Jer 15:1
15:1 Then said the LORD to me, {a} Though Moses and Samuel stood
     before me, [yet] my mind [could] not [be] toward this
     people: cast [them] out of my sight, and let them go forth.

     (a) Meaning that if there were any man living moved with so
         great zeal toward the people as were these two, yet he
         would not grant this request, as he had determined the
         contrary, Eze 14:14.

Jer 15:3
15:3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD:
     the sword to slay, and the {b} dogs to tear, and the fowls
     of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and
     destroy.

     (b) The dogs, birds and beasts would devour them that were
         slain.

Jer 15:4
15:4 And I will {c} cause them to be removed into all kingdoms
     of the earth, {d} because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah
     king of Judah, for [that] which he did in Jerusalem.

     (c) The word signifies to run to and fro for fear and
         unquietness of conscience as Cain did.
     (d) Not that the people were punished for the king's sin
         only, but for their own sins also, because they
         consented to his wickedness.

Jer 15:6
15:6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone
     backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against
     thee, and destroy thee; I am {e} weary with repenting.

     (e) That is, I will not call back my plagues or spare you
         any more.

Jer 15:7
15:7 And I will fan them with a fan {f} in the gates of the
     land; I will bereave [them] of children, I will destroy my
     people, [since] they return not from their ways.

     (f) Meaning, the cities.

Jer 15:8
15:8 Their widows {g} are multiplied to me above the sand of the
     seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the
     young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused [him] to fall
     upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.

     (g) Because I had slain their husbands.

Jer 15:9
15:9 She that hath borne {h} seven languisheth: she hath
     breathed her last; her sun is {i} gone down while [it was]
     yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the
     remnant of them will I deliver to the sword before their
     enemies, saith the LORD.

     (h) She who had many lost all her children.
     (i) She was destroyed in the midst of her prosperity.

Jer 15:10
15:10 {k} Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of
      strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have
      neither {l} lent on interest, nor have men lent to me on
      interest; [yet] every one of them doth curse me.

      (k) By these are the prophet's words, complaining of the
          obstinacy of the people and that he was reserved to so
          wicked a time: in which also he shows what is the
          condition of God's ministers, that is, to have all the
          world against them, though they give no opportunity.
      (l) Which is an opportunity for contention and hatred.

Jer 15:11
15:11 The LORD said, {m} Verily it shall be well with thy
      remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee
      [well] in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

      (m) In this perplexity the Lord comforted me, and said
          that my last days would be quiet: and by the enemy he
          means here Nebuzaradan the captain of Nebuchadnezzar,
          who gave Jeremiah the choice either to remain in his
          country or to go where he would; or by the enemy he
          means the Jews, who would later know Jeremiah's
          faithfulness, and therefore favour him.

Jer 15:12
15:12 Shall {n} iron break the northern iron and the steel?

      (n) As for the people, though they seemed strong as iron,
          yet they would not be able to resist the hard iron of
          Babylon, but would be led captives.

Jer 15:15
15:15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and
      avenge me of my {o} persecutors; take me not away in thy
      longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered
      rebuke.

      (o) He does not speak this out of a desire for revenge,
          but wishing that God would deliver his Church from
          them who he knew to be hardened and incorrigible.

Jer 15:16
15:16 Thy words were found, and I {p} ate them; and thy word was
      to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called
      by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

      (p) I received them with a great joy, as he that is
          famished eats meat.

Jer 15:17
15:17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I
      sat alone {q} because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me
      with indignation.

      (q) I had nothing to do with the wicked contemners of your
          word, but lamented bitterly for your plagues: showing
          what the faithful should do when they see tokens of
          God's anger.

Jer 15:18
15:18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, [which]
      refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether to me {r}
      as a liar, [and as] waters [that] fail?

      (r) And have not assisted me according to the promise? In
          which it appears that in the saints of God is
          imperfection of faith, which through impatience is
          often assailed as in Jer 20:7.

Jer 15:19
15:19 Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou shalt {s} return,
      then will I bring thee again, [and] thou shalt stand
      before me: and if thou shalt separate the {t} precious
      from the vile, thou shalt be {u} as my mouth: let them
      return {x} to thee; but return not thou to them.

      (s) If you forget these carnal considerations and
          faithfully execute your charge.
      (t) That is, seek to win the good from the bad.
      (u) That is, as my mouth has pronounced, Jer 1:18
          and as here follows in Jer 15:20.
      (x) Do not conform yourself to their wickedness, but let
          them follow your godly example.

Jer 15:20
15:20 And I will make thee to this people a fortified brasen
      wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall
      not {y} prevail against thee: for I [am] with thee to save
      thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

      (y) I will teach you with an invincible strength and
          constancy, so that all the powers of the world will
          not overcome you.