Jeremiah 31:18

“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus], etc.] Not Ephraim in person; though, as he was a very affectionate and tenderhearted man, as appears from (<130722>1 Chronicles 7:22); he is with like propriety introduced, as Rachel before; but Ephraim intends Israel, or the ten tribes, and even all the people of the Jews; and the prophecy seems to respect the conversion of them in the latter day, when they shall be in soul trouble, and bemoan their sins, and their sinful and wretched estate, and especially their rejection of the Messiah; when they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and mourn, and be in bitterness, as one that mourns for his firstborn, and which the Lord will take…”

“Ephraim--representing the ten tribes. bemoaning himself--The spirit of penitent supplication shall at last be poured on Israel as the necessary forerunner of their restoration (Zac 12:10-14). Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised--In the first clause the chastisement itself is meant; in the second the beneficial effect of it in teaching the penitent true wisdom. bullock unaccustomed to . . . yoke--A similar image occurs in Deu 32:15. Compare "stiff-necked," Act 7:51; Exo 32:9, an image from refractory oxen. Before my chastisement I needed the severe correction I received, as much as an untamed bullock needs the goad. Compare Act 9:5, where the same figure is used of Saul while…”

“The religious character of the restoration of the ten tribes. Chastisement brought repentance, and with it forgiveness; therefore God decrees their restoration. Jeremiah 31:15 Ramah, mentioned because of its nearness to Jerusalem, from which it was distant about five miles. As the mother of three tribes, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, Rachel is regarded as the mother of the whole ten. This passage is quoted by Matthew (marginal reference) as a type. In Jeremiah it is a poetical figure representing in a dramatic form the miserable condition of the kingdom of Ephraim devastated by the sword of the Assyrians. Jeremiah 31:16 Rachel’s work had been that of bearing and bringing up children, and…”

“I have heard - The prophet here shews the change that would be wrought in the hearts of the Israelites preceding this return from their captivity. As a bullock - Which ordinarily are very unruly when they are first put into it. Jeremiah 31:19”

“31:18-19 Israel was now repenting of its sins and humbly asking for restoration; the people realized that they had no power to redeem themselves. They were turning away from idols and affirming that God alone is the Lord.”

“surely: Job 33:27, Job 33:28; Psa 102:19, Psa 102:20; Isa 57:15-18; Hos 5:15, Hos 6:1, Hos 6:2; Luk 15:20 Ephraim: Jer 31:6, Jer 31:9, Jer 3:21, Jer 3:22, Jer 50:4, Jer 50:5; Hos 11:8, Hos 11:9, Hos 14:4-8 Thou hast: Jer 2:30, Jer 5:3; Job 5:17; Psa 39:8, Psa 39:9, Psa 94:12, Psa 119:75; Pro 3:11; Isa 1:5; Isa 9:13, Isa 57:17; Hos 5:12, Hos 5:13; Zep 3:2; Heb 12:5; Rev 3:19 as a: Psa 32:9; Pro 26:3, Pro 29:1; Isa 51:20, Isa 53:7; Lam 3:27-30; Hos 10:11 turn: Jer 17:14; Psa 80:3, Psa 80:7, Psa 80:19, Psa 85:4; Lam 5:21; Mal 4:6; Luk 1:17; Act 3:26; Phi 2:13; Jam 1:16-18 for: Jer 3:22, Jer 3:25; Isa 63:16 Jeremiah 31:19”