people all this great evil, fo will I bring upon them all the good which I fpeak concerning them." And which denotes the promise of their future redemption, as mentioned, ver. 37. &c. However, long before this, he obferves, they will be vifited in their captivity in Babylon, and permitted to build the fecond temple, where they will again buy fields &c. ver. 43.44. "And fields fhall be bought in this land, of which ye fay, It (is) defolate without man or beast, (it) is given into the hand of the Chaldeans. Fields shall men buy with money, drawing up writings alfo, and fealing, and caufing witneffes to atteft, in the land of Benjamin, and in the environs of Jerufalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the hill (country,) and in the cities of the plain, and in the cities of the fouth; for I will reverse their captivity, faith the LORD."

*

From the words of the Prophet, it is plain that those purchases fhould only be " in the land of Benjamin, and in the environs of Ferufalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the bill (country,) and in the cities of the

* Heb. And written in the book.

plain, and in the cities of the fouth:" All which, was the inheritance of Judah and Benjamin; (as may be feen in Joth. xv. 21.--33.--48. So xviii. 28.) and by which, the Prophet informed us, that the tribes of Judah and Benjamin only, would return from Babylon, to the, restoration of the fecond temple; and concerning whom, he fays, "I will reverfe their captivity." But that the other tribes whom Sennacherib had carried captive would not then return. And, after that God had thus revealed to the Prophet the redemption from Babylon, in which Judah and Benjamin were to return; he in another vision, shewed him the future reftoration; when not only Judah and Benjamin fhould return; but the kingdom and house of Ifrael also. And as this vifion was concerning the future redemption, it fays, "And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a fecond time;" because the future redemption, is the fecond in regard to that of Babylon, which is mentioned above. We are alfo informed that "he was still confined in the court of the prison,' thereby indicating that, his condition was fimilar to the ftate of the nation ; for as he was confined many days in the court of

the

the prifon, where he received those two vifions; the one, of the particular redemption of Judah and Benjamin from Babylon; and the other, of the general restoration of the whole nation; fo would Ifrael be confined in the prison of the captivity for a long time; where they would be confidered as a butt, or mark to fhoot at; And therefore, the Prophet made use of the term 7

the prifon; because it alfo denotes a butt or mark to shoot

at, as well a prifon. See Lingua Sacra Radix

Do 3d. In verfe 2d, the the redemptions.

Prophet fpeaks of both

ה

Thus faith the LORD, the doer of it," By the pronoun affix IT*, the Prophet meant the redemption from Babylon; and which was, as if he had faid, it will not be Cyrus that will do it, but God himself; as he will ftir up his fpirit to accomplish it. And of the future redemption,

*The manner in which fome Chriftian criticks have attempted the emendation of this expreffion, (See Blaney's Note on this place, in his new Tranflation) which they look upon as corrupt, owing to their ignorance of the idiom of the Sacred Language, the prophetic part efpecially, cannot help provoking the rifibility of the true Hebraift, and induce him to czclaim, Alas, how are the mighty fallen!

the

the Prophet fays,

The LORD formeth it,

to prepare it, the LORD is his name." For as the future redemption will be by far a greater miracle than that from Babylon, the Prophet fpeaks as if it required great prepa

ration.

And as God had before commanded him. not to pray for them,-xi. 14, & xiv 11. "And as for thee, pray not for this people, neither lift up cry or prayer for them, neither intercede with me; for I will not hear thee." He therefore now grants him permiffion to pray to him, in behalf of the nation at the time of the future redemption: verse 3d. "Call unto me, and I will anfwer thee, and I will fhew thee great things, and mighty things, which thou knoweft not. For as these great and mighty things did not concern the redemption from Babylon, of which he had spoken in the preceding chapter, he with just propriety faid, “which thou knoweft not," because he had not yet fhewn him the vifion; and therefore proceeds verfe 4th. "For thus faith the LORD, the God of Ifrael, concerning the houfes of this city, and concerning the houfes of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the

mounts

86

mounts and by the fword; That are come to fight on the part of the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the dead bodies of the men, whom I have flain in mine anger, and in my wrath, and upon account of all the wickednefs of whom I have hid my face from this city." But although God would thus pumish them, yet, would he himfelf fave and redeem them, verfe 6th. Behold, I will bring it health and cure," That is, to Jerufalem: and concerning Judah, he fays, "And I will heal them; I will alto reveal unto them abundant peace and truth :" And this redemption will not be as was the vifitation. of Babylon, when only a part of Judah and Benjamin returned; for at the future redemption, I will gather both Judah and Ifrael; and will cleanse them of all their fins: ver. 7.. "And I will caufe the captivity of Judah, and the captivity of Ifrael to return; and I will build them as at the firft. And I will cleanse them of all their iniquity, which: they have been guilty of towards me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, which they have finned against me, and which they have tranfgreffed againft me."

-8.

The Prophet then proceeds to speak of the great