37 The peaceable folds are brought to silence because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
He goes on with the same subject, that the tents, previously tranquil, would perish or be destroyed. And he designedly calls their dwellings peaceable; for the Jews, having found that their enemies had not before disturbed them, still promised to themselves the same good fortune in future. And the faithful indeed do act thus rightly, and justly conclude from God's previous benefits that he will be kind to them as he had ever been so; but hypocrites, though they repent not, yet absurdly think that God is bound to them; and though they daily provoke his wrath, they yet securely continue in their confidence of having peace. Since God then had until that time deferred the grievousness of his wrath, the Prophet says, that though their tents had been peaceable, [1] yet they could not be exempted from destruction as soon as the indignation of God's wrath went forth. It might have been enough to make use of one of these words, either of chrvn, cherun, or of 'ph, aph; but the Prophet used the two, indignation and wrath, [2] in order that he might fill the wicked with more terror; for as they were obstinate in their wickedness, so they were not moved except God doubled his strokes and set forth the extremity of his wrath. It follows, --
1 - The word rendered "tents" means sometimes dwellings, or habitations, and sometimes pastures; and it is thus variously translated in our version, according to what the context requires. As "pastures" are mentioned in the previous verse, tents, or habitations, would be the best word here, and more suitable to the verb that is used, which means to reduce to silence, or to level, that is, with the ground, and hence to demolish. The rendering of the Vulg. is "fields -- arva," but of the Syr. and Targ. "habitations." Venema and Blayney have "folds," which are probably the habitations intended. -- Ed.
2 - Literally it is, "through the burning of the wrath of Jehovah." The word "fury," by which it is often rendered, is by no means suitable. The Versions vary: "the wrath of indignation" is the Sept.; "the wrath of fury" the Vulg., "boiling wrath" the Sept.; and "the fury of wrath" the Targ. The same words occur at the end of the next verse. -- Ed.
The peaceable habitations - The pastures of peace, the peaceable fields where the flocks lately dwelt in security. See Jeremiah 25:30 note.
And the peaceable habitations are cut down,.... Or, "their peaceable ones", as the Targum; the palaces and stately dwellings, in which they lived in great pomp and prosperity, in great peace, plenty, and safety, are destroyed by the enemy, and laid waste, and become desolate; yea, even those that lived peaceably and quietly, and neither were disturbed themselves, nor disturbed others, yet, as is usual in times of war, share the same fate with their neighbours, who have been more troublesome and molesting:
because of the fierce anger of the Lord; or "from before it, from the face of it"; shall be destroyed by it, that being displayed; and using enemies as instruments in the destruction of them. Sin is the cause of God's wrath and fierce anger, and his wrath and anger the cause of the destruction of men and their habitations, Whoever are the instruments.
habitations--rather, carrying out the image "pastures" (see on Jeremiah 25:30). The pasturages where, peaceably and without incursion of wild beasts, the flocks have fed, shall be destroyed; that is, the regions where, heretofore, there was peace and security (alluding to the name Salem, or Jerusalem, "possessing peace").
*More commentary available at chapter level.