Jer 17:1-27. THE JEWS' INVETERATE LOVE OF IDOLATRY.
The the Septuagint omits the first four verses, but other Greek versions have them.
1. The first of the four clauses relates to the third, the second to
the fourth, by alternate parallelism. The sense is: They are as keen
after idols as if their propensity was "graven with an iron pen
(Job 19:24)
on their hearts," or as if it were sanctioned by a law "inscribed with
a diamond point" on their altars. The names of their gods used to be
written on "the horns of the altars"
(Ac 17:23).
As the clause "on their hearts" refers to their inward
propensity, so "on . . . altars," the outward
exhibition of it. Others refer "on the horns of . . . altars"
to their staining them with the blood of victims, in imitation of the
Levitical precept
(Ex 29:12;
Le 4:7, 18),
but "written . . . graven," would thus be inappropriate.
table of . . . heart--which God intended to be inscribed very
differently, namely, with His truths
(Pr 3:3;
2Co 3:3).
your--Though "their" preceded, He directly addresses them to charge
the guilt home to them in particular.
JFB.
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