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| 1 At that time, an affirmation of Jehovah, I am for God to all families of Israel, And they they are to Me for a people. |
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| 2 Thus said Jehovah: Found grace in the wilderness Hath a people remaining from the sword Going to cause it to rest Israel. |
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| 3 From afar Jehovah hath appeared to me, With love age-during I have loved thee, Therefore I have drawn thee [with] kindness. |
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| 4 Again do I build thee, And thou hast been built, O virgin of Israel, Again thou puttest on thy tabrets, And hast gone out in the chorus of the playful. |
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| 5 Again thou dost plant vineyards In mountains of Samaria, Planters have planted, and made common. |
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| 6 For there is a day, Cried have watchmen on mount Ephraim, 'Rise, and we go up to Zion, unto Jehovah our God; |
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| 7 For thus said Jehovah: Sing, O ye to Jacob, [with] joy, And cry aloud at the head of the nations, Sound ye, praise ye, and say, Save, O Jehovah, thy people, the remnant of Israel. |
For Jacob – Natural Israel. A300
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| 8 Lo, I am bringing them in from the north country, And have gathered them from the sides of the earth, Among them [are] blind and lame, Conceiving and travailing one together, A great assembly they turn back hither. |
The north country – Russia, where nearly two-thirds of all the Jews now living reside. C259
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| 9 With weeping they come in, And with supplications I bring them, I cause them to go unto streams of waters, In a right way they stumble not in it, For I have been to Israel for a father, And Ephraim My first-born [is] he. |
With weeping – Bitterness against Israel will cause the "remnants of Israel" to be expelled from various nations. R1898:5
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| 10 Hear a word of Jehovah, O nations, And declare ye among isles afar off, and say: He who is scattering Israel doth gather him, And hath kept him as a shepherd [doth] his flock, |
Will gather him – Confirms the assurance of God's returning favor to fleshly Israel. R1364:5
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| 11 For Jehovah hath ransomed Jacob, And redeemed him from a hand stronger than he. |
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| 12 And they have come in, And have sung in the high place of Zion, And flowed unto the goodness of Jehovah, For wheat, and for new wine, and for oil, And for the young of the flock and herd, And their soul hath been as a watered garden, And they add not to grieve any more. |
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| 13 Then rejoice doth a virgin in a chorus, Both young men and old men together, And I have turned their mourning to joy, And have comforted them, And gladdened them above their sorrow, |
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| 14 And satisfied the soul of the priests [with] fatness, And My people with My goodness are satisfied, An affirmation of Jehovah. |
Shall be satisfied – The perfect man will not understand the spiritual glory; he will be absorbed with the glory that surrounds him on the human plane. R613:2
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| 15 Thus said Jehovah, A voice in Ramah is heard, wailing, weeping most bitter, Rachel is weeping for her sons, She hath refused to be comforted for her sons, because they are not. |
Bitter weeping – Sorrow for the dead is not a sign of weakness; rather, a sign of love and sympathy. OV212:9
Rachel weeping – Prophecy of the slaughter of the infants in Bethlehem. R1681:6
They were not – They were dead, unconscious. "The dead know not anything." (Eccl. 9:5) Q766:3; R3436:4
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| 16 Thus said Jehovah: Withhold thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, For there is a reward for thy work, An affirmation of Jehovah, And they have turned back from the land of the enemy. |
Thus saith the LORD – This is the word of the Lord, which cannot be broken. OV212:8
Shall be rewarded – The labor of parents endeavoring properly to rear their children is not lost. OV212:7, OV217:1
Shall come again – Restored to life; not all at once, but gradually in the resurrection. OV212:5, OV213:3, OV216:1
Land of the enemy – The great enemy, death. CR430:2; OV85:1, OV214:6; R2063:4; Q830:2
The place to which all alike go--from the sinner of three-score and ten, to the little one of two years old and under. R822:5*
While Satan has the "power of death" (Heb. 2:14), it is a subordinate power which he grasped as an usurper. R452:4*
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Cor. 15:26) OV214:6, OV212:6
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| 17 And there is hope for thy latter end, An affirmation of Jehovah, And the sons have turned back [to] their border. |
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| 18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, 'Thou hast chastised me, And I am chastised, as a heifer not taught, Turn me back, and I turn back, For thou [art] Jehovah my God. |
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| 19 For after my turning back I repented, And after my being instructed I struck on the thigh, I have been ashamed, I have also blushed, For I have borne the reproach of my youth. |
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| 20 A precious son is Ephraim to Me A child of delights For since My speaking against him, I do thoroughly remember him still, Therefore have My bowels been moved for him, I do greatly love him, An affirmation of Jehovah. |
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| 21 Set up for thee signs, make for thee heaps, Set thy heart to the highway, the way thou wentest, Turn back, O virgin of Israel, Turn back unto these thy cities. |
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| 22 Till when dost thou withdraw thyself, O backsliding daughter For Jehovah hath prepared a new thing in the land, Woman doth compass man. |
Compass a man – How marvellously Christ fills the picture here. R350:1*
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| 23 Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, Still they say this word in the land of Judah, And in its cities, In My turning back [to] their captivity, Jehovah doth bless thee, habitation of righteousness, Mountain of holiness. |
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| 24 And dwelt in Judah have husbandmen, and in all its cities together, And they have journeyed in order. |
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| 25 For I have satiated the weary soul, And every grieved soul I have filled.' |
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| 26 On this I have awaked, and I behold, and my sleep hath been sweet to me. |
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| 27 Lo, days are coming, an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have sown the house of Israel, And the house of Judah, With seed of man, and seed of beast. |
House of Israel – The entire passage, verses 27 to 40, is for the Jew, natural Israel. R4586:2
House of Judah – The object in mentioning both is to prevent any from getting the idea that only the ten tribes would be blessed in the future. R1364:5
Seed of man, and...beast – Israel to be replenished with man and beast indicates New covenant entirely earthly. R4530:4*
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| 28 And it hath been, as I watched over them to pluck up, And to break down, and to throw down, And to destroy, and to afflict; So do I watch over them to build, and to plant, An affirmation of Jehovah. |
Shall come to pass – In the Millennial, or Restitution, day. A109
And to afflict – Ever since Jesus rejected Israel they have been under divine displeasure. The faithful performance of the evil part of the promise is an assurance of the ultimate blessings. R1364:6
Watch over them – The Jewish people. A109
To build, and to plant – They shall be firmly planted in their everlasting possession. R1483:5
This is a deliverance that will need no repetition. R1483:5
The succeeding verses how that this does not refer to earlier deliverances from Babylon, Syria, etc. R545:4
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| 29 In those days they do not say any more: Fathers have eaten unripe fruit, And the sons' teeth are blunted. |
In those days – In the Times of Restitution, the Millennial age. A109; E332; R3304:5, R4812:2, R4971:4, R258:6
When fleshly Israel receives its portion. C298
In the days of favor following the "seven times" of chastisement, or "Times of the Gentiles." (Luke 21:24) B92
Indicated by the return of divine favor to Israel. R1365:3; C298
Say no more – No longer shall any die for Adam's sin. R2608:5, R1260:5, R3304:5, R4018:3*, R5240:4
The weakness of heredity will no longer weigh men down. R892:4
The fathers – Adam and his posterity. A109, A143; R2050:6, R4371:3, R5063:6, R2611:5
Eaten a sour grape – The sour grape of sin. R1365:3, R2050:6, R2611:5, R4812:2, R282:6; A109; E332; OV90:2
The children's – All of Adam's children. R2587:4
Are set on edge – In the case of Adam, one soul sinned and twenty thousand million souls die as the result--because they are his children. CR431:5
By the chain of sickness, misery and death which follows. A109, A143; E309; R1365:3, R2049:4; OV392:3; HG351:4
The nature of the fathers, being polluted by sin, is transmitted to the children, who come under the death sentence for having the same nature (disposition) as the fathers. R527:2*
So that sometimes we cannot do the things that we would do, and frequently leave undone the things that we ought to do. R2587:4
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| 30 But each for his own iniquity doth die, Every man who is eating the unripe fruit, Blunted are his teeth. |
But every one – Who dies in that age. A109; B92; E473
Since the race will no longer be "in Adam" this trial must be an individual one. R2117:4
Shall die – The Second Death. R1365:3, R2608:5, R2677:6, R4909:1, R5309:5, R381:2, R904:6
None but wilful sinners shall die then, but such shall surely die. R1073:2
The atonement for Adamic sin will not cover wilful sin against light and knowledge. E474, E332
His own iniquity – His own sin only. A109; R2759:4, R2677:6, R2833:2, R4971:4, R5240:4, R5292:5
No longer shall die for Adam's sin. R1260:5, R2608:5, R3304:5, R4018:3, R5240:4, R904:5
Since it is recorded that "Christ dieth no more," it follows that not one of such condemned ones can be redeemed as Adam was. R912:6
His teeth – There will then be a test for life or death, as there is now with the Church. Q288:6
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| 31 Lo, days are coming, an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have made with the house of Israel And with the house of Judah a new covenant, |
The days come – When The Christ is glorified and beyond the veil, after the days of the Gospel age. R5000:1, R4321:6;
When the sufferings of the Body of Christ will be finished and Messiah shall come as the great Priest and King. R4513:1, R4452:3, R4497:5, R4505:1, R4612:6
When Israel's "seven times" of punishment are over. R5163:6
As soon as this blood of the atonement shall have been applied for the sins of all the people. R5292:6
Saith the LORD – God made a promise to the Jews and that promise must be fulfilled. CR44:2
I will make – In the future; replacing the Law covenant. R4496:1, R4646:4, R4344:5
A covenant does not go into operation until after it has been fully mediated. R5164:1
Covenant relationship with God means perfection. Mankind will not reach perfection or enter into the covenant until the end of the 1000 years. R5293:6
A new covenant – Properly so called because it will take the place of the Old Law covenant. R5163:6, R3916:5
The Everlasting covenant, to be made with Israel alone, will bring blessings to Israel, and to all mankind through Israel. R4321:2, R5163:6, R4806:2, R4902:6, R4706:1, R4821:1, R4505:1, R4497:5, R3916:5, R4452:3, R4528:5, R4555:1, R4592:5, R4612:6, R4624:4, R4768:5, R4940:1; CR44:2; CR157:3; Q170:7, Q468:2, Q622:1
The one that God intended should come to replace the typical covenant. R5071:2, R4474:3, R4309:5, R4555:1, R5164:2, R5292:2; OV118:2
The mention of a New (Law) covenant implies a Mediator for it. R4437:6*, R4496:1
The antitypical Moses, The Christ complete, as Messiah will mediate between God and mankind. R5301:6, R4840:3, R5071:3, R5164:1; CR157:3; CR98:6; SM200:3; R4452:3, R4474:5, R4511:5, R4624:6, R4696:3, R4713:5, R4840:3, R4902:6, R4912:4; SM730:3
Mediated by The Christ for 1000 years. R5301:6, R5292:3, R5000:2, R4613:4, R4640:3, R4646:1, R4586:6; HG460:4
The words "New covenant" indicate the repetition of God's favor to Israel under the better Mediator. R4624:6
This cannot set aside, or make null and void, the original Abrahamic covenant of grace, any more than could the Law covenant. R5301:6
Implying that Israel was right in not expecting much from the Law covenant. R4496:1
The covenant is a conditional one. That is shown by the fact that it has a Mediator. Q187:2
The New covenant has been promised for centuries but it has not yet gone into effect. R5292:6
The Ancient Worthies will be under the New covenant, their indiscretions or imperfections will come under the review of the Mediator. Q12:T-13:3
The offer of life to the Church is under the covenant of sacrifice; to the world, under the New covenant. A141
The Gospel Church was not at all under the first covenant; only the Jewish nation was. R4624:4
The New Creation is not under the Law covenant typified by Hagar, or the New covenant typified by Keturah, but under the original covenant, the Everlasting, Oathbound, Abrahamic covenant typified by Sarah. R4011:1, R4624:4
Superior to the old covenant in that it will have a better Mediator. R4309:6, R4624:6, R4931:1, R4714:3, R4940:1; CR157:3
Of which our Lord was the Messenger. R4495:6, R4715:3
Which will absolutely take away sin and bring man into harmony with God. R5292:2, R5293:4
The house of Israel – As the natural seed of Abraham. R4821:1
The New covenant will be Israelitish. CR157:3
The New covenant will be made directly with the nation of Israel. R4497:5
The New covenant is given to Israel and the world only indirectly. The Father's dealings are not with Israel, but with the Mediator of the covenant. R3109:2
God's covenant will be with the Mediator for Israel. R4555:1, R4640:5
All the Jews will be transferred from Moses to Christ, the better Mediator; and from the Old Law covenant to the New Law covenant. R4840:3
In order to avail themselves of this covenant all other nations and peoples will be obliged to become a part of Israel. R4902:6; CR139:1; CR485:2; CR51:4; OV72:T, SM596:1
The expression "New covenant" is not used with others than the Jews because it is not true that God will make a covenant with the rest of mankind. R4659:2
The New covenant is not to be made with any others than Jews for no others were in covenant relationship with God. R4624:6
This work will proceed from Israel to all the families of the earth. R4674:2
The New covenant will mean that all through the Millennial age all the blessings will go forth first to the Jews. CR44:2
The nations are to be blessed also under this New covenant by becoming "daughters" to Israel. (Ezek. 16:61) R4371:3
The mediatorial work will be accomplished through natural Israel. R4624:4, R4821:1
All mankind, represented by Israel. R904:6
The Jewish nation needed to be redeemed in a special manner before God could use it as his channel of blessing to the other nations. R4624:4
The house of Judah – The ten tribes of Israel and the two tribes of Judah: both mentioned to prevent a misunderstanding. R4586:2, R1342:1, R2125:6; C297
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| 32 Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers, In the day of My laying hold on their hand, To bring them out of the land of Egypt, In that they made void My covenant, And I ruled over them an affirmation of Jehovah. |
Not according to – The old one was written merely on tables of stone. The new one the Lord will cause gradually to be written in the hearts of all. OV90:4, OV115:3
God intended to give them a better covenant than the Law, which they had found to be a bondage and one unto death. R4309:5
The Law given at Sinai was inferior when compared with the perfect heart-and-mind written law bestowed upon Adam. R1717:5
The covenant – The Law covenant, made only with the Jews, did not accomplish the blessing of Israel and of the world. OV29:1; R4659:2; Q169:3
The inauguration of the Law covenant was typical of the inauguration of the New covenant. R5000:2, R4592:5, R4646:4; OV118:2
The terms of the New covenant will be the same as those under the Law covenant instituted by Moses. OV81:2
The Law covenant is as binding upon the Jew as it ever was and it will remain so until it is superseded by the New Law covenant. R4912:4, R5164:1
In the day – The day of the Passover, the first feature of the Law. R1731:2, R971:6; OV94:T
The Passover is the first feature of the Law, and the Law covenant is continually referred to as dating from that time. R971:6
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| 33 For this [is] the covenant that I make, With the house of Israel, after those days, An affirmation of Jehovah, I have given My law in their inward part, And on their heart I do write it, And I have been to them for God, And they are to me for a people. |
The covenant – The New covenant, the Everlasting covenant. R3597:3
House of Israel – The whole twelve tribes. C293
After those days – After the "seven times" of chastisement. B92; R4497:4
After the days of this Gospel age. R4321:6
Signifies after the completion of the selection of the Church. R4497:6, R4612:6
When the days are accomplished for the overthrow of the kingdoms of this world and the setting up of the Kingdom of God. R904:5
After a while, by and by. R789:1
I will put my law – Love shall be the law. R1244:6
God had a law before the Ten Commandments. It was graven on man's nature in Adam. That original standard is again promised for the future. R1731:5, R5294:2, R5309:4
Gradually retrace and rewrite the divine law in the hearts of men. F359; R5309:5, R1365:5, R2195:6, R2060:5
When the law has been fully written in their whole being the covenant condition will be fully attained. R4570:5*
The perfect human nature will then be as it was at first, a law-inscribed nature. R764:2
In their inward parts – In their very thoughts as well as in their outward life. CR299:5; OV130:4
In their very nature. R1717:5
In their hearts – The center of affection, the character. R789:5, R2060:3, R5309:4, R4613:1
Restoring a heart of flesh, of tenderness, sympathy, righteousness and divine likeness. R4806:2, R636:6, R1244:6, R4729:4, R3071:3
Implying that the ability will be given to keep the law. R5071:3, R4821:1, R812:5*
More than Adam had. R111:1
Be my people – The Ancient Worthies will come forth perfect; to them will gather their own Israelitish kindred, and all nations. R4575:4
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| 34 And they do not teach any more Each his neighbour, and each his brother, Saying, Know ye Jehovah, For they all know Me, from their least unto their greatest, An affirmation of Jehovah; For I pardon their iniquity, And of their sin I make mention no more. |
Teach no more – Because all will know the plan of God. R1771:6, R3285:2, R4908:6, R5352:5; A75
Then mankind will no longer be invited to accept Christ, but will be compelled to be obedient. CR51:3; SM440:T
The teaching of "churches" will be unnecessary. R2428:2*
It will no longer be necessary to preach. R5919:6, R1717:5
Shall all know me – The eyes of their understanding shall be opened. R3192:2, R2940:4, R4883:1, R5594:2, R5919:6, R6013:5
The glorious opportunity for salvation shall come through the knowledge of the Lord. R5078:4; SM558:2
Come to a knowledge of the truth. R5407:1, R3140:5
"The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord." (Isa. 11:9) R1363:6, R2690:1, R1717:5, R1972:4; OV215:5; R858:5, R2610:3, R4883:1, R5594:2, R5919:6; SM792:1
The way will be so plain that "the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." (Isa. 35:8) A215; R1363:6, R1450:5
This statement is not true now, and cannot be true until the Lord's Kingdom is established. A75
This is restitution work, the work of the entire Millennial age. R4613:4; SM792:T
The conditions will be such that doubt would be more difficult than belief is at present. R1771:6
As a kind and loving father, God provides for the education of all who ever came into the world. R33:3*
Forgiveness of sins and the blessing of being awakened from the dead would profit mankind little if future arrangements did not permit a thorough recovery from present mental, moral and physical weaknesses. HG390:6; R443:3
A personal acceptance of the conditions of the New covenant will be required of each individual. R1771:6
Instead of misrepresentation of God's character and loving plans, the reverse will be given to mankind. R5485:5
When they know, each will be responsible. R5084:1
All who have ever lived. R5407:1, R3140:5, R3285:2
From the least – "The wayfaring men, and those unacquainted therewith, shall not go astray." (Isa. 35:8--Leeser) A215
Forgive their iniquity – The taking away of their sins is a necessity before they can receive the New covenant because God makes no covenant with sinners. R4497:5
Under the Law covenant this was not done and sins remained; for atonement was made fresh for them year by year. R5293:4
I will remember – The Mediator will not hold against anyone the transgressions of this present life. R5293:5
Their sin no more – Israel's sins have not yet been taken away, even as the world's sins have not yet been taken away. R4892:3
Past sins and iniquities shall no more rise up in judgment against them, demanding their just penalty, death. R1654:1; HG231:6
Christ will have appeared on their behalf and made satisfaction for their sins. R5164:2
Guarantees that none shall die the Second Death except the wilfully, intelligently disobedient. R3770:6, R5164:2
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| 35 Thus said Jehovah, Who is giving the sun for a light by day, The statutes of moon and stars for a light by night, Quieting the sea when its billows roar, Jehovah of Hosts [is] His name: |
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| 36 If these statutes depart from before Me, An affirmation of Jehovah, Even the seed of Israel doth cease From being a nation before Me all the days. |
The seed of Israel – Uses one name for all the tribes. C297; R1364:6
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| 37 Thus said Jehovah: If the heavens above be measured, And the foundations of earth below searched, Even I kick against all the seed of Israel, For all that they have done, An affirmation of Jehovah. |
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| 38 Lo, days [are coming], an affirmation of Jehovah, And the city hath been built to Jehovah, From the tower of Hananeel to the gate of the corner. |
That the city – The city of Jerusalem will be rebuilt and will become the capital city of the world. Q790:2
Located in the territory of the two tribes, showing that the foregoing prophecy is not only for the ten tribes. C292; R1342:1
Shall be built – It is now being built along these very lines. C266; R1044:4*
Tower of Hananeel – Discovered in 1886 in laying the foundation for a hotel. R1390:2
Describing the portion outside the Jaffa Gate. R1382:4
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| 39 And gone out again hath the measuring line Over-against it, unto the height of Gareb, And it hath compassed to Goah. |
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| 40 And all the valley of the carcases and of the ashes, And all the fields unto the brook Kidron, Unto the corner of the horse-gate eastward, [Are] holy to Jehovah, it is not plucked up, Nor is it thrown down any more to the age! |
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