C F 2:1 - 12:17. Proclamations. G 13:1 - 17:18. Symbols. F 17:19-27. Proclamations. 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. Incrimination. Idolatry. L M P 2:29,30. Pleading. Future. O 2:31,32. Call to see. Remonstrance. Past. N 2:33-37. Incrimination. Idolatry. K 3:1-11. Adultery.
518-500 B.C.
Jeremiah 2)
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 the Lord (Yahaveh) 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] the Lord'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 1294's part [v.3. Hos. 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 separated to the Lord (see Ex. 19:6), and the first-fruits 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] the Lord's oracle.
4 Hear you all the word of the Lord, 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 the Lord, 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 the Lord 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 the Lord?’ 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] the Lord's oracle, and with your son's sons will I plead.
10 For pass over the coast-lands (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 vapors), [is] the Lord'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 (holding only what it receives), broken cisterns, that cannot hold the waters.
14 Is Israel a servant? is he a home-born 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 yourself, in that you have forsaken the Lord your God, 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 the Lord your God, and that My fear should not have pertained you, [is] the Lord GOD 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 worshiped. See Deut.6:21)
21 Yet I had planted you a precious vine (or, choice 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., spelled "sope". Old Eng. spelling. Anglo-Saxon sâpe, from Latin sapo, whence French savon), yet your iniquity is graven before Me, [is] the Lord God'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, including 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] the Lord'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.v24:21. 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 the Lord. 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 blood-shedding): I have not found it by secret search (i.e. the guilt [of blood-shedding] 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 the Lord has rejected your confidences, and you shall not prosper in them.