their sins. Every threatening of the Scripture will certainly be accomplished.