Jeremiah 21:13

21:11-14 The wickedness of the king and his family was the worse because of their relation to David. They were urged to act with justice, at once, lest the Lord's anger should be unquenchable. If God be for us, who can be against us? But if he be against us, who can do any thing for us?

Jeremiah 21:13-14 . Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain — A description of Jerusalem, which was built in part upon the rocky mountain of Zion, but a great part of it was in the valley; and the higher mountains about mount Zion made that mountain itself, in comparison with them, to appear as a valley. Which say, Who shall come down against us? — They confided in the strength of their situation, as the Jebusites, the ancient inhabitants of the place, had formerly done. “Yet how many times,” says Bishop Newton, “was Jerusalem taken, though it was a very strong place and wonderfully fortified, both by nature and art! It was taken by Shishak king of Egypt, by Nebuchadnezzar, by Antiochus Epiphanes, by Pompey, by Socius, and Herod, before its final destruction by Titus.” I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof — The word forest is often metaphorically taken for a city in the prophetical writings. See Jeremiah 22:7 ; Ezekiel 20:46 ; Zechariah 11:1 . Or it may mean the forest of Lebanon, or their houses made of wood cut out of that forest, especially those of the royal family, or their idolatrous groves. And it shall devour all things round about it — And this fire shall not end in the destruction of this city, but shall totally destroy all the adjacent country.

13 . inhabitant ] lit. as mg. inhabitress , i.e. the feminine used collectively for the body of the inhabitants. See Jeremiah 4:31 , Jeremiah 6:2 , Jeremiah 7:29 , Jeremiah 14:17 . habitations ] lairs . The word suggests the haunts of wild beasts, in which they are secure. Cp. Psalm 104:22 ; Nahum 2:12 (“dens”). 13, 14 . See introd. note to section. The fragment is a very obscure one. It may be connected with Jeremiah 22:8 f. It was evidently held by the compiler who placed it here to refer to Jerusalem. But that city is not in a “valley”, nor is it upon a “rock” rising out of a tableland “plain.” Neither can a foe be said to “come down” upon it. Dr. suggests that, as the word rendered “plain” is commonly used of the tableland upon which the principal cities of Moab lay (see Jeremiah 48:8 ; Jeremiah 48:21 ), it is possible that the v . was originally written with reference to some other city.

Verse 13. - Jehovah, standing, as it were, on the Mount of Olives, addresses the proud city beneath him. O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain ; rather, O inhabitress ; Jerusalem is personified as a virgin. The poetical description of the capital as a "valley" (the word, however, signifies a valley as wide as a plain) reminds us of "the valley [or rather, 'ravine'] of vision" ( Isaiah 22:1, 5 ); While "the rock of the plain" recalls "my mountain in the field" ( Jeremiah 17:3 ). So, as Graf points out, Babylon is called "a mountain" in metaphorical language ( Jeremiah 51:25 ). It is, however, singular that the prophet should call Jerusalem a "valley" and a "rock" in the same passage. In the former, perhaps, Jeremiah is thinking specially of the lower city, and in the latter of Mount Zion. Who shall come down against us ? viz. from the "hills round about Jerusalem." Jeremiah 21:13

Behold, I am against thee, {g} O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; who say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations? (g) Meaning, Jerusalem which was built part on the hill and part in the valley and was compassed about with mountains.

(13) O inhabitant of the valley . . . —The noun, as the marginal “inhabitress” shows, is feminine; and, as in “the daughter of Zion” for Zion itself, describes the lower city of Jerusalem, Isaiah’s “valley of vision” ( Isaiah 22:1 ; Isaiah 22:5 ), the Tyropœon of Josephus. The “rock of the plain” (comp. Notes on Jeremiah 17:3 ; Jeremiah 18:14 ) is, in like manner, the higher city built on the hill of Zion. The king and his people trusted, as the Jebusites had done of old ( 2Samuel 5:8 ), in what seemed to them the impregnable strength of their natural position. There seems no adequate reason for taking the words as symbolising the kingly house of Judah, but it is probable enough that local associations, palaces on the hill or in the valley, may have given the words a specially pointed application. Benson CommentaryJeremiah 21:13-14. Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain — A description of Jerusalem, which was built in part upon the rocky mountain of Zion, but a great part of it was in the valley; and the higher mountains about mount Zion made that mountain itself, in comparison with them, to appear as a valley. Which say, Who shall come down against us? — They confided in the strength of their situation, as the Jebusites, the ancient inhabitants of the place, had formerly done. “Yet how many times,” says Bishop Newton, “was Jerusalem taken, though it was a very strong place and wonderfully fortified, both by nature and art!

It was taken by Shishak king of Egypt, by Nebuchadnezzar, by Antiochus Epiphanes, by Pompey, by Socius, and Herod, before its final destruction by Titus.” I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof — The word forest is often metaphorically taken for a city in the prophetical writings. See Jeremiah 22:7; Ezekiel 20:46; Zechariah 11:1. Or it may mean the forest of Lebanon, or their houses made of wood cut out of that forest, especially those of the royal family, or their idolatrous groves. And it shall devour all things round about it — And this fire shall not end in the destruction of this city, but shall totally destroy all the adjacent country. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary21:11-14 The wickedness of the king and his family was the worse because of their relation to David. They were urged to act with justice, at once, lest the Lord's anger should be unquenchable. If God be for us, who can be against us? But if he be against us, who can do any thing for us?Barnes' Notes on the BibleInhabitant - is feminine, the population of Jerusalem being always personified as a woman, the daughter of Zion. Omit and. Jerusalem is at once a valley and a rock Jeremiah 17:3. The people are described as priding themselves on the impregnability of their city.

Inhabitant of the valley; the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem are those here intended, Psalm 125:2 . The mountains were round about Jerusalem, yea, Jerusalem itself was builded in part upon the rocky mountain of Zion; but a great part was in the valley, and the higher mountains about Mount Zion made that mountain itself, in comparison with them, as a valley. And rock of the plain; though also a rock of the plain, that is, near to the plain. Which situation of this place made the Jews think it to be impregnable, and to mock at dangers, or threats of enemies, saying, Who shall, that is, Who can or who will , dare to come against us? or, Who will be able to enter into our city? Saith the Lord, I am against you ; I will come down against you, and I, by such as I shall employ, will enter into your habitations. No natural position or situation of places, no artificial fortifications, are sufficient against an almighty God.