Jer 22:24-30 | JFB | STEP | 24. As I live-- God's most solemn formula of oath ( ; ; ; ). Coniah-- Jeconiah or Jehoiachin. The contraction of the name is meant in contempt. signet-- Such ring seals were often of the greatest value ( ; ). Jehoiachin's popularity is probably here referred to. right hand-- the hand most valued. I would pluck thee thence-- (Compare Ob 4); on account of thy father's sins, as well as thine own ( ). There is a change here, as often in Hebrew poetry, from the third to the second person, to bring the threat more directly home to him. After a three months' and ten days' reign, the Chaldees deposed him. In Babylon, however, by God's favor he was ultimately treated more kindly than other royal captives ( ). But none of his direct posterity ever came to the throne.

‏ Jeremiah 22:24-30

24. As I live--God's most solemn formula of oath (Jr 46:18; 4:2; De 32:40; 1Sa 25:34).

Coniah--Jeconiah or Jehoiachin. The contraction of the name is meant in contempt.

signet--Such ring seals were often of the greatest value (So 8:6; Hag 2:23). Jehoiachin's popularity is probably here referred to.

right hand--the hand most valued.

I would pluck thee thence--(Compare Ob 4); on account of thy father's sins, as well as thine own (2Ch 36:9). There is a change here, as often in Hebrew poetry, from the third to the second person, to bring the threat more directly home to him. After a three months' and ten days' reign, the Chaldees deposed him. In Babylon, however, by God's favor he was ultimately treated more kindly than other royal captives (Jr 52:31-34). But none of his direct posterity ever came to the throne.

25. give ... into ... hand--"I will pluck thee" from "my right hand," and "will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life."

26. thy mother--Nehushta, the queen dowager (2Ki 24:6, 8, 15; see Jr 13:18).

27. they--Coniah and his mother. He passes from the second person (Jr 22:26) to the third person here, to express alienation. The king is as it were put out of sight, as if unworthy of being spoken with directly.

desire--literally, "lift up their soul" (Jr 44:14; Psa 24:4; 25:1). Judea was the land which they in Babylon should pine after in vain.

28. broken idol--Coniah was idolized once by the Jews; Jeremiah, therefore, in their person, expresses their astonishment at one from whom so much had been expected being now so utterly cast aside.

vessel ... no pleasure--(Psa 31:12; Ho 8:8). The answer to this is given (Ro 9:20-23; contrast 2Ti 2:21).

his seed--(See on Jr 22:29).

29-30. O earth! earth! earth!--Jeconiah was not actually without offspring (compare Jr 22:28, "his seed"; 1Ch 3:17, 18; Mt 1:12), but he was to be "written childless," as a warning to posterity, that is, without a lineal heir to his throne. It is with a reference to the three kings, Shallum, Jehoiakim, and Jeconiah, that the earth is thrice invoked [Bengel]. Or, the triple invocation is to give intensity to the call for attention to the announcement of the end of the royal line, so far as Jehoiachin's seed is concerned. Though Messiah (Mt 1:1-17), the heir of David's throne, was lineally descended from Jeconiah, it was only through Joseph, who, though His legal, was not His real father. Matthew gives the legal pedigree through Solomon down to Joseph; Luke the real pedigree, from Mary, the real parent, through Nathan, brother of Solomon, upwards (Lu 3:31).

no man of his seed ... upon the throne--This explains the sense in which "childless" is used. Though the succession to the throne failed in his line, still the promise to David (Psa 89:30-37) was revived in Zerubbabel and consummated in Christ.