John Wesley on Jeremiah 8

The bones - This denotes the utter desolation of the city, not only rasing the walls, but turning up the very sepulchres which were accounted sacred, and not to be violated.

Not arise - Will they never think of rising again? Not return - Will he wander for ever?

Deceit - Their false prophets, encouraging themselves in their wickedness, and pleasing themselves, that their miseries should not come upon them.

Appointed time - The seasons of her going and coming. The judgment - God's vengeance, hovering over Jerusalem, and Judea.

How - These things considered where is your wisdom? He speaks to the whole body of the people. The Lord - This may have a more special eye to the priests. In vain - For any use they made of it; neither need it ever have been copied out by the scribe. A scribe was a teacher, one well versed in the scripture, or esteemed to be so.

Pass away - Shall be taken away by their enemies.

Why - The people at length seem to bethink themselves, and thus to bespeak each other. Silent - Keep close within our walls.

The snorting - The fury of the Chaldeans march is described by the snorting of their horses, which is a noise they make through their nostrils. Heard - Even to Jerusalem. Have devoured - It is spoken in a prophetical style, who use to express the certainty of what shall be, as if it actually were already.

Shall bite - There will be no appeasing their fury by any method.

Sorrow - The prophet now seems to speak, how greatly the calamity of this people affected him.

Why - As if God should seem to reply; let them not think it strange, seeing they have turned their backs upon me, and trusted to idols.

Am I hurt - The prophet here shews how deeply he is affected with the peoples misery. Black - I am as those that are clad in deep mourning.