And I brought you into the land of Carmel, to eat the fruit thereof, and the best things thereof: and when ye entered in, you defiled my land, and made my inheritance an abomination.

“Here he continues the order of judgment: first he sets forth the accusation; second, he rejects the excuse, at the place, "I planted you a chosen vine, wholly a true seed." The first is divided into three. First he aggravates their faults from their ingratitude for benefits; second, from the enormity of the deed, at "therefore I will yet contend in judgment with you"; third, from the obstinacy of their mind, at "is Israel a servant, or a home-born slave?" Concerning the first, three points. First he clears himself of blame, lest the cause of the ingratitude should seem to lie in himself: "What did your fathers find in me?" Of evil, namely, that there was none. "They went far away" — for a long time they withdrew. "Vanity" — idols, which do not profit their worshippers. Mic. 6: "My people, what have I done to you, or in what have I troubled you? Answer me." Second, he sets forth the abundance of his benefits, touching especially on the leading out from Egypt. And he touches on this benefit in three ways. As to the place from which he led them out: "and they did not say, Where is the Lord?" — seeking me with their whole desire. "To go up" — because of the position of the land. Below, 26: "I led them out of the land of Egypt." As to the way by which he led them: "who led them through the desert (...) the image of death" — because by its very appearance it threatened death. Deut. 8: "he was your leader in the wilderness." And as to the land into which he led them: "and I led you into the land of Carmel" — because of a likeness of fertility, not because that mountain is in the land of promise. Num. 14: "the land which we went around is exceedingly good." Third, he sets forth the fault of ingratitude; first, as regards all in common: "and having entered you defiled it" — with idols. Ps. 105: "the land was infected with bloodshed, and was defiled by their works." Second, as regards the prelates specially: "priests" — whose office it is to lead to God; "those who hold the law" — the doctors; "shepherds" — the princes, whose office it is to call back from idolatry. Isa. 56: "the shepherds themselves have not known understanding."”

“The priests said not, where is the Lord?.... Whose business it was to draw nigh to God, and offer the sacrifices of the people, and inquire of God for them; whose lips should keep knowledge, and at whose mouth the law should be sought, they being the messengers of the Lord of hosts, Mal 2:7, and they that handle the law knew me not; the sanhedrim, according to Jarchi; or the lawyers and scribes, the Rabbins and doctors of the law, whose business it was to read and explain it; these did not understand it, nor the mind of God in it; and much less did they know him in a spiritual and evangelical manner; or as he is in Christ, and revealed in the Gospel: the pastors also transgressed against me; kings, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi interpret it, who were pastors or shepherds in a civil sense; whose business it was to feed the people as the shepherd does his flock; that is, to guide and govern them by wholesome laws, by the laws of God; but, instead of this, they rebelled against the Lord, and transgressed his commands: and the prophets prophesied by Baal; in his name; pretending to be inspired by that idol, and to receive the spirit of prophecy from him: and walked after things that do not profit; the gods of the Gentiles, which could not supply them with the least temporal blessing, and much less give them spiritual and eternal ones; see Jer 14:22. This is to be understood of false prophets, as Ben Melech.”

“plentiful--literally, "a land of Carmel," or "well-cultivated land": a garden land, in contrast to the "land of deserts" (Jer 2:6). defiled--by idolatries (Jdg 2:10-17; Psa 78:58-59; Psa 106:38). you . . . ye--change to the second person from the third, "they" (Jer 2:6), in order to bring home the guilt to the living generation.”