Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 5:1

1 RUn ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth, and I will pardon it.

Whether this begins a new Sermon, or be part of the former, is neither certain nor material, but here the Prophet calls upon him to go up and down, and search here and there, in every part of the City, and to make a diligent enquiry in every street, and places of concourse, a phrase frequently used for searching, and enquiring after a thing, Dan. 12.4. Amos 8.12. and it is spoken in the plural number not restrained to Ieremy; q. d. Let who will search, they will find it even so, it implies the great scarcity of good men, that must be thus searched for, neither doth God speak this to Ieremiah onely in particular, but he gives leave to all the Earth to look into the state of Ierusalem, by which he vindicates himself in the face of the whole World from all severity towards his people, what ever he brings upon them, and so stops the mouthes of the Jewes.

Even there, where usually is the greatest resort, for Merchants and Merchandizes, where men meet from all quarters.

It seems worse then Sodom and Gomorrah, for God condescends to pardon Ierusalem, if there be but one righteous man found in it, there he came no lower then ten. But it will be objected, if it be understood thus individually, what must we think of Ieremiah himself, and Baruch, and Ebedmelech, and other few, who were then no doubt in Ierusalem? Answer, Either he speaks of the corrupt body of the people, Courtiers, Priests, false Prophets, not one, or scarce one among them to be found, or if any, so few as not to be discerned; a man might walk the streets of Ierusalem long enough before he could meet with any one truly Religious, which universality of corruption is thus expressed in divers places▪ Psalm 12.1, 2. and 14.2, 3. Ezek. 22.30. Mic. 7.1, 2. or it may be understood hyperbolically for a few.

i. e. Among the Magistracy that rightly administer Justice.

i. e. Among the Commonalty that deal faithfully, and uprightly, it signifies that among them all, there are none given to it, so far from indeavoring and seeking it sincerely with their whole heart, that they are not inclined to it, but are given to oppressions, falshoods and deceits, they do not seek the truth.

Or him, I will not destroy it for the sake of those few, the like he promiseth with reference to those five Cities, Gen. 18.24. &c.