\\INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 16\\

In this chapter the ruin and destruction of the Jews is set forth, and
confirmed by the prophet's being forbid to be merry, or to go into the
house of feasting or mourning, with the reasons thereof; also the sins
of the people, the cause of it, are pointed at; and afterwards a promise
of their restoration is made; and the chapter is concluded with a prayer
of the prophet, pressing his faith in the divine protection, and in the
calling of the Gentiles. After the preface or introduction, \\#Jer 16:1\\,
the prophet is forbid to take a wife, or have any children, with the
reason of it; because that parents and children would die of grievous
deaths unlamented, and not be buried, \\#Jer 16:2-4\\ and he is also forbid
to go into the house of mourning, because peace, lovingkindness, and
mercy, were taken from the people, and both great and small would die,
and no lamentation be made for them, nor have any burial also,
\\#Jer 16:5-7\\, nor might he go into the house of feasting, because the
voice of joy and gladness would cease out of the land, \\#Jer 16:8,9\\, and
upon the people's inquiring the reason of all this, the prophet is bid
to tell them, that it was for their forsaking the Lord and his worship,
and for their idolatrous practices; of which they were more guilty than
their forefathers, and therefore would be cast out of the land, and
carried captive into a strange country, \\#Jer 16:10-13\\ but, after all
this, they should be restored again to their own land, and have a
greater deliverance than that out of Egypt, as they themselves would own,
\\#Jer 16:14,15\\ but before this would be, fishers and hunters should be
sent to distress them, and all because of their iniquities, which God's
eye was upon, and would recompense, \\#Jer 16:16-18\\, and the chapter is
closed with the prophet's prayer, in which he expresses his faith in the
Lord, and in the conversion of the Gentiles, who would be convinced of
their idolatry, and made to know the power and name of the Lord,
\\#Jer 16:19,20\\.