4 Again will I build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel: again you shall be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who make merry.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Jeremiah, in this verse, proceeds with the same subject, -- that though there would be the long time of seventy years, yet God would become the liberator of his Church. Length of time might have extinguished the faith of the people, as it is too commonly the case: for when nothing appears to us but the naked word, and when God repeats the same promises from day to day, we think it of no moment; and then when some evil has been prevailing, we think that all ways have been already closed up, so that God cannot bring a remedy; we thus measure his power by our own standard: and as he comes late to help us, because he suffers men to be long afflicted with disease or other evils, so we imagine that God will never come, when he suspends and delays his favor longer than we wish. Hence the Prophet says here, I will yet build thee, and built shalt thou be, virgin of Israel; and then, thou shalt yet be adorned with thy tabrets Joy is here set in opposition to the grief with which the people were to be oppressed in exile, and in part had been already oppressed, for many had been driven into exile. But Jeremiah expresses their joy and gladness by a figurative mode of speaking, by tabrets and dances of those who play For when the Prophets announce the vengeance of God, they are wont to say, "cease shall all joy among you; ye shall not play any more with the harp or with musical instruments." So also in this place Jeremiah says, that they would return to the tabrets and dances, when God restored them to their own country. We ought not at the same time to turn this testimony of the Prophet to excuse profane lasciviousness, by which profane men pervert the benefits of God, for they preserve no moderation in their joy, but abandon themselves, and thus become wanton against God. And it is the tendency of all dances and sounds of tabrets, to besot profane men. The Prophet then did not intend to allow this sort of licentiousness to the people: for we must ever bear in mind what he said yesterday, that the voice of praise would go forth with joy. By tabrets and dances, he then means holy joy, connected with praises to God, and with the sacrifice of thanksgiving. [1] It afterwards follows --
1 - See Exodus 15:20; Judges 11:34; 1 Samuel 18:6; Psalm 68:25. "Tabrets" or timbrels were carried in one hand, and beaten by the fingers of the other. It was a hoop with bits of brass, and over this hoop parchment was distended; they were very like what are now called tambourins. -- Ed.
O virgin of Israel - i. e., the whole people (compare Jeremiah 14:17 note).
O virgin of Israel - Israelites in general; now called virgin, because restored to their ancient purity.
With thy tabrets - Women in general played on these; they were used in times of rejoicing, and accompanied with dancing. To these customs, still preserved, the prophet alludes.
Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again (f) be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
(f) You will still have opportunity to rejoice which is meant by tabrets and dancing as their custom was after notable victories, (Exodus 15:20; Judges 11:34).
Again, I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel,.... The same with "all the families of Israel", Jeremiah 31:1; who, when converted, will be espoused to Christ as a chaste virgin; have a sincere affection for him; unfeigned faith in him, and purely worship him; receiving the pure doctrines of the Gospel, and submitting to the ordinances of it; and then will the church, comparable to a building, consisting of lively stones, laid upon the foundation Christ, which is fallen down, and lies in ruins, be rebuilt, and none shall hinder it; and a glorious building it will be, and will continue so, when its stones are laid with fair colours; its foundations with sapphires; its windows made of agates; its gates of carbuncles; and all its borders of pleasant stones, Isaiah 54:11;
thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets; or timbrels, instruments of music, such as women used at times of public joy and mirth, Exodus 15:20; which became them, and were very ornamental to them; and their playing on these was usually attended with dancing; hence it follows:
and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry; phrases expressive of spiritual joy, which will be in the hearts of the saints, and expressed by the behaviour of them at the time of the conversion of the, Jews, which will be the marriage of the Lamb; and when the bride will be ready, being adorned with the robe of Christ's righteousness, and with the graces of his Spirit, and be brought into his presence, accompanied with a chorus of virgins her companions, undefiled ones, having harps in their hands, singing the Lamb's new song; see Revelation 14:2.
I will build . . . thou shalt be built--The combination of the active and passive to express the same fact implies the infallible certainty of its accomplishment. "Build," that is, establish in prosperity (Jeremiah 33:7).
adorned with . . . tabrets-- (1-Samuel 18:6). Or, "adorn thyself with thy timbrels"; used by damsels on occasions of public rejoicings (Exodus 15:20; Judges 11:34). Israel had cast away all instruments of joy in her exile (Psalm 137:4).
dances--holy joy, not carnal mirth.
Israel is now to be built up again, i.e., to be raised to a permanent condition of ever-increasing prosperity; cf. Jeremiah 12:16. The additional clause, "and thou shalt be built," confirms this promise. The "virgin of Israel" is the congregation of Israel; cf. Jeremiah 14:17. A new and joyful phase in the life of the people is to begin: such is the meaning of the words, "with tabrets shalt thou adorn thyself, and thou shalt go forth in the dance of those who make merry." In this manner were the popular feasts celebrated in Israel; cf. Judges 11:34, Ps. 66:26.
*More commentary available at chapter level.