If "It is not good that the man should be alone" [Gen. 2:18] ....

ktn4eg · Jan 7, 2014

..... why then did the Lord command the prophet Jeremiah, "Thou not shalt take thee a wife," [Jer. 16:2]?

preacher4truth · Jan 7, 2014

ktn4eg said: ↑

..... why then did the Lord command the prophet Jeremiah, "Thou not shalt take thee a wife," [Jer. 16:2]?
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The context provides the answer (v. 3). Here are some comments on the passage;

John Gill:

Thou shall not take thee a wife,.... Not because it was unlawful; for it was lawful for prophets to marry, and they did; but because it was not advisable, on account of the calamities and distresses which were coming upon the nation; which would be more bearable by him alone, than if he had a wife, which would increase his care, concern, and sorrow.
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John Darby:

In chapter 16 Jehovah teaches Jeremiah to avoid all family relationships with this people, and to cease from all testimonies of interest in what was going on among them. For He Himself had entirely broken off with them, and would cause all His testimonies to cease among them, and would drive them out of the land. But, after all, through the greatness of the evil which He would bring upon them, He would cause their deliverance out of Egypt to be forgotten in their yet greater deliverance from this evil. For at length God will pardon and comfort His people But before this He will recompense their iniquity. Afterwards the Gentiles themselves shall come and acknowledge the true God, the God of Israel.
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Matthew Henry:

The prophet must conduct himself as one who expected to see his country ruined very shortly. In the prospect of sad times, he is to abstain from marriage, mourning for the dead, and pleasure. Those who would convince others of the truths of God, must make it appear by their self-denial, that they believe it themselves. Peace, inward and outward, family and public, is wholly the work of God, and from his loving-kindness and mercy. When He takes his peace from any people, distress must follow. There may be times when it is proper to avoid things otherwise our duty; and we should always sit loose to the pleasures and concerns of this life.
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Matthew Poole:

It is uncertain whether what we have in this chapter be a new revelation, or a continuance of his former prophecy. God commandeth the prophet in it under certain types to foretell their utter ruin and destruction. First he commandeth him to marry no wife, nor have sons or daughters. He expoundeth this command Jer_16:3,4.
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Adam Clarke:

Those shalt not take thee a wife - As it would be very inconvenient to have a family when the threatened desolations should come on the place. The reason is given in the following verses.
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ktn4eg · Jan 7, 2014

Thank you for the information you provided.

I guess that this would be somewhat similar to what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 7:26 concerning it being, "good for the present distress."

webdog · Jan 7, 2014

ktn4eg said: ↑

..... why then did the Lord command the prophet Jeremiah, "Thou not shalt take thee a wife," [Jer. 16:2]?
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The Genesis statement was a generality in regards to mankind, that we were created to be relational.

thisnumbersdisconnected · Jan 7, 2014

webdog said: ↑

The Genesis statement was a generality in regards to mankind, that we were created to be relational.
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Exactly. Jeremiah was told not to take a wife because he was completely set aside as God's prophet. Any other act in his life would be distraction.

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