Jeremiah 2:13

“For my people have committed two evils, etc.] Not but that they had committed more, but there were two principal ones they were guilty of, hereafter mentioned; and it was an aggravation of these crimes, that they were the professing people of God who had committed them: and it may be observed, that such sin; they are not without it, nor the commission of it; and may be left to fall into great sins, and yet remain his people; covenant interest cannot be dissolved; this should be considered not as an encouragement to sin, but as a relief under a sense of sin: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters; this is said of Christ, (<220415>Song of Solomon 4:15 <241713>Jeremiah 17:13,4),…”

“two evils--not merely one evil, like the idolaters who know no better; besides simple idolatry, My people add the sin of forsaking the true God whom they have known; the heathen, though having the sin of idolatry, are free from the further sin of changing the true God for idols (Jer 2:11). forsaken me--The Hebrew collocation brings out the only living God into more prominent contrast with idol nonentities. "Me they have forsaken, the Fountain," &c. (Jer 17:13; Psa 36:9; Joh 4:14). broken cisterns--tanks for rain water, common in the East, where wells are scarce. The tanks not only cannot give forth an ever-flowing fresh supply as fountains can, but cannot even retain the water poured into…”

“The pagan are guilty of but one sin - idolatry; the covenant-people commit two - they abandon the true God; they serve idols. Fountain - Not a spring or natural fountain, but a tank or reservoir dug in the ground (see Jeremiah 6:7), and chiefly intended for storing living waters, i. e., those of springs and rivulets. The cistern was used for storing up rain-water only, and therefore the quantity it contained was limited. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Of living waters - A metaphor taken from springs, called living, because they never cease, or intermit; such had God's care and kindness been over them. Cisterns - Either their idols, which are empty vain things, that never answer expectation, or the Assyrians, and Egyptians. Indeed all other supports, that are trusted to besides God, are but broken vessels. Jeremiah 2:14”

“2:13 The Israelites foolishly did two evil things: They abandoned the Lord, their true source of life, and they began to worship false gods that could not help them. • A fountain of living [i.e., running] water that flows throughout the year, even in drought, is a rare treasure (Ps 36:9; John 4:14). • The cisterns the Israelites dug after they entered Canaan were holes in the ground that were lined with plaster. These crude tanks collected water that drained from roofs in wet weather and provided water through the dry summers. The water could become putrid and dangerous to drink, and the plaster often cracked, letting the water drain out.”

“For my: Jer 2:31, Jer 2:32, Jer 4:22, Jer 5:26, Jer 5:31; Psa 81:11-13; Isa 1:3, Isa 5:13, Isa 63:8; Mic 2:8, Mic 6:3 forsaken: Jer 2:17, Jer 1:16, Jer 15:6; Jdg 10:13; Sa1 12:10 the fountain: Jer 17:13, Jer 18:14; Psa 36:9; Joh 4:14, Joh 7:37; Rev 21:6, Rev 22:1, Rev 22:17 broken cisterns: Jer 2:11, Jer 2:26; Psa 115:4-8, Psa 146:3, Psa 146:4; Ecc 1:2, Ecc 1:14, Ecc 2:11, Ecc 2:21, Ecc 2:26, Ecc 4:4, Ecc 12:8; Isa 44:9-20, Isa 46:6, Isa 46:7, Isa 55:2; Pe2 2:17 Jeremiah 2:14”