Jeremiah 2:37

“Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, etc.] From the Egyptian, without any help, and with shame; or, “from this”f68; that is, from this place, from Jerusalem, and from the land of Judea, into captivity; notwithstanding all the promised and expected help from Egypt, (<122407>2 Kings 24:7,10): and thine hands upon thine head; plucking and dishevelling the hair, as women in distress; so Tamar, when abused by her brother, laid her hand on her head, and went out crying, (<101319>2 Samuel 13:19): for the Lord hath rejected thy confidences; those in whom they trusted, as the Egyptians; so that they should be of no service to them; or them, because of their trust and confidence in men, when it ought to…”

“him--Egypt. hands upon . . . head--expressive of mourning (Sa2 13:19). in them--in those stays in which thou trustest. Contrary to all precedent in the case of adultery, Jehovah offers a return to Judah, the spiritual adulteress (Jer 3:1-5). A new portion of the book, ending with the sixth chapter. Judah worse than Israel; yet both shall be restored in the last days (Jer. 3:6-25). Next: Jeremiah Chapter 3”

“From him - From it, from this Egypt, which though fem. as a land, yet as a people may be used as a masc. (compare Jeremiah 46:8). Now that Nineveh is trembling before the armies of Cyaxares and Nabopalassar, thou hastenest to Egypt, hoping to rest upon her strength: but thou shalt retrace thy steps, with thy hands clasped upon thy head, disgraced and discarded. Confidences - Those in whom thou confidest. In them - literally, “with respect to them.” return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Jeremiah 2". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible".…”

“Yea - All the help thou canst procure shall not prevent thy captivity, but from hence thou shalt go. Thy hands - An usual posture of mourning. Next: Jeremiah Chapter 3”

“thine hands: Sa2 13:19 for the Lord: Jer 2:36, Jer 17:5, Jer 37:7-10; Isa 10:4; Eze 17:15-20 and thou: Jer 32:5; Num 14:41; Ch2 13:12 Next: Jeremiah Chapter 3”

“Also from this, i.e., Egypt, shalt thou go away (come back), thy hands upon thy head, i.e., beating them on thy head in grief and dismay (cf. for this gesture Sa2 13:19). זה refers to Egypt, thought of as a people as in Jer 46:8; Isa 19:16, Isa 19:25; and thus is removed Hitz.'s objection, that in that case we must have מבטחים .זאת, objects of confidence. The expression refers equally to Egypt and to Assyria. As God has broken the power of Assyria, so will He also overthrow Egypt's might, thus making all trust in it a shame. להם, in reference to them. Next: Jeremiah Chapter 3”