Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 1:11

11 ¶ Moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? and I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree .

This and the boiling C[illegible: 1 letter]uldron ver. 13. is thought to be at the same time, and in the same Vision, when he was first appointed to his work.

Viz. That had leaves, and possibly blossoms on it, like Aarons, Numb. 17.8. for without leaves at least, 'tis possibly he had not so readily guessed of what kind it had been; this is a tree that blossoms early, and speedily, and hence hath its name in Hebrew Soaked signifying watchful, forward, nimble, or quick, and so it may point at either Gods readiness to smite, ver. 12. which is described elsewhere by Summer fruit, Am[illegible: 1 letter]s 8.1▪ 2. or Israels ripeness to be smitten, as we have the like, Ezek. 7.10, 11. or both; this rod being like a portentous Comet, shewing to Ieremiah the miseries that were at hand, as the death of Iosiah, which soon followed this Vision, 2 King. 23.29. and the taxing them by Pharaoh Neco, 2 King. 23.35. and presently after the breaking in of the Chaldees, [illegible: 1 letter]yrians, Moab[illegible: 2 letters]es, and Ammonites, 2 King. 24.2. and then the Babylonian Captivity, 2 King. 24.10. which happened in the eighth year of Iehojakim, 2 King. 24.12. when Nebucha[illegible: 1 letter]nezzar took him with others, and carried them away about 23 years from hence, and about the 40th. year Ierusalem was taken, and the Temple burnt.