Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Jeremiah 20:3

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Jeremiah 20:3. The Lord hath not called thy name Pashur — Security on all sides. This name thou hast had, but not by Divine appointment.

But Magor-missabib - Fear on every side. This name hath God given thee; because, in the course of his providence, thou shalt be placed in the circumstances signified by it: thou shalt be a terror to thyself.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

The broken pot (19:1-20:6)

In another acted parable Jeremiah, carrying an earthenware pot in his hand, took the leaders of Jerusalem to a place outside the city walls where old pottery was dumped. This was in the valley where the Judeans once sacrificed their children to Molech and carried out other pagan rites (19:1-2; see 7:30-34 and section, ‘Tophet and the Valley of Hinnom’).
Through their leaders, the people of Judah are told that in this valley, where they have killed their children, they themselves will be killed. The place had been named the Valley of Hinnom, but the prophet announces that in the future it will be called the Valley of Slaughter (3-6). When the Babylonians finally destroy Jerusalem, many Judeans will be slaughtered in this valley, while those who remain in the besieged city will be so near to starvation that they will eat their own children (7-9).
Jeremiah then smashed the pot, to symbolize God’s coming judgment on Jerusalem. The city will be smashed, destroyed. Tophet, which is already unclean through its association with idolatry, will become a dump for corpses. The defilement of Tophet will be the measure of Jerusalem’s defilement (10-13).
Having made his announcement at the site of the coming slaughter, Jeremiah returned to the temple, where he repeated the announcement of judgment (14-15). Pashhur, the chief officer of the temple, furious at Jeremiah’s words, arrested him, flogged him and imprisoned him for the night (20:1-2). But Jeremiah would not be silenced. He boldly announced that Pashhur himself would see the people slaughtered and the city plundered and destroyed. After that, Pashhur would be taken off to humiliating captivity in Babylon, where he would die (3-6).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

JEREMIAH AND PASHHUR

“Now Pashhur, the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in the house of Jehovah, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. Then Pashhur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in the house of Jehovah. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashhur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, Jehovah hath not called thy name Pashhur, but Magor-missabib. For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it; and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive to Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword. Moreover I will give all the riches of this city, and all the gains thereof, and all the precious things thereof, yea, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hands of their enemies; and they shall make them a prey, and take them, and carry them to Babylon. And thou, Pashhur, and all that dwell in thy house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and there shalt thou be buried, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied falsely.”

“Pashhur, the son of Immer... chief officer” Many scholars including Dummelow and Barnes believed that Pashhur was the father of Gedaliah (Jeremiah 38:1).J. R. Dummelow’s Commentary, p. 468. There was another Pashhur (Jeremiah 21:1), but he belonged to the fifth course (shift) of priests belonging to the sons of Melchiah; this Pashhur belonged to the sixteenth course and was the son of Immer. Both of these families were strongly represented in the returnees from Babylon (Ezra 2:27; Ezra 2:38).Barnes’ Notes (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House), p. 199.

There were a number of priests who held the office of “an overseer” of the temple; but the Pashhur mentioned here was “the chief officer,” meaning that he had charge of all the overseers. The man was of high authority, the deputy High Priest in fact, an office that made him second only to the governor of the temple. He was evidently pro-Egyptian, believing that an alliance with Egypt would provide the security Israel so desperately needed at that time. Jeremiah’s stern prophecies were a threat to Pashhur’s position; and the drastic action against Jeremiah was designed to support Pashhur’s evil policy which, of course, he backed up with false prophecies (Jeremiah 20:6).

Since Pashhur’s false prophecies of peace and security were contradicted by the warnings of Jeremiah, Ash’s speculation that, “Jeremiah was thrown into prison as a false prophet,”Anthony L. Ash, Psalms (Abilene, Texas: A.C.U. Press, 1987), p, p. 165. is probably correct.

“Pashhur smote Jeremiah the prophet… put him in the stocks… in the upper gate of Benjamin” The NIV renders part of these words as, “had Jeremiah beaten.” “Many expositors think that Pashhur ordered Jeremiah to be beaten with `forty stripes save one,’ as in Deuteronomy 25:3.”Charles Lee Feinberg in Ezekiel (Chicago: Moody Press), p. 500.

“And put him in the stocks” “The terrible instrument of punishment identified in these words “was designed for torture, not merely for restraint,”Ibid. and their function was to inflict cruel and inhuman torture upon the hapless victim.

“In the upper gate of Benjamin” Some have described this gate as probably the most frequented gate in the city. “It is here called the upper gate to distinguish it from another gate of the same name in the city wall, which opened toward the tribe of Benjamin in the North.”W. Harvey Jellie, Jeremiah, in Preacher’s Complete Homiletic Commentary (New York: Funk and Wagnalls Company), p. 402.

“Pashhur smote Jeremiah the prophet” The words “Jeremiah the prophet” have not appeared previously in this whole prophecy: and, “The words are thus used here to indicate that Pashhur’s conduct was a violation of the respect due the prophetic office.”Barnes’ Notes (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House), p. 199. This is one of the saddest scenes in the Old Testament. We have this crooked false prophet Pashhur, beating and torturing God’s true prophet.

Halley described the stocks into which Jeremiah was cast as, “A wooden frame in which the feet, neck and hands were fastened so as to hold the body in a cramped and painful position. It was this torture that drew from Jeremiah his outburst of remonstrance with God in Jeremiah 20:7-18.”Henry H. Halley’s Bible Handbook (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House) , p. 288,

“Magor-missabib” If Pashhur had thought to silence Jeremiah, he quickly learned better. With his first breath after release, Jeremiah announced the new name that God had named upon Pashhur, i.e., “Terror on Every Side.”R. K. Harrison, Jeremiah in the Tyndale, p. 113. Furthermore, the name was backed up with specific prophecies revealing, for the first time in Jeremiah, the name of the kingdom where the captivity would take place, the prophecy that many would be slain, that the king and his household, along with Pashhur and his household, would be among the captives deported to Babylon, and that they would die there and be buffed there. In due time, all of this was literally and circumstantially fulfilled. Indeed, Pashhur, who was destined to live with his false prophecies must have been hated and despised by all of his intimates and close friends. Pashhur was one who prophesied falsely (cf. Jeremiah 14:14) that famine and sword would never overtake Judah. “Jeremiah revealed that for such lies he would now be punished.”Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, p. 113.

Wiseman evidently believed that Pashhur was a prophet, stating that “He was (a) a priest and (b) a prophet.”The New Layman’s Bible Commentary, p. 828. However, we do not believe that he was ever a legitimate prophet.

“Thou hast prophesied falsely” “From these words it is evident that Pashhur assumed prophetic functions. Most probably, he and his friends formed a political party in Jerusalem clamoring for an alliance with Egypt.”W. Harvey Jellie, Jeremiah, in Preacher’s Complete Homiletic Commentary (New York: Funk and Wagnalls Company), p. 402. Yes indeed, Pashhur claimed to be a prophet; “But he had falsely assumed the prophetic office; and for that he was worthy of death.”Charles Lee Feinberg in Ezekiel (Chicago: Moody Press), p. 501.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Magor-missabib - See Jeremiah 6:25 note. Jeremiah uses it no less than five times, having probably adopted it as his watchword from Psalms 31:13.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

No doubt Pashur called other priests to examine the case. It was, indeed, a specious pretense, for he seemed as though he did not wish to condemn the holy Prophet hastily, or without hearing his defense. But Jeremiah only says briefly that he was brought out of prison: we at the same time gather that he was not dismissed, for he was summoned before Pashur to give a reason for his prophecy.

But here the Prophet shews that he was not cast down or disheartened, though he had been most contemptuously treated; he bore patiently the buffetings and stripes he had received, and also his incarceration. We know that such outrages are so bitter to ingenuous minds, that they can hardly sustain them. But Jeremiah teaches us, by his own example, that our constancy and firmness ought not to be weakened though the whole world loaded or almost overwhelmed us with reproaches. We ought, then, to understand that courage of mind ought not to fail or be weakened in God’s servants, however wickedly and contumeliously they may be treated by the world. For Jeremiah, when he came out of prison, spoke more boldly than before; nor was he beyond the reach of danger. Courage increases when one obtains the victory, and he can then safely and securely insult his enemies; but Jeremiah was yet a captive, though he had been brought out of prison, and he might have been afterwards cast there again and treated more cruelly than before. But neither the wrong he had received, nor the fear of new contumely, deterred him from denouncing God’s judgment on the ungodly priest. Such magnanimity becomes all God’s servants, so that they ought not to feel shame, nor grow soft, nor be disheartened, when the world treats them with indignity and reproach; nor ought they to fear any dangers, but advance courageously in the discharge of their office.

It must in the second place be noticed, — that God’s Prophet here closes his eyes to the splendor of the priestly office, which otherwise might have hindered him to denounce God’s judgment,. And this ought to be carefully observed; for we know the ungodly he hid under masks, as the case is in the present day with the Pope and all his filthy clergy: for what do they allege but the name of Catholic Church and perpetual priesthood and apostolical dignity? Doubtless, Pashur was of the priestly order; but what the Papacy is, the Scripture neither mentions nor teaches, except that it condemns it as altogether filthy and abominable. And the Levitical priesthood, as I have said, was founded on God’s Law; and yet Jeremiah, guided by the command of God, hesitated not severely to reprove the priest and to treat him as he deserved. It is, therefore, then only that we tightly and faithfully discharge the prophetic office, when we shew no respect of persons, and disregard those external masks by which the ungodly deceive the simple, and are haughty towards God while they falsely pretend his name. ⁽⁶⁾

Now he says, Jehovah has called thy name not Pashur, but terror on every side Some render the words, “Because there will be terror to thee on every side;” but incorrectly, for in the next verse a reason is given which explains what the Prophet means. Jeremiah no doubt had a regard to the meaning of the word Pashur, otherwise it would have been unmeaning and even foolish to say, “Thy name shall be called not Pashur, but terror on every side.” Interpreters have expounded the word Pashur as meaning an increasing prince, or one who extends power, deriving it from פשה, peshe, to increase, and transitively, to extend; and they add to it the word שר, sher, which means a prince; and so they render it, a prince extending power, or a prince who increases. But as there is some doubt as to the points, I know not whether this etymology can be maintained. I am more inclined to derive the word from פשח, peshech, to cut or break. It is indeed but once found in this sense in Scripture, but often in the Chaldee language. However this may be, it is taken in this sense once by Jeremiah in the third Chapter of Lamentations. ⁽⁷⁾ And hence by a metaphor it means to open; and א, aleph, may be deemed quiescent in the second word, so that it means one who breaks or opens the light. The words which follow — “terror on every side” — induce and compel me to give this interpretation. He does not say that he would be a terror on every side; but that terrors surrounded him, מסביב, mesabib, so that there was no escape. As then the name of Pashur was honorable, signifying to open light, he mentions this, (it is indeed a metaphor, by which breaking means opening:) as then he had this name, which means to bring forth light, Jeremiah says, “Thou shalt be called a terror on every side;” that is, a terror that so surrounds all that no escape is possible. ⁽⁸⁾ We see that the contrast is most suitable between the opening of light and that terror which spread on every side, so that there is no opening and no escape; and the explanation follows:

(6) I would render the verse thus: —

3.And it happened on the morrow that Pashur brought out Jeremiah from the stocks; and Jeremiah said to him, — Not Pashur does Jehovah call thy name, But, Terror on every side.

I take קרא to be a participle, and not a verb in the past tense. — Ed

(7) The word is not spelt with ה, but with ח; it is “Pashchur.” Therefore, the former derivation cannot be admitted. Venema derives it from פוש, to be proud, or ferocious, and חור, which means “white,” or splendid; then the meaning is, “splendid prince.” Gataker seems to prefer the opinion of those who derive the word from פש, diffusion, and חור, paleness, because he diffused, or spread fear, which produces paleness to all around. Instead of this, a terror, the cause of paleness, would be to him and to all his friends, as stated in the following verse. — Ed

(8) The Vulg. alone gives this meaning to the phrase; the Sept. has “μέτοικον — emigrant,” and the Syr. “stranger and wanderer.” And then in the fourth verse both these versions give a correspondent meaning. “I will deliver thee into emigration (or captivity) with all thy friends.” That this word, rendered “terror,” may be derived from גור, which means to sojourn, to peregrinate, is undeniable; as a participle noun from Hiphil, it may mean a sojourner, or an emigrant. The word in this sense is found often in the plural number. See Genesis 47:9; Exodus 6:4. But the phrase, as found here, occurs four times in this book, where it can have no other meaning than “terror (or fear) on every side,” Jeremiah 6:25; Jeremiah 20:10; Jeremiah 46:5; Jeremiah 49:29; and it occurs once elsewhere, in Psalms 31:13; where also its meaning is evident from the context. — Ed

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 20

Now Pashur ( Jeremiah 20:1 ).

And the name means "prosperity all around."

Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah had prophesied these things. Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD ( Jeremiah 20:1-2 ).

So Jeremiah is now shut up in the stocks by this fellow whose name means "prosperity all over the place," you know. Prosperity all around. And he puts Jeremiah, smites him, puts him in the stocks.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur ( Jeremiah 20:3 ),

God doesn't call you "prosperity all about." But God calls you "terror all around." And so,

For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all your friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive unto Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword. Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labors thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon ( Jeremiah 20:4-5 ).

So Jeremiah, really, being in the stocks didn't really quiet him. He just really prophesies unto Pashur the evil that is going to come. His own captivity and that of his friends and all of the treasures carried away to Babylon.

And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in your house shall go into captivity: and you shall come to Babylon, and there you will die, and shalt be buried there, you, and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied lies ( Jeremiah 20:6 ).

Now Jeremiah cries out to the Lord.

O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocks me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily ( Jeremiah 20:7-8 ).

Now, he laid it on to Pashur, but now he's talking to God saying, "God, you know, here I've been prophesying and they threw me in jail. Speaking in Your name I got put in the stocks. Lord, what's going on here? And is that any way to treat Your servants and those who are prophesying in Your name?" And so he's really upset.

Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name ( Jeremiah 20:9 ).

Lord, I'm through. Here's my resignation. I'm finished. Thrown in jail and put in the stocks and all, because I'm speaking Your Word. Going to treat me like that, I'm through, Lord. I've had it. Not going to speak again in Your name. That's all. Treat me like that.

But his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary trying to hold it back, and I could not stay ( Jeremiah 20:9 ).

Oh, God's Word it's just burning. I couldn't keep quiet. It's just something that was there. God's Word just burning like a fire and I just couldn't keep back.

For I heard the defaming of many, fear was on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. And all of my friends watched for my halting, they said, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble ( Jeremiah 20:10-11 ),

They're watching for me to stumble, but they're going to stumble because the Lord is with me.

and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. But, O LORD of hosts, that tried the righteous, and seest the reins and the hearts, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause. Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers ( Jeremiah 20:11-13 ).

So he lapses again into a worship of the Lord as he talks to the Lord about these people that are plotting against him and God has said, you remember, "I the Lord search the hearts, try the reins." And he says, "Okay, Lord, search our hearts, try the reins and wipe them out, because You can see what they're doing. They're evildoers. So let me see your vengeance on them. Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for He has delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of the evildoers." Now, as I told you, he's a melancholy because he goes from this, "Praise the Lord, He's delivered," and right down to the bottom.

Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, You've had a boy; making my father very glad. And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry of the morning, and the shouting at noontide; because he did not slay me when I was born; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me ( Jeremiah 20:14-17 ).

In other words, had she never brought me forth, had I just been stillborn, died or something, or still in her womb, God, curse the day that I ever came out of the womb and started this whole routine.

Why did I come forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? ( Jeremiah 20:14-18 )

Isn't that amazing how he can go from just this high, "Oh, praise the Lord, He's done glorious things and all. Cursed be the day I was born." You know, it's amazing how easily Satan can rob us of our joy. How little it takes to rob us of our joy in the Lord. I can start thinking about what the Lord has done and just get so high. If I'm thinking about God's goodness and God's blessing and all that God has done, I just get rejoicing in the Lord. I start singing. I make up songs of praise and love to Him. And I just get carried away. "Oh Lord, You're so good. I love You. It's just been real, Lord. I can't believe what You're doing." I just get so happy and excited in the Lord and the things of the Lord. And I'm going down the street just so excited, worshipping the Lord. And some nut for no apparent reason throws on his brakes right in front of me, you know. And I have to swerve and throw on my brakes and swing around to miss him. "You, idiot," you know. And from this glorious spiritual high to this fleshly monster in just such a quick time. It's amazing how quickly we can go from these high spiritual plateaus right down into the depths of despair.

He goes from the praising God right into the, "cursed be the day I was born." Be careful. Don't let Satan rob your joy from you. Realize that he's out to do it. Be on guard. Rejoice in the Lord always. Let your heart rejoice in Him. Bring forth praises unto Him for His goodness and His blessings and His mercy and His grace. And when Satan throws these stumbling blocks in the path to bring you down into the flesh, don't allow it.

A while back going through the market, happy as can be, rejoicing in the Lord, He's so good, He's blessed me so much. I had a neat thick, top sirloin steak in the basket and I thought, "Lord, You've given me money to purchase this steak. I'm going to go home and barbecue it. Oh Lord, You are so good to me. I can remember the day when I could never afford a steak like this. And now, Lord, here I am, blessed of Thee. You're so good to me, Lord." And I was just going around the store rejoicing, praising the Lord. Came up to the line, just standing there, happy in the Lord. Just waiting my turn, you know. "Oh, Lord, You're so good." And this little fat guy with a cigar came crowding into the line right in front of me. Pushed his way in. And I thought, "Why you, rude little character." And I was ready to just grab him by the collar, turn him around and say, "Who do you think you are? Don't you see I'm standing waiting in line? You get behind me!" And that cigar! I wanted to just push it right down his throat. And I was just seething, and the Spirit spoke to me and said, "Oh, such great love, such great rejoicing, such great joy in the Lord all dissipated over a stinking cigar." I said, "No way, I'm not going to lose my joy over this rude little character." I'm going to take another swing around the store. I didn't have anything more to get, but I went around the store again just to get back in the right frame of mind so the guy will be out of the store by the time I got back to the checking stand. I know my limits and I know what I can handle. But up and down a few more aisles and getting the perspectives again back in the Lord. I came back to the check stand. He was gone and I had a great victory and a good steak and a time of praise.

But oh, how easily we can lose that praising and rejoicing in the Lord. How quickly Satan can throw a snare out there. And man, I'm trapped. And that consciousness of God, that joy and rejoicing is taken and I feel all of this anger and bitterness and all. He knows where to hit us. He knows how to get us. But let's not let him do it. Let's keep the right perspective. Take another swing around the block or around the store or whatever you have to do in order to maintain that glorious joy and praise and rejoicing in Him.

Poor Jeremiah. "I'll sing unto the Lord. Praise the Lord, for He has delivered the soul of the poor and all. Oh, cursed be the day I was born." I don't know what happened between those two verses, but something really came in and wiped him out. Put him down in the bottom of the barrel.

Shall we pray.

Father, we thank You for the joy that we can experience in Christ Jesus as we think about the hope that is ours. That eternal life that You have given to us by our simply believing and trusting in Him. That inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled that You've reserved in heaven for us. Your keeping power, Lord, whereby You keep and strengthen us day by day. Oh Lord, truly we are blessed. Blessed to live in this land. Blessed with freedoms to worship Thee. Blessed with Thy Word that we might know Thee. Blessed on every side above all nations of the earth. O God, help us to remember the blessings, the good things that You have done. And may we give praise and thanks unto You continually for Your goodness. God, keep our hearts in the right place. In Jesus' name. Amen.

May the Lord be with you and bless you this week. May He watch over your lives and keep you in His love. May you abound in the love of Jesus Christ. May there just be that rich, flowing forth in and from your life as God works in you His perfect work of love and grace. May God grant that you have just a special week of enjoying the goodness and the fullness of God and His love. In Jesus' name. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Jeremiah’s confinement only lasted one day. Following his release, the prophet gave Pashhur a new name that had prophetic significance: Magomassibib, meaning "terror on every side" (cf. Jeremiah 6:25; Psalms 31:13). His old name means either "ease" or "tranquility." Perhaps this name reflected his natural disposition.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And it came to pass on the morrow,.... After the prophet was put into the stocks; so that he was there all night:

that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks; either to bring him before the priests, or the sanhedrim, to be examined; or in order to dismiss him, being either admonished by his friends, or convicted in his own conscience that he had done a wrong thing;

then said Jeremiah unto him; when he had brought him out, not being at all intimidated by him, and having a word from the Lord for him:

the Lord hath not called thy name Pashur; which, according to Jerom, signifies "blackness of mouth"; and, according to others, "diffusing paleness"; one that terrified others, and made their faces look pale; but now it should be otherwise, and he himself should be filled with terror, and have paleness of thee: but, according to a late etymologist, it signifies one abounding or "increased in liberty" x, who in a little time would become a captive; for it is not suggested hereby that he should no more be called by this name, but that he should be in a condition which would not answer to it, but to another, as follows:

but Magormissabib; or, "fear round about"; signifying that terrors should be all around him, and he in the utmost fright and consternation. The Septuagint version renders it "one removing"; changing from place to place; that is, going into captivity; a stranger and wanderer, as the Syriac version. The Targum is,

"but there shall be gathered together against thee those that kill with the sword round about;''

meaning the Chaldeans, which would make him a "Magormissabib".

x פש "abundantiam" , & חור liberum sonat", Hiller. Onomast. Sacr. p. 302. Paschchur, "auctus libertate", ib. p. 904.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      1 Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.   2 Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.   3 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magor-missabib.   4 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.   5 Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.   6 And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.

      Here is, I. Pashur's unjust displeasure against Jeremiah, and the fruits of that displeasure, Jeremiah 20:1; Jeremiah 20:2. This Pashur was a priest, and therefore, one would think, should have protected Jeremiah, who was of his own order, a priest too, and the more because he was a prophet of the Lord, whose interests the priests, his ministers, ought to consult. But this priest was a persecutor of him whom he should have patronized. He was the son of Immer; that is, he was of the sixteenth course of the priests, of which Immer, when these courses were first settled by David, was father (1 Chronicles 24:14), as Zechariah was of the order of Abiah, Luke 1:5. Thus this Pashur is distinguished from another of the same name mentioned Jeremiah 21:1; Jeremiah 21:1, who was of the fifth course. This Pashur was chief governor in the temple; perhaps he was only so pro tempore--for a short period, the course he was head of being now in waiting, or he was suffragan to the high priest, or perhaps captain of the temple or of the guards about it. Acts 4:1. This was Jeremiah's great enemy. The greatest malignity to God's prophets was found among those that professed sanctity and concern for God and the church. We cannot suppose that Pashur was one of those ancients of the priests that went with Jeremiah to the valley of Tophet to hear him prophesy, unless it were with a malicious design to take advantage against him; but, when he came into the courts of the Lord's house, it is probable that he was himself a witness of what he said, and so it may be read (Jeremiah 20:1; Jeremiah 20:1), He heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. As we read it, the information was brought to him by others, whose examinations he took: He heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things, and could not bear it, especially that he should dare to preach in the courts of the Lord's house, where he was chief governor, without his leave. When power in the church is abused, it is the most dangerous power that can be employed against it. Being incensed at Jeremiah, 1. He smote him, struck him with his hand or staff of authority. Perhaps it was a blow intended only to disgrace him, like that which the high priest ordered to be given to Paul (Acts 23:2), he struck him on the mouth, and bade him hold his prating. Or perhaps he gave him many blows intended to hurt him; he beat him severely, as a malefactor. It is charged upon the husbandmen (Matthew 21:35) that they beat the servants. The method of proceeding here was illegal; the high priest, and the rest of the priests, ought to have been consulted, Jeremiah's credentials examined, and the matter enquired into, whether he had an authority to say what he said. But these rules of justice are set aside and despised, as mere formalities; right or wrong, Jeremiah must be run down. The enemies of piety would never suffer themselves to be bound by the laws of equity. 2. He put him in the stocks. Some make it only a place of confinement; he imprisoned him. It rather seems to be an instrument of closer restraint, and intended to put him both to pain and shame. Some think it was a pillory for his neck and arms; others (as we) a pair of stocks for his legs: whatever engine it was, he continued in it all night, and in a public place too, in the high gate of Benjamin, which was in, or by, the house of the Lord, probably a gate through which they passed between the city and the temple. Pashur intended thus to chastise him, that he might deter him from prophesying; and thus to expose him to contempt and render him odious, that he might not be regarded if he did prophesy. Thus have the best men met with the worst treatment from this ungracious ungrateful world; and the greatest blessings of their age have been counted as the off-scouring of all things. Would it not raise a pious indignation to see such a man as Pashur upon the bench and such a man as Jeremiah in the stocks? It is well that there is another life after this, when persons and things will appear with another face.

      II. God's just displeasure against Pashur, and the tokens of it. On the morrow Pashur gave Jeremiah his discharge, brought him out of the stocks (Jeremiah 20:3; Jeremiah 20:3); it is probable that he continued him there, in little-ease, as long as was usual to continue any in that punishment. And now Jeremiah has a message from God to him. We do not find that, when Pashur put Jeremiah in the stocks, the latter gave him any check for which he did; he appears to have quietly and silently submitted to the abuse; when he suffered, he threatened not. But, when he brought him out of the stocks, then God put a word into the prophet's mouth, which would awaken his conscience, if he had any. For, when the prophet of the Lord was bound, the word of the Lord was not. What can we think Pashur aimed at in smiting and abusing Jeremiah? Whatever it is, we shall see by what God says to him that he is disappointed.

      1. Did he aim to establish himself, and make himself easy, by silencing one that told him of his faults and would be likely to lessen his reputation with the people? He shall not gain this point; for, (1.) Though the prophet should be silent, his own conscience shall fly in his face and make him always uneasy. To confirm this he shall have a name given him, Magor-missabib--Terror round about, or Fear on every side. God himself shall give him this name, whose calling him so will make him so. It seems to be a proverbial expression, bespeaking a man not only in distress but in despair, not only in danger on every side (that a man may be and yet by faith may be in no terror, as David, Psalms 3:6; Psalms 27:3), but in fear on every side, and that a man may be when there appears no danger. The wicked flee when no man pursues, are in great gear where no fear is. This shall be Pashur's case (Jeremiah 20:4; Jeremiah 20:4): "Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself; that is, thou shalt be subject to continual frights, and thy own fancy and imagination shall create thee a constant uneasiness." Note, God can make the most daring sinner a terror to himself, and will find out a way to frighten those that frighten his people from doing their duty. And those that will not hear of their faults from God's prophets, that are reprovers in the gate, shall be made to hear of them from conscience, which is a reprover in their own bosoms that will not be daunted nor silenced. And miserable is the man that is thus made a terror to himself. Yet this is not all; some are very much a terror to themselves, but they conceal it and seem to others to be pleasant; but, "I will make thee a terror to all thy friends; thou shalt, upon all occasions, express thyself with so much horror and amazement that all thy friends shall be afraid of conversing with thee and shall choose to stand aloof from thy torment." Persons in deep melancholy and distraction are a terror to themselves and all about them, which is a good reason why we should be very thankful, so long as God continues to us the use of our reason and the peace of our consciences. (2.) His friends, whom he put a confidence in and perhaps studied to oblige in what he did against Jeremiah, shall all fail him. God does not presently strike him dead for what he did against Jeremiah, but lets him live miserably, like Cain in the land of shaking, in such a continual consternation that wherever he goes he shall be a monument of divine justice; and, when it is asked, "What makes this man in such a continual terror?" it shall be answered, "It is God's hand upon him for putting Jeremiah in the stocks." His friends, who should encourage him, shall all be cut off; they shall fall by the sword of the enemy, and his eyes shall behold it, which dreadful sight shall increase his terror. (3.) He shall find, in the issue, that his terror is not causeless, but that divine vengeance is waiting for him (Jeremiah 20:6; Jeremiah 20:6); he and his family shall go into captivity, even to Babylon; he shall neither die before the evil comes, as Josiah, nor live to survive it, as some did, but he shall die a captive, and shall in effect be buried in his chains, he and all his friends. Thus far is the doom of Pashur. Let persecutors read it, and tremble; tremble to repentance before they be made to tremble to their ruin.

      2. Did he aim to keep the people easy, to prevent the destruction that Jeremiah prophesied of, and by sinking his reputation to make his words fall to the ground? It is probable that he did; for it appears by Jeremiah 20:6; Jeremiah 20:6 that he did himself set up for a prophet, and told the people that they should have peace. He prophesied lies to them; and because Jeremiah's prophecy contradicted his, and tended to awaken those whom he endeavoured to rock asleep in their sins, therefore he set himself against him. But could he gain his point? No; Jeremiah stands to what he has said against Judah and Jerusalem, and God by his mouth repeats it. Men get nothing by silencing those who reprove and warn them, for the word will have its course; so it had here. (1.) The country shall be ruined (Jeremiah 20:4; Jeremiah 20:4): I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. It had long been God's own land, but he will now transfer his title to it to Nebuchadnezzar, he shall be master of the country and dispose of the inhabitants so me to the sword and some to captivity, as he pleases, but none shall escape him. (2.) The city shall be ruined too, Jeremiah 20:5; Jeremiah 20:5. The king of Babylon shall spoil that, and carry all that is valuable in it to Babylon. [1.] He shall seize their magazines and military stores (here called the strength of this city) and turn them against them. These they trusted to as their strength; but what stead could they stand them in when they had thrown themselves out of God's protection, and when he who was indeed their strength had departed from them? [2.] He shall carry off all their stock in trade, their wares and merchandises, here called their labours, because it was what they laboured about and got by their labour. [3.] He shall plunder their fine houses, and take away their rich furniture, here called their precious things, because they valued them and set their hearts so much upon them. Happy are those who have secured to themselves precious things in God's precious promises, which are out of the reach of soldiers. [4.] He shall rifle the exchequer, and take away the jewels of the crown and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. This was that instance of the calamity which was first of all threatened to Hezekiah long ago as his punishment for showing his treasures to the king of Babylon's ambassadors, Isaiah 39:6. The treasury, they thought, was their defence; but that betrayed them, and became an easy prey to the enemy.