Jeremiah 22:15

“Shalt thou reign because thou closest [thyself] in cedar? etc.] Dost thou think that thou shalt reign long, and thy throne be established firm and secure, because of thy cedar wainscot? as if that was a protection to thee, and were like the fortifications of a city or tower; when it may easily be broke to pieces, or burnt with fire; and must be a poor defence against a powerful enemy. The Targum is, “dost thou think to be as the first king?” as David; to be as great a prince, to keep as grand a court, and live in as splendid a manner, as he? The Septuagint version, instead of “ares”, a cedar, reads “Ahaz”, and takes it for the proper name of a king of Judah; and the Arabic version reads…”

“closest thyself--rather, "thou viest," that is, art emulous to surpass thy forefathers in the magnificence of thy palaces. eat and drink--Did not Josiah, thy father, enjoy all that man really needs for his bodily wants? Did he need to build costly palaces to secure his throne? Nay, he did secure it by "judgment and justice"; whereas thou, with all thy luxurious building, sittest on a tottering throne. then--on that account, therefore.”

“i. e., Will thy buildings make thy reign continue? These words imply that Jehoiakim was looking forward to, and taking measures to secure, a long continuance of power (compare Habakkuk 2:9-13. If so, Jeremiah probably wrote this prophecy before Jehoiakim revolted 2 Kings 24:1; and it, therefore, probably belongs to the same date as Jeremiah 36:30, written in the interval between Nebuchadnezzars first conquest of Jerusalem, and Jehoiakim’s rebellion, and when Jeremiah was out of the reach of the tyrant’s power. Closest thyself in cedar - Rather, viest “in cedar;” i. e., viest with Solomon. Did not thy father eat and drink ... - i. e., he was prosperous and enjoyed life. There is a contrast…”

“22:15-16 If Jehoiakim wanted plenty to eat and drink, he did not have to resort to corruption and oppression. Compared with his prosperous father, Josiah, Jehoiakim was not a great king. Josiah, by contrast, had been just and right in all his dealings, a servant of God and his people. Because he had lived up to the requirements of the ancient covenant, God blessed him.”

“thy: Jer 22:18; Kg2 23:25; Ch1 3:15 eat: Kg1 4:20-23; Ch2 35:7, Ch2 35:8, Ch2 35:12-18; Ecc 2:24, Ecc 9:7-10, Ecc 10:17; Isa 33:16; Luk 11:41; Act 2:46; Co1 10:31 and do: Jer 22:3, Jer 21:12, Jer 23:5; Sa2 8:15; Kg1 10:9; Kg2 22:2, Kg2 23:25; Ch2 34:2; Pro 20:28, Pro 21:3, Pro 25:5, Pro 29:4, Pro 31:9; Isa 9:7 then: Jer 42:6; Deu 4:40; Psa 128:1, Psa 128:2; Isa 3:10 Jeremiah 22:16”

“In Jer 22:15 Jeremiah pursues the subject: kingship and kingcraft do not consist in the erection of splendid palaces, but in the administration of right and justice. The reproachful question התמלך has not the meaning: wilt thou reign long? or wilt thou consolidate thy dominion? but: dost thou suppose thyself to be a king, to show thyself a king, if thy aim and endeavour is solely fixed on the building of a stately palace? "Viest," as in Jer 12:5. בּארז, not: with the cedar, for תחרה is construed with the accus. of that with which one vies, but: in cedar, i.e., in the building of cedar palaces. It was not necessary to say with whom he vied, since the thought of Solomon's edifices would…”