Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 31:4

4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built , O virgin of Israel , thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry .

As upon their being carried into Captivity, both their Civil State and Church, which either of them were as a building framed together, were broken and pulled down, and they were scattered here and there like the Stones of a building pulled down. So Gods bringing them again together, and cementing them by a Political and Ecclesiastical Government is fitly compared to a Building.

The calling them the Virgin Israel, doth not signifie that the Body of that People had not been deflowred by Idolatry, but either signifies that this promise onely concerned such as had kept their Virginity: or else (which it may be is more probable) Israel is here called a Virgin with relation to the following words, they being Virgins which were wont to go out with tabrets, 1 Sam. 18.6. and to dance in the time of their mirth and jollity, Exod. 15.20. Iud. 11.34.

The Virgins are said to be adorned, with their Tabrets, or Timbrels, either (as some think) because they were wont to tye Scarfs, or Ribbons about them, or because they looked comlily with these instruments of Musick in their hands, or should use them in a more handsom and comly manner than they had done before, when they used them at unseasonable times. That which is here prophesied is, a merry, joyful, pleasant time to this people when their Mirth should become them. Or the Restauration of their Religious Festivals at which they used Instruments of Musick to express their inward, spiritual joy and gladness. The Prophets, 1 Sam. 10.5. came from the High-place with a Tabret, &c.

Marginal references: chap. 33.[illegible: 1 letter].; Or, Timb[illegible: 3 letters].