\\INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 13\\

In this chapter, under the similes of a girdle and bottles of wine, the
destruction of the Jews is set forth. Some exhortations are given them
to repent and humble themselves, even men of all ranks and degrees
among them; and their sins, the source of their calamities, are pointed
out to them. An order is given to the prophet to get him a linen
girdle, with instructions what to do with it, and which he observed,
\\#Jer 13:1,2\\, a fresh order to take it and hide it in the hole of a
rock by the river Euphrates, which he accordingly did, \\#Jer 13:3-5\\
and he is bid a third time to go and take it from thence, which he
did; when he found it spoiled, and good for nothing, \\#Jer 13:6,7\\,
then follows the application of this simile, or the signification of
this sign; that in like manner the pride of Judah and Jerusalem should
be marred, and for their wickedness and idolatry should become good
for nothing, like that girdle; whereas they ought to have cleaved to
the Lord, as a girdle does to a man's loins, and to have been an
honourable people to him, \\#Jer 13:8-11\\. By the simile of bottles
filled with wine is signified that all the inhabitants of the land,
king, priests, prophets, and common people, should be like drunken
men, that should dash one against another, and destroy each other,
which the mercy of God would not prevent, \\#Jer 13:12-14\\, some
exhortations are made to the people in general, to be humble, and
confess their sins, and give glory to God, before it was too late;
which are enforced by the prophet's affectionate concern for them,
\\#Jer 13:15-17\\ and to the king and queen in particular, since their
crown and kingdom were about to be taken from them; the cities, in the
southern parts, going to be shut up, and not opened; and even the
whole land of Judea, and all its inhabitants, in a little time would
be carried captive, \\#Jer 13:18,19\\, and, to certify them of the
truth of these things, they are bid to look to the north, from whence
the enemy was coming to carry them captive, even the beautiful flock
committed to their care, \\#Jer 13:20\\, and to consider what they
could say for themselves, when their punishment should come upon them
suddenly, as the sorrows of a woman in travail, \\#Jer 13:21\\ and
should they ask the reason of this, it was owing to the multitude of
their iniquities, and to their habit and custom of sinning, which made
their case desperate, \\#Jer 13:22,23\\, wherefore a resolution is
taken to disperse them among the nations, and that this should be
their lot and portion, because of their many abominations, and yet not
without some concern that they might be purged from their iniquities,
\\#Jer 13:24-27\\.