Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 16:7

7 Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning to comfort them for the dead , neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother .

If we allow our Translation here of the word [non-Latin text not transcribed] with the word supplied themselves, it will be hard to give a tolerable sense of these words, for then tearing is the same with the cutting themselves mentioned in the former verse, which though it might be as a passionate expression of the persons sorrow that did it, yet how it should comfort the friends of the deceased, will be very hard to conceive. But the Truth is, the word hath but two significations, and we have here given it what doth worst sute this Text. It signifies to Divide, and to Tear or Rend. Both in Kal the first conjugation, and in Pi[illegible: 2 letters]l the third conjugation it is used to signifie dividing; in the former, Isa. [illegible: 1 letter]8.7. where we interpret it deal; to deal, that is, divide thy bread to the hungry; which is the onely text (excepting this) where it is used in this conjugation. In the other conjugation it is so used in many texts, Lev. 11.4, 5, &c. Deut. 14.7. so certainly it ought to have been translated here, Neither shall men deal out bread for them in mourning to comfort them for the dead, and seemeth to hint to us a custom in use amongst them, when they had any friend, that had lost his or her Relations to send them some meat or victuals (for amongst the Hebrews all things that they a[illegible: 1 letter]e were called Bread) and then to go and dine or sup with them, to have opportunity to speak comfortably to them. This doubtless is the sense of the words, and so it is plain enough and this is confirmed by the next phrase.

Neither shall men drink the cup of consolation for their father, &c. as in such cases they were wont to have something to eat, so they were also wont to send Bottles of Wine, or other chearing Liquor to drink, that they might forget their sorrows, this is called, The cup of consolation, from the end for which the sending, and drinking of it was intended. God tells them that the time should come that so many should die, and so fast, and the rest should be so much upon the brink of the Grave, that they should have no leisure for, or heart to these Ceremonies.

Marginal references: Or, break [illegible: 3 letters] for them, as Ezek. 24.17.