(16) But they mocked.--And they were mocking, mal'ibim; only here (an Aramaism).

Misused.--Mitta'te'im, only here. Derided, strictly, stammered. Another form of this verb occurs in Genesis 27:12. (Comp. for the fact Isaiah 28:9-14; Ezekiel 33, 30; Jeremiah 17:15; Jeremiah 20:7-8.)

Till there was no remedy.--Healing; i.e., deliverance, ??????? (comp. 2Chronicles 21:18). God is said to heal, when he averts calamity (2Chronicles 30:20).

The wrath . . . arose.--Went up ('?l?h), like smoke (Psalm 18:8; 2Samuel 11:20).

Verse 16. - No remedy (comp. our 2 Chronicles 21:18; Proverbs 6:15; Proverbs 29:1; Jeremiah 8:15; Jeremiah 14:19; Jeremiah 33:6; Malachi 4:2 [3:20]).

36:1-21 The ruin of Judah and Jerusalem came on by degrees. The methods God takes to call back sinners by his word, by ministers, by conscience, by providences, are all instances of his compassion toward them, and his unwillingness that any should perish. See here what woful havoc sin makes, and, as we value the comfort and continuance of our earthly blessings, let us keep that worm from the root of them. They had many times ploughed and sowed their land in the seventh year, when it should have rested, and now it lay unploughed and unsown for ten times seven years. God will be no loser in his glory at last, by the disobedience of men. If they refused to let the land rest, God would make it rest. What place, O God, shall thy justice spare, if Jerusalem has perished? If that delight of thine were cut off for wickedness, let us not be high-minded, but fear.But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words,.... Which was the treatment Jeremiah and Ezekiel frequently met with:

and misused his prophets; imprisoned them, as Micaiah and Jeremiah were:

until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people; which burned like fire in his breast, and broke out to the consumption of them:

till there was no remedy; or healing of them; there was no reclaiming or recovering of them, no bringing them to repentance, and no pardon for them.