Behold I will bring them from the north country, and will gather them from the ends of the earth: and among them shall be the blind, and the lame, the woman with child, and she that is bringing forth, together, a great company of them returning hither.

“When Jeremiah says, "And I will gather them together from the extremities of the land in the feast day," he signifies the day of the Passover and of Pentecost, which is properly a "feast day." However, every day is the Lord's. Every hour, every time, is apt for baptism. If there is a difference in the solemnity, there is no distinction in the grace.”

“Here he continues the order of the operation, and concerning this there are two things. First, he leads them to exultation: "Exult in gladness." Ps. 80: "Exult to God our helper, shout for joy to the God of Jacob." To express this exultation he enjoins the taunting of enemies: "and neigh," taunting, "against the head of the nations," that is, the king of Babylon, or of the Assyrians, who took you captive. Habac. 2: "Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite you, and awake that shall tear you, and you shall be a spoil to them?" And also divine praise: "sound aloud," on psalteries, and the like. Second, he sets down the order of liberation: "Behold, I will bring them," describing the starting point of the return, "from the land of the north," and the assembly of those returning, among whom; as if to say: no one will be hindered from the return by any infirmity of body; this is because they will come securely. Isa. 35: "the lame shall be leaping like a hart." And also the manner of the return, "in weeping": some on account of the joy of the return, and some seeing the devastation of the land. 1 Esdr. 3: "nor could anyone discern the voice of the shout of those rejoicing, and the voice of the weeping of the people." "And in mercy I will bring them back," away from the shame of mind. Isa. 54: "in great mercies I will gather you." "By torrents of waters," by which those sailing go easily, and alongside which there are good roads; in which the labor of the journey, and tedium, is excluded. Prov. 3: "You shall walk confidently in your way, and your foot shall not stumble." Third, he assigns the reason from the paternal affection by which he is moved toward them: "for I have become a father"; whence, as a father, I cannot but have mercy on them. For among all peoples Israel is the firstborn. Exod. 4: But to the sons of Joseph the birthright was given, as is said in 1 Paral. 5, in which Ephraim is preferred to Manasseh: Gen. 48: whence it follows that Ephraim is the firstborn.”

“Behold, I will bring them from the north country,.... As from Babylon, at the end of the seventy years' captivity, which lay north of Judea; so, in the latter day, from those northern countries, as ours, where they now are in great numbers: and gather them from the coasts of the earth; or "sides" of it; from all the parts of the world where they are: and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together; signifying that no difficulties whatsoever should hinder them in their return to their own land; provision should be made for persons under these circumstances, so unfit to travel. All this may be understood, in a figurative sense, of those who are spiritually "blind"; who are made to see their lost estate, and need of Christ; and are brought to him, and to his church, in a way they had not known, and in paths they knew not before: and of the lame and impotent, unable to do any good thing in a spiritual sense, and will not come to Christ, unless drawn; these are made to leap as a hart, and to flee to Christ for refuge, and run the ways of his commandments: and of such who are laden and burdened, as "women with child"; and who are encouraged and enabled as such to come to Christ, and cast their burdens on him, and find rest for their souls: and of such who are in pain and distress, as one "that travaileth with child": in the pangs of the new birth, under a sense of wrath, and as ready to perish; who also are enabled to come and venture their souls on Christ, receive his Gospel, and submit to his ordinances, where they find peace and comfort: a great company shall return thither; three thousand were converted under one sermon, in the first times of the Gospel; and, in the latter day, the nation of the Jews shall be born again at once; the number of the children of Israel shall then be as the sand of the sea, and great shall be the day of Jezreel, Isa 66:8.”

“north--Assyria, Media, &c. (see on Jer 3:12; Jer 3:18; Jer 23:8). gather from . . . coasts of . . . earth-- (Eze 20:34, Eze 20:41; Eze 34:13). blind . . . lame, &c.--Not even the most infirm and unfit persons for a journey shall be left behind, so universal shall be the restoration. a great company--or, they shall return "in a great company" [MAURER].”