C F 2:1 - 12:17. Proclomations. G 13:1 - 17:18. Symbols. F 17:19-27. Proclomations. G 18:1 - 20:18. Symbols.
F H 2:1 - 3:11. To Jerusalem. Espousals. J 3:12 - 6:30. Place. Toward the north. J 7:1 - 10:25. Place. In the Gate of the Temple. H 11:1 - 12:17. To Judah and Jerusalem. Covenant.
H K 2:1-3. Espousals. L M O 2:4-8. Call to hear. Remonstrance. Past. P 2:9. Pleading. Future. N 2:10-28. Crimination. Idolatry. L M P 2:29,30. Pleading. Future. O 2:31,32. Call to see. Remonstrance. Past. N 2:33-37. Crimination. Idolatry. K 3:1-11. Adultery.
2)
518-500 B.C.
1 Moreover (Chapter 2 is the first chapter of the roll which was re-written after being burned [Ch. 36], while Chapter 11 is the first of the "many like words" [36:32] added afterwards) the word (see 1:1,4) of Yehovah came to me, saying,
2 “Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem (Jeremiah continued to retain his connection with Anathoth [11:21; 29:27; 32:7; 37:12], though his mission was to Jerusalem), saying, ‘Thus [is] Yehovah's oracle; I remember you (the expression is used in good part Pss.98:3; 106:45; 132:1. Neh.5:19; 13:14,22,31; but in evil part Pss.79:8; 137:7. Neh.6:14; 18:29. Probably both senses here: the good on Yehovah's part [v.3. Hs.11:1; 2:19,20. Amos 2:10];and the evil on Israel's part, for even in the wilderness Israel was unfaithful [Amos 5:25,26. Acts 7:39-43]), the kindness of your youth (cp. Ezek. 18:8), the love of your espousals, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. (cp. v.6. See Deut.2:7; 8:2.15.16]. Cp. Neh.9:12-21. Isa.63:7-14)
3 Israel was seperated to Yehovah (see Ex.19:6), and the firstfruits of His increase (which were consecrated. See Ex.23:19. Deut.18:4; 26:10): all that devoured him shall be held guilty (see Lev.4:13,22,27; 5:2,3,4,5,17,19; 6:4. Num.5:5,6); calamity shall come upon them (see Isa.45:7), [is] Yehovah's oracle.
4 Hear you all the word of Yehovah, O house of Jacob (occ. only here and 5:20, where it is "in the house of Jacob". The only other passage is Amos 3:13), and all the families of the house of Israel: (the Massorah records that this expression occurs 20 times in Jeremiah)
5 Thus says Yehovah, What iniquity (see Deut.32:4) have your fathers found in Me (not merely recently, but of old [v.7. Judg.2:10, &c.), that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after the vanity (fig., put for vain things: i.e. idols. Cp. 10:3-10,15; 14:22;16:19,20. Deut.32:21. Acts 14:15. 1 Cor.8:4), and are become vain? (cp. 2 Kings 17:15. Idolaters always become like the gods they worship. Cp. Pss.115:8; 135:18)
6 Neither said they, ‘Where is Yehovah that brought us up out of the land of Egypt (see Num.13:27; 14:7,8. Deut.6:10,11,18), That led us through the wilderness (see Deut.8:14-16; 32:10), through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of deep darkness, through a land that no man passed through, and where no human dwelt?’
7 And I brought you into a country of garden land (Heb. the land of a Carmel. Cp. Isa.33:9; 35:2), to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when you all entered, you all defiled My land, and made My heritage an abomination.
8 The priests said not, ‘Where is Yehovah?’ and they that handle the law knew Me not (the Law therefore well known, and the priests known as the custodians of it. See Lev.10:11. Deut.17:11; 33:10): the shepherds also revolted against Me (Used of kings and other leaders of the People. Cp. 17:16; 23:1-8), and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. (fig., for emphasis = lead to ruin)
9 Wherefore I will yet argue (or, contend) with you, [is] Yehovah's oracle, and with your son's sons will I plead.
10 For pass over the coastlands (or, maritime countries) of Chittim (see Num.24:24), and see; and send to Kedar (In Arabia. Two names used to represent west and east outlanders), and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11 Has a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but My people have changed His glory for that which does not profit.
12 Be astonished, O all you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be all you dried up (or, devoid of clouds and vapours), [is] Yehovah's oracle.
13 For My People have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters (= a well dug out, but having living water), and hewed them out a hewn cistern (holdng only what it recieves), broken cisterns, that cannot hold the waters.
14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? (they were treated as such by Assyria, and afterward by Egypt) why is he become a spoil?
15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16 Also the sons of Memphis (the capital of Lower Egypt, south of Cairo. Cp. 44:1. Isa.19:13. Ezek.30:13;16; 46:14,19) and Tahapanes (the Greek Daphnae, on the Pelusiac branch of the Nile. Cp. 43:7,11) have broken the crown of your head.
17 Have you not procured this to youself, in that you have forsaken Yehovah your Elohim, when He led you by the way? (see Deut.32:12)
18 And now what have you to do in the way of Egypt (see Deut.17:16), to drink the waters of Sihor (i.e. the Nile)? or what have you to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river (i.e. the Euphrates)?
19 Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backslidings shall reprove you: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that you have forsaken Yehovah your Elohim, and that My fear should not have pertained you, [is] Adonai Yehovah of Sabaioth's oracle.
20 For of old time I have broken your yoke, and burst your bands; and you said, ‘I will not serve;’ (see Ex.19:8) when upon every high hill and under every green tree you wander, playing the harlot. (the places where the Asherah was worshipped. See Deut.6:21)
21 Yet I had planted you a precious vine (or, choise vine, as in Isa.5:2. See Gen.49:11), wholly a right seed: how then are you turned into the degenerate plant of a foreign vine to Me?
22 For though you wash yourself with nitre (i.e. mineral alkali. In Palestine a compound of soap), and you take much soap (in 1611 A.V., spelt "sope". Old Eng. spelling. Anglo-Saxon sãpe, from Latin sapo, whence French savon), yet your iniquity is graven before Me, [is] Yehovah Elohim's oracle.
23 How can you say, ‘I am not polluted, and I have not gone after Baalim?’ (= lords. Used here for false gods generally, incuding Moloch. Cp. 7:31; 19:5; where Moloch is called Baal) see your way in the valley, know what you have done: you are a swift dromedary entangling her ways;
24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind (ruach) at her soul; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
25 Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst: but you said, ‘There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.’
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings (i.e. sowing that Judah was still in the Land, but in Jehoiakim's reign), and their princes, and their priests, and their prophets.
27 Saying to a stock, ‘You are my father;’ and to a stone (here in the fem. to agree with mother), ‘You have brought me forth:’ for they have turned their back to Me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise, and save us.’
28 But where are your gods that you have made you? (see Deut.32:37,38) let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble: for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. (cp. 11:13)
29 Why will you all plead with Me? you all have transgressed against Me, [is] Yehovah's oracle.
30 In vain have I smitten your sons; they received no correction: your own sword has devoured your prophets (see 1 Kings 18:4,13. 2 Kings 21:16. 2 Chron.24:21. Cp. Matt.2:37. Luke 11:47. Acts 7:51,52. 1 Thess.2:15), like a destroying lion.
31 O generation (once a chosen generation [Pss.22:30; 24:6; 112:2. Isa.53:8]; now a perverse generation [7:29. Deut.32:5. Ps.78:8]. Cp. Matt.3:7; 11:16; 12:34,39,41-45; 16:4; 17:17), see you all the word of Yehovah. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? a land of darkness? (or, Is the land the darkness of Yah) wherefore say My People, ‘We are lords; we will come no more to you?’
32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet My People have forgotten Me days without number.
33 Why do you trim your way to seek love? (fig., put for object loved. Cp. v.23) therefore have you also taught the wicked ones your ways. (here "wicked" is fem. = wicked women)
34 Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the helpless innocents (fig., put for the guilt of bloodshedding): I have not found it by secret search (i.e. the guilt [of bloodshedding] on the "helpless innocents"), but upon all these. (i.e. these [your skirts] which evidence it. Cp. 22:17)
35 Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will enter into judgment with you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 Why did you get about so much to change your way? you also shall be ashamed of Egypt, according as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 Yes, you shall go forth from him, and your hands upon your head (the Eastern custom of expressing grief. Cp. 2 Sam.13:19): for Yehovah has rejected your confidences, and you shall not prosper in them.
3)
1 [It is a common] saying (see Deut.24:1-4), ‘If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return to her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted?’ ‘but you have played the harlot with many lovers; yet [do you think to] return again to Me,’ (see v.7; 4:1) [is] Yehovah's oracle.
2 Lift up your eyes to the high places, and see where you have not been lien with. In the ways have you sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and you have polluted the land with your whoredoms and with your wickedness.
3 Therefore the showers have been withholden (see Lev.26:19. Deut.11:17; 28:23), and there has been no latter rain; and you had a whore's forehead (fig., put for impudence), you refused to be ashamed.
4 Will you not from this time cry to me, ‘My Father, You are the Friend of my youth?’
5 Will He reserve His anger for ever? will He keep it to the end? Behold, you have spoken and done the evil things as you could.’ ” (or, have had your way)
6 Yehovah said also to me in the days of Josiah the king (this must be noted to understand the context), “Have You seen that which backsliding Israel has done? (here refers to the Northern Kingdom. In Jeremiah it usually refers to the whole nation) she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree (cp. 2 :20, and Hos.4:13), and there has played the harlot. (The whole of this refers to idolatry, chiefly because of the uncleaness connected with the phallic worship of the Canaanite nations)
7 And I said after she had done all these things, ‘Turn you to Me.’ (or, "To Me she shall return") But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8 Though she saw (in transcribing from the ancient characters, Aleph [= a] was taken for Tau [= t], the two different letters differring only in one minute stroke. This shows that the primitive reading is correct), when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce (because they will not follow the commandment of God. See Deut.24:1. Cp. Isa.50:1. Mark 10:4. Through Christ's death she [Israel] was allowed to re-marry); yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. (fig., put for the idols made from them. She didn't think anything about it. She worshipped anything)
10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in falsehood (the reformation was Josiah's. The People's heart was not changed), [is] Yehovah's oracle.”
11 And Yehovah said to me, “The backsliding Israel has justified her soul more than treacherous Judah. (cp. Ezek.16:51,52)
J Q¹ 3:12 - 4:2. Israel. Q² 4:3 - 6:30. Judah.
Q¹ R¹ 3:12-. Call to return. Command. S¹ 3:-12. Reason. " T¹ 3:13. Conditions. " R² 3:14-. Call to return. " S¹ 3:-14-18. Reason. " T¹ 3:19-21. Conditions. " R³ 3:22-. Call to return. Obedience. S² 3:-22-25. Return. Reason. " T³ 4:1,2. Conditions. "12 Go and proclaim these words toward the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and say, 'Return, you backsliding Israel, [is] Yehovah's oracle; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: (Heb. cause My face, or countenance, to fall. Fig. put for the anger manifested by it. See Gen.4:5,6)
for I am gracious (or, favorable), [is] Yehovah's oracle, and I will not keep anger for ever. (see note on "reserve", v.5)
13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have rebelled against Yehovah your Elohim, (this, from the first, was, and still is, the one condition of national blessing for Israel. See Lev.26:40,42) and have gome from that place to this place to the strangers under every green tree (referring to the worship of the asherah. See Deut.6:21), and you all have not obeyed My voice, [is] Yehovah's oracle.
14 Return, O backsliding children, [is] Yehovah's oracle;
S² i -14,15. Restoration. k 16. The Symbol. No longer the Ark. k 17. The Reality. The Throne. i 18. Restoration.for I am become your husband to you (this will be the result of the Restoration here promised): and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family (or, group of cities), and I will bring you to Zion:
16 And it shall come to pass, when you all be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days (i.e. in the days of the Restoration spoken of in vv.-14,15. Cp. 31:38-40; 33:13), [is] Yehovah's oracle, they shall say no more, 'The ark of the covenant of Yehovah': (the Ark was still in the land in the days of this prophecy [2 Chron.35:5]; but it was to disappear with the broken covenant, of which it was the symbol. See Ex.25:22. Cp. note on 1 Chron.13:3) neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it (this is conclusive of the fact that it was burnt together with the Temple [as it is not included in the excepted things, in 2 Kings 25:9,13-15], notwithstanding the Jewish tradition recorded in 2 Macc.2:4-8, and the impossible stories of it being taken over to North Africa, Constantinople, or Ireland. For its true locacation today, see Rev.11:19); neither shall that be made any more. (It disappeared together with the covenant, of which it was a symbol [8:19; 12:7. Ps.132:13,14]. The reason follows in v.17. Yehovah's Throne will be substituted for it: the reality will take place of the symbol.Yehovah Himself will take the place of the Shekinah)
17 At that time (referring to the future Restoration) they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Yehovah (cp. Ps.87:2-7. Isa.60:1; 65:18; 66:7-13,20. Cp. 14:21 1 Sam.2:8. Ps.47:8 with Matt 25:31 and Zeph.3:8); and all the nations shall be gathered to it (this shows that the prophecy refers to the yet future Restoration. Cp. 1:5,10), to the name of Yehovah (see Ps.20:1), to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the stubborness of their evil heart. (Cp. 7:24. See Deut.29:19)
18 In those days (still referring to the future Restoration) the house of Judah shall go to the house of Israel (see 2:4), that they may enter together (or, at the same time) out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance to your fathers.
19 But I said, 'How shall I put you among the sns, and give you a pleasant land (Heb. a land of desire, i.e. to be desired), a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations?' and I said, 'You shall call me, My father; and shall not turn away from Me.'
20 Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her guide (or, friend, as in v.4), so have you all dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, [is] Yehovah's oracle.
21 A voice was heard upon the places where they had sinned (cp. v.2), weeping and supplications of the sons of Israel: because they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten Yehovah their Elohim.
22 Return, all you backsliding sons, and I will heal your backslidings."
Behold (to mark the confession that will be made "in those days"), we come to You; for You are Yehovah our Elohim.
23 Thus continuing her confession as certainly as the hills [have proved] false, and the noisy throng on the mountains [an empty sound], so truly is the salvation of Israel with our Elohim. (the "hill" and "mountains" are put by the Fig. Metonymy, for the idolatry practiced on them. Cp. Ezek.18:6,11,15)
24 For the shameful thing ("shame" being put by the same Fig. as above, for the asherah wich put them to shame. See v.25) has devoured the labour (put for all thathad been produced by labour) of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds,and their sons and their daughters.
25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covers us: for we have sinned against Yehovah our Elohim, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and have not obeyed the voice of Yehovah our Elohim.
4)
1 "If you will return, O Israel (now referring to the northern kingdom), [is] Yehovah's oracle, return to Me: and if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, and stray not [from Yehovah].
2 And you shall swear (see Deut.10:20), Yehovah lives, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness (= truly, yes, justly and righteously, the hree referring to the one thing, "shall swear"); and the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory.