Jeremiah 2:34

“Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents, etc.] Either of the innocent infants of poor persons, who were sacrificed to Moloch; or of the poor prophets of the Lord, whom they slew, because they faithfully reproved them for their sins; and the blood of those being found in their skirts is expressive of the publicness and notoriety of their sin, and also of the large quantity of blood shed, inasmuch as the skirts of their garments were filled with it, as if they had trod and walked in blood; (see <236303>Isaiah 63:3). I have not found it by secret search; or, “by digging”f64; there was no need to dig for it; it lay above ground; it was upon their skirts, public…”

“Also--not only art thou polluted with idolatry, but also with the guilt of shedding innocent blood [MAURER]. ROSENMULLER not so well translates, "even in thy skirts," &c.; that is, there is no part of thee (not even thy skirts) that is not stained with innocent blood (Jer 19:4; Kg2 21:16; Psa 106:38). See as to innocent blood shed, not as here in honor of idols, but of prophets for having reproved them (Jer 2:30; Jer 26:20-23). souls--that is, persons. search--I did not need to "search deep" to find proof of thy guilt; for it was "upon all these" thy skirts. Not in deep caverns didst thou perpetrate these atrocities, but openly in the vale of Hinnom and within the precincts of the temple.”

“I have not found it ... - Rather, thou didst not find them breaking into thy house. The meaning is, that these poor innocents had committed no crime: they were not thieves caught in the act, whom the Law permitted men to slay Exodus 22:2, and therefore Israel in killing them was guilty of murder. The one crime here of theft is put for crime generally. Upon all these - Or, because of all this. Thou killedst the poor innocents, not for any crime, but because of this thy lust for idolatry. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Skirts - Of thy garments: the tokens of cruelty may be seen openly there. Innocents - In thee is found the murder expressed here by blood of innocent persons, murdering souls as well as bodies. Search - Heb. by digging; as if the earth had covered the blood, or as if they had committed their wickedness in some obscure places. These - Upon thy garments, exposed openly to publick view. Jeremiah 2:35”

“Also: Jer 7:31, Jer 19:4; Kg2 21:16, Kg2 24:4; Psa 106:37, Psa 106:38; Isa 57:5, Isa 59:7; Eze 16:20, Eze 16:21, Eze 20:31 I: Jer 6:15, Jer 8:12; Eze 24:7 secret search: Heb. digging Jeremiah 2:35”