13 "Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness And his upper rooms without justice , Who uses his neighbor's services without pay And does not give him his wages , 14 Who says , 'I will build myself a roomy house With spacious upper rooms , And cut out its windows , Paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red .' 15 "Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar ? Did not your father eat and drink And do justice and righteousness ? Then it was well with him. 16 "He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy ; Then it was well . Is not that what it means to know Me?" Declares the Lord . 17 "But your eyes and your heart Are intent only e upon your own dishonest gain , And on shedding innocent blood And on practicing oppression and extortion ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 22:13-17
Commentary on Jeremiah 22:10-19
(Read Jeremiah 22:10-19)
Here is a sentence of death upon two kings, the wicked sons of a very pious father. Josiah was prevented from seeing the evil to come in this world, and removed to see the good to come in the other world; therefore, weep not for him, but for his son Shallum, who is likely to live and die a wretched captive. Dying saints may be justly envied, while living sinners are justly pitied. Here also is the doom of Jehoiakim. No doubt it is lawful for princes and great men to build, beautify, and furnish houses; but those who enlarge their houses, and make them sumptuous, need carefully to watch against the workings of vain-glory. He built his houses by unrighteousness, with money gotten unjustly. And he defrauded his workmen of their wages. God notices the wrong done by the greatest to poor servants and labourers, and will repay those in justice, who will not, in justice, pay those whom they employ. The greatest of men must look upon the meanest as their neighbours, and be just to them accordingly. Jehoiakim was unjust, and made no conscience of shedding innocent blood. Covetousness, which is the root of all evil, was at the bottom of all. The children who despise their parents' old fashions, commonly come short of their real excellences. Jehoiakim knew that his father found the way of duty to be the way of comfort, yet he would not tread in his steps. He shall die unlamented, hateful for oppression and cruelty.