Jeremiah, Chapter 11, verses 18-20
18 and upon the men of Anathoth for conspiring to kill JeremiahJohn, Chapter 7, verses 40-53
40 Diverse opinions of him among the people, 45 The Pharisees are angry that their officers took him not, and chide with Nicodemus for taking his part7
7:40 The prophet - Whom we expect to be the forerunner of the Messiah.
7:42 From Bethlehem - And how could they forget that Jesus was born there? Had not Herod given them terrible reason to remember it? Mic 5:2.
7:48 Hath any of the rulers - Men of rank or eminence, or of the Pharisees - Men of learning or religion, believed on him?
7:49 But this populace, who know not the law - This ignorant rabble; are accursed - Are by that ignorance exposed to the curse of being thus seduced.
7:50 Nicodemus, he that came to him by night - Having now a little more courage, being one of them - Being present as a member of the great council, saith to them - Do not we ourselves act as if we knew not the law, if we pass sentence on a man before we hear him?
7:52 They answered - By personal reflection; the argument they could not answer, and therefore did not attempt it. Art thou also a Galilean? - One of his party? Out of Galilee ariseth no prophet - They could not but know the contrary. They knew Jonah arose outof Gethhepher; and Nahum from another village in Galilee.Yea, and Thisbe, the town of Elijah, the Tishbite, was in Galilee also. They might likewise have known that Jesus was not born in Galilee, but at Bethlehem, even from the public register there, and from the genealogies of the family of David. They were conscious this poor answer would not bear examination, and so took care to prevent a reply.
7:53 And every man went to his own house - So that short plain question of Nicodemus spoiled all their measures, and broke up the council! A word spoken in season, how good it is!Especially when God gives it his blessing.
11 God's covenant, Jer 11:1-7.
Their disobedience, Jer 11:8-10.
Evils to come on them, Jer 11:11-17.
and on the men of Anathoth, for conspiring to kill Jeremiah, Jer 11:18-23.
11:18 Thou shewedst me - This may be understood with relation to that conspiracy which is mentioned in the following verses.
11:19 Let us destroy - We have no other mention of this conspiracy, but it is plain both from this verse, and what follows, that the men of Anathoth (which was Jeremiah's own town) were offended at his prophesying, and had conspired to kill him.Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof - Let us not only put an end to his prophesying, but to his life.