17. Forbear to cry--or, "Lament in silence"; not forbidding sorrow,
but the loud expression of it [GROTIUS].
no mourning--typical of the universality of the ruin of Jerusalem,
which would preclude mourning, such as is usual where calamity is but
partial. "The dead" is purposely put in the plural, as referring
ultimately to the dead who should perish at the taking of Jerusalem;
though the singular might have been expected, as Ezekiel's wife was
the immediate subject referred to: "make no mourning,"
such as is usual, "for the dead, and such as shall be hereafter in
Jerusalem"
(Jer 16:5-7).
tire of thine head--thy headdress [FAIRBAIRN]. JEROME explains, "Thou
shalt retain the hair which is usually cut in mourning." The fillet,
binding the hair about the temples like a chaplet, was laid aside at
such times. Uncovering the head was an ordinary sign of mourning in
priests; whereas others covered their heads in mourning
(2Sa 15:30).
The reason was, the priests had their headdress of fine twined linen
given them for ornament, and as a badge of office. The high priest, as
having on his head the holy anointing oil, was forbidden in any case
to lay aside his headdress. But the priests might do so in the case of
the death of the nearest relatives
(Le 21:2, 3, 10).
They then put on inferior attire, sprinkling also on their heads dust
and ashes (compare
Le 10:6, 7).
shoes upon thy feet--whereas mourners went "barefoot"
(2Sa 15:30).
cover not . . . lips--rather, the "upper lip," with the moustache
(Le 13:45;
Mic 3:7).
bread of men--the bread usually brought to mourners by friends in
token of sympathy. So the "cup of consolation" brought
(Jer 16:7).
"Of men" means such as is usually furnished by men. So
Isa 8:1,
"a man's pen";
Re 21:17,
"the measure of a man."
JFB.
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