Because they are innumerable,
And more numerous than bgrasshoppers.
24 The daughter of Egypt shall be ashamed;
She shall be delivered into the hand
Of athe people of the north.”
25 The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will bring punishment on 1Amon of aNo,2 and Pharaoh and Egypt, bwith their gods and their kings—Pharaoh and those who ctrust in him.
26 a“And I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of his servants. bAfterward it shall be inhabited as in the days of old,” says the LORD.
God Will Preserve Israel
27 “Buta do not fear, O My servant Jacob,
And do not be dismayed, O Israel!
For behold, I will bsave you from afar,
And your offspring from the land of their captivity;
Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease;
No one shall make him afraid.
28 Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,” says the LORD,
“For I am with you;
For I will make a complete end of all the nations
To which I have driven you,
But I will not make aa complete end of you.
For I will not leave you wholly unpunished.”
Judgment on Philistia
1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet aagainst the Philistines, bbefore Pharaoh attacked Gaza.
“Behold, awaters rise bout of the north,
And shall be an overflowing flood;
They shall overflow the land and all that is in it,
The city and those who dwell within;
Then the men shall cry,
And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.
3 At the anoise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses,
At the rushing of his chariots,
At the rumbling of his wheels,
The fathers will not look back for their children,
1Lacking courage,
4 Because of the day that comes to plunder all the aPhilistines,
To cut off from bTyre and Sidon every helper who remains;
For the LORD shall plunder the Philistines,
cThe remnant of the country of dCaphtor.1
5 aBaldness has come upon Gaza,
bAshkelon is cut off
With the remnant of their valley.
How long will you cut yourself?
6 “O you asword of the LORD,
How long until you are quiet?
Put yourself up into your scabbard,
Rest and be still!
7 How can 1it be quiet,
Seeing the LORD has agiven it a charge
Against Ashkelon and against the seashore?
There He has bappointed it.”
Judgment on Moab
1 Against aMoab. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
“Woe to bNebo!
For it is plundered,
cKirjathaim is shamed and taken;
1The high stronghold is shamed and dismayed—
2 aNo more praise of Moab.
In bHeshbon they have devised evil against her:
‘Come, and let us cut her off as a nation.’
You also shall be cut down, O cMadmen!1
The sword shall pursue you;
3 A voice of crying shall be from aHoronaim:
‘Plundering and great destruction!’
1Her little ones have caused a cry to be heard;
5 aFor in the Ascent of Luhith they ascend with continual weeping;
For in the descent of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.
And be like 1the ajuniper in the wilderness.
7 For because you have trusted in your works and your atreasures,
You also shall be taken.
And bChemosh shall go forth into captivity,
His cpriests and his princes together.
8 And athe plunderer shall come against every city;
No one shall escape.
The valley also shall perish,
And the plain shall be destroyed,
As the LORD has spoken.
9 “Givea wings to Moab,
That she may flee and get away;
For her cities shall be desolate,
Without any to dwell in them.
10 aCursed is he who does the work of the LORD deceitfully,
And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.
11 “Moab has been at ease from 1his youth;
He ahas settled on his dregs,
And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel,
Nor has he gone into captivity.
Therefore his taste remained in him,
And his scent has not changed.
12 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD,
“That I shall send him 1wine-workers
Who will tip him over
And empty his vessels
And break the bottles.
13 Moab shall be ashamed of aChemosh,
As the house of Israel bwas ashamed of cBethel, their confidence.
14 “How can you say, a‘We are mighty
And strong men for the war’?
15 Moab is plundered and gone up from her cities;
Her chosen young men have agone down to the slaughter,” says bthe King,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts.
16 “The calamity of Moab is near at hand,
And his affliction comes quickly.
17 Bemoan him, all you who are around him;
And all you who know his name,
Say, a‘How the strong staff is broken,
The beautiful rod!’
18 “O adaughter inhabiting bDibon,
Come down from your glory,
And sit in thirst;
For the plunderer of Moab has come against you,
He has destroyed your strongholds.
19 O inhabitant of aAroer,
bStand by the way and watch;
Ask him who flees
And her who escapes;
Say, ‘What has happened?’
20 Moab is shamed, for he is broken down.
aWail and cry!
Tell it in bArnon, that Moab is plundered.
21 “And judgment has come on the plain country:
On Holon and Jahzah and Mephaath,
22 On Dibon and Nebo and Beth Diblathaim,
23 On Kirjathaim and Beth Gamul and Beth Meon,
24 On aKerioth and Bozrah,
On all the cities of the land of Moab,
Far or near.
25 aThe 1horn* of Moab is cut off,
And his barm is broken,” says the LORD.
Because he exalted himself against the LORD.
Moab shall wallow in his vomit,
And he shall also be in derision.
27 For awas not Israel a derision to you?
bWas he found among thieves?
For whenever you speak of him,
You shake your head in cscorn.
Leave the cities and adwell in the rock,
And be like bthe dove which makes her nest
In the sides of the cave’s mouth.
29 “We have heard the apride of Moab
(He is exceedingly proud),
Of his loftiness and arrogance and bpride,
And of the haughtiness of his heart.”
30 “I know his wrath,” says the LORD,
“But it is not right;
aHis 1lies have made nothing right.
31 Therefore aI will wail for Moab,
And I will cry out for all Moab;
1I will mourn for the men of Kir Heres.
32 aO vine of Sibmah! I will weep for you with the weeping of bJazer.
Your plants have gone over the sea,
They reach to the sea of Jazer.
The plunderer has fallen on your summer fruit and your vintage.
33 aJoy and gladness are taken
From the plentiful field
And from the land of Moab;
I have caused wine to 1fail from the winepresses;
No one will tread with joyous shouting—
Not joyous shouting!
34 “Froma the cry of Heshbon to bElealeh and to Jahaz
They have uttered their voice,
cFrom Zoar to Horonaim,
Like 1a three-year-old heifer;
For the waters of Nimrim also shall be desolate.
“I will cause to cease in Moab
aThe one who offers sacrifices in the 1high places
And burns incense to his gods.
36 Therefore aMy heart shall wail like flutes for Moab,
And like flutes My heart shall wail
For the men of Kir Heres.
Therefore bthe riches they have acquired have perished.
37 “For aevery head shall be bald, and every beard clipped;
On all the hands shall be cuts, and bon the loins sackcloth—
On all the ahousetops of Moab,
And in its streets;
For I have bbroken Moab like a vessel in which is no pleasure,” says the LORD.
‘How she is broken down!
How Moab has turned her back with shame!’
So Moab shall be a derision
And a dismay to all those about her.”
40 For thus says the LORD:
“Behold, aone shall fly like an eagle,
And bspread his wings over Moab.
And the strongholds are surprised;
aThe mighty men’s hearts in Moab on that day shall be
Like the heart of a woman in birth pangs.
42 And Moab shall be destroyed aas a people,
Because he exalted himself against the LORD.
43 aFear and the pit and the snare shall be upon you,
O inhabitant of Moab,” says the LORD.
44 “He who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit,
And he who gets out of the pit shall be caught in the asnare.
For upon Moab, upon it bI will bring
The year of their punishment,” says the LORD.
45 “Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon
Because of exhaustion.
But aa fire shall come out of Heshbon,
A flame from the midst of bSihon,
And cshall devour the brow of Moab,
The crown of the head of the sons of tumult.
46 aWoe to you, O Moab!
The people of Chemosh perish;
For your sons have been taken captive,
And your daughters captive.
47 “Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab
aIn the latter days,” says the LORD.
Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
Judgment on Ammon
1 Against the aAmmonites. Thus says the LORD:
“Has Israel no sons?
Has he no heir?
Why then does 1Milcom inherit bGad,
And his people dwell in its cities?
2 aTherefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD,
“That I will cause to be heard an alarm of war
In bRabbah of the Ammonites;
It shall be a desolate mound,
And her 1villages shall be burned with fire.
Then Israel shall take possession of his inheritance,” says the LORD.
3 “Wail, O aHeshbon, for Ai is plundered!
Cry, you daughters of Rabbah,
bGird yourselves with sackcloth!
Lament and run to and fro by the walls;
For 1Milcom shall go into captivity
With his cpriests and his princes together.
4 Why ado you boast in the valleys,
1Your flowing valley, O bbacksliding daughter?
Who trusted in her ctreasures, dsaying,
‘Who will come against me?’
5 Behold, I will bring fear upon you,”
Says the Lord GOD of hosts,
“From all those who are around you;
You shall be driven out, everyone headlong,
And no one will gather those who wander off.
6 But aafterward I will bring back
The captives of the people of Ammon,” says the LORD.
Judgment on Edom
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
b“Is wisdom no more in Teman?
cHas *counsel perished from the prudent?
Has their wisdom dvanished?
8 Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of aDedan!
For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him,
The time that I will punish him.
9 aIf grape-gatherers came to you,
Would they not leave some gleaning grapes?
If thieves by night,
Would they not destroy until they have *enough?
10 aBut I have made Esau bare;
I have uncovered his secret places,
And he shall not be *able to hide himself.
His descendants are plundered,
His brethren and his neighbors,
And bhe is no more.
11 Leave your fatherless children,
I will preserve them alive;
And let your widows trust in Me.”
12 For thus says the LORD: “Behold, athose whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunk. And are you the one who will altogether go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you shall surely drink of it.
13 “For aI have sworn by Myself,” says the LORD, “that bBozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a 1waste, and a curse. And all its cities shall be perpetual 2wastes.”
14 aI have heard a message from the LORD,
And an ambassador has been sent to the nations:
“Gather together, come against her,
And rise up to battle!
15 “For indeed, I will make you small among nations,
Despised among men.
16 Your fierceness has deceived you,
The apride of your heart,
O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
Who hold the height of the hill!
bThough you make your cnest as high as the eagle,
dI will bring you down from there,” says the LORD.
17 “Edom also shall be an astonishment;
aEveryone who goes by it will be astonished
And will hiss at all its plagues.
18 aAs in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah
And their neighbors,” says the LORD,
“No one shall remain there,
Nor shall a son of man *dwell in it.
19 “Behold,a he shall come up like a lion from bthe 1floodplain of the Jordan
Against the dwelling place of the strong;
But I will suddenly make him run away from her.
And who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her?
For cwho is like Me?
Who will arraign Me?
And dwho is that shepherd
Who will withstand Me?”
20 aTherefore hear the counsel of the LORD that He has taken against Edom,
And His purposes that He has proposed against the inhabitants of Teman:
Surely the least of the flock shall 1draw them out;
Surely He shall make their dwelling places desolate with them.
21 aThe earth shakes at the noise of their fall;
At the cry its noise is heard at the Red Sea.
22 Behold, aHe shall come up and fly like the eagle,
And spread His wings over Bozrah;
The heart of the mighty men of Edom in that day shall be
Like the heart of a woman in birth pangs.
Judgment on Damascus
b“Hamath and Arpad are shamed,
For they have heard bad news.
They are fainthearted;
cThere is 1trouble on the sea;
It cannot be quiet.
She turns to flee,
And fear has seized her.
aAnguish and sorrows have taken her like a woman in 1labor.
25 Why is athe city of praise not deserted, the city of My joy?
26 aTherefore her young men shall fall in her streets,
And all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the LORD of hosts.
27 “Ia will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus,
And it shall consume the palaces of Ben-Hadad.”
Judgment on Kedar and Hazor
28 aAgainst Kedar and against the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon shall strike.
Thus says the LORD:
“Arise, go up to Kedar,
And devastate bthe men of the East!
29 Their atents and their flocks they shall take away.
They shall take for themselves their curtains,
All their vessels and their camels;
And they shall cry out to them,
b‘Fear is on every side!’
30 “Flee, get far away! Dwell in the depths,
O inhabitants of Hazor!” says the LORD.
“For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has taken counsel against you,
And has conceived a plan against you.
31 “Arise, go up to athe wealthy nation that dwells securely,” says the LORD,
“Which has neither gates nor bars,
bDwelling alone.
32 Their camels shall be for booty,
And the multitude of their cattle for plunder.
I will ascatter to all winds those 1in the farthest corners,
And I will bring their calamity from all its sides,” says the LORD.
33 “Hazor ashall be a dwelling for jackals, a desolation forever;
No one shall reside there,
Nor son of man dwell in it.”
Judgment on Elam
34 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against aElam, in the bbeginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
35 “Thus says the LORD of hosts:
‘Behold, I will break athe 1bow of Elam,
The foremost of their might.
36 Against Elam I will bring the four winds
From the four quarters of heaven,
And scatter them toward all those winds;
There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go.
37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies
And before those who seek their life.
aI will bring disaster upon them,
My fierce anger,’ says the LORD;
‘And I will send the sword after them
Until I have consumed them.
38 I will aset My throne in Elam,
And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the LORD.
39 ‘But it shall come to pass ain the latter days:
I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the LORD.”
Judgment on Babylon and Babylonia
1 The word that the LORD spoke aagainst Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.
2 “Declare among the nations,
Proclaim, and 1set up a standard;
Proclaim—do not conceal it—
Say, ‘Babylon is ataken, bBel is shamed.
2Merodach is broken in pieces;
cHer idols are humiliated,
Her images are broken in pieces.’
3 aFor out of the north ba nation comes up against her,
Which shall make her land desolate,
And no one shall dwell therein.
They shall 1move, they shall depart,
Both man and beast.
4 “In those days and in that time,” says the LORD,
“The children of Israel shall come,
aThey and the children of Judah together;
bWith continual weeping they shall come,
cAnd seek the LORD their God.
5 They shall ask the way to Zion,
With their faces toward it, saying,
‘Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD
In aa perpetual covenant
That will not be forgotten.’
6 “My people have been alost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them bastray;
They have turned them away on cthe mountains.
They have gone from mountain to hill;
They have forgotten their resting place.
7 All who found them have adevoured them;
And btheir adversaries said, c‘We have not offended,
Because they have sinned against the LORD, dthe habitation of justice,
The LORD, ethe hope of their fathers.’
8 “Movea from the midst of Babylon,
Go out of the land of the Chaldeans;
And be like the 1rams before the flocks.
9 aFor behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon
An *assembly of great nations from the north country,
And they shall array themselves against her;
From there she shall be captured.
Their arrows shall be like those of 1an expert warrior;
bNone shall return in vain.
10 And Chaldea shall become plunder;
aAll who plunder her shall be satisfied,” says the LORD.
11 “Becausea you were glad, because you rejoiced,
You destroyers of My heritage,
Because you have grown fat blike a heifer threshing grain,
And you 1bellow like bulls,
12 Your mother shall be deeply ashamed;
She who bore you shall be ashamed.
Behold, the least of the nations shall be a awilderness,
A dry land and a desert.
13 Because of the wrath of the LORD
She shall not be inhabited,
aBut she shall be wholly desolate.
bEveryone who goes by Babylon shall be horrified
And hiss at all her plagues.
14 “Puta yourselves in array against Babylon all around,
All you who bend the bow;
Shoot at her, spare no arrows,
For she has sinned against the LORD.
15 Shout against her all around;
She has agiven her hand,
Her foundations have fallen,
bHer walls are thrown down;
For cit is the vengeance of the LORD.
Take vengeance on her.
As she has done, so do to her.
16 Cut off the *sower from Babylon,
And him who handles the sickle at harvest time.
For fear of the oppressing sword
aEveryone shall turn to his own people,
And everyone shall flee to his own land.
17 “Israel is like ascattered sheep;
bThe lions have driven him away.
First cthe king of Assyria devoured him;
Now at last this dNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.”
18 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
“Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,
As I have punished the king of aAssyria.
19 aBut I will bring back Israel to his home,
And he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan;
His soul shall be satisfied on Mount Ephraim and Gilead.
20 In those days and in that time,” says the LORD,
a“The iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none;
And the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found;
For I will pardon those bwhom I preserve.
21 “Go up against the land of Merathaim, against it,
And against the inhabitants of aPekod.
1Waste and utterly destroy them,” says the LORD,
“And do baccording to all that I have commanded you.
22 aA sound of battle is in the land,
And of great destruction.
23 How athe hammer of the whole earth has been cut apart and broken!
How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
24 I have laid a snare for you;
You have indeed been atrapped, O Babylon,
And you were not aware;
You have been found and also caught,
Because you have bcontended against the LORD.
25 The LORD has opened His armory,
And has brought out athe weapons of His indignation;
For this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts
In the land of the Chaldeans.
26 Come against her from the farthest border;
Open her storehouses;
Cast her up as heaps of ruins,
And destroy her utterly;
Let nothing of her be left.
27 Slay all her abulls,
Let them go down to the slaughter.
Woe to them!
For their day has come, the time of btheir punishment.
28 The voice of those who flee and escape from the land of Babylon
aDeclares in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God,
The vengeance of His temple.
29 “Call together the archers against Babylon.
All you who bend the bow, encamp against it all around;
Let none of them 1escape.
aRepay her according to her work;
According to all she has done, do to her;
bFor she has been proud against the LORD,
Against the Holy One of Israel.
30 aTherefore her young men shall fall in the streets,
And all her men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the LORD.
O most haughty one!” says the Lord GOD of hosts;
“For your day has come,
1The time that I will punish you.
32 The most aproud shall stumble and fall,
And no one will raise him up;
bI will kindle a fire in his cities,
And it will devour all around him.”
33 Thus says the LORD of hosts:
“The children of Israel were oppressed,
Along with the children of Judah;
All who took them captive have held them fast;
They have refused to let them go.
34 aTheir Redeemer is strong;
bThe LORD of hosts is His name.
He will thoroughly plead their ccase,
That He may give rest to the land,
And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
35 “A sword is against the Chaldeans,” says the LORD,
“Against the inhabitants of Babylon,
And aagainst her princes and bher wise men.
36 A sword is aagainst the soothsayers, and they will be fools.
A sword is against her mighty men, and they will be dismayed.
37 A sword is against their horses,
Against their chariots,
And against all athe mixed peoples who are in her midst;
And bthey will become like women.
A sword is against her treasures, and they will be robbed.
38 aA 1drought is against her waters, and they will be dried up.
For it is the land of carved images,
And they are insane with their idols.
39 “Thereforea the wild desert beasts shall dwell there with the jackals,
And the ostriches shall dwell in it.
bIt shall be inhabited no more forever,
Nor shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
40 aAs God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
And their neighbors,” says the LORD,
“So no one shall reside there,
Nor son of man bdwell in it.
41 “Behold,a a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 aThey shall hold the bow and the lance;
bThey are cruel and shall not show mercy.
cTheir voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon.
43 “The king of Babylon has aheard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in bchildbirth.
44 “Behold,a he shall come up like a lion from the 1floodplain of the Jordan
Against the dwelling place of the strong;
But I will make them suddenly run away from her.
And who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her?
For who is like Me?
Who will arraign Me?
And bwho is that shepherd
Who will withstand Me?”
45 Therefore hear athe counsel of the LORD that He has taken against Babylon,
And His bpurposes that He has proposed against the land of the Chaldeans:
cSurely the least of the flock shall draw them out;
Surely He will make their dwelling place desolate with them.
46 aAt the noise of the taking of Babylon
The earth trembles,
And the cry is heard among the nations.
The Utter Destruction of Babylon
1 Thus says the LORD:
“Behold, I will raise up against aBabylon,
Against those who dwell in 1Leb Kamai,
bA destroying wind.
2 And I will send awinnowers to Babylon,
Who shall winnow her and empty her land.
bFor in the day of doom
They shall be against her all around.
3 Against her alet the archer bend his bow,
And lift himself up against her in his armor.
Do not spare her young men;
bUtterly destroy all her army.
4 Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans,
aAnd those thrust through in her streets.
5 For Israel is anot forsaken, nor Judah,
By his God, the LORD of hosts,
Though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.”
6 aFlee from the midst of Babylon,
And every one save his life!
Do not be cut off in her iniquity,
For bthis is the time of the LORD’s vengeance;
cHe shall recompense her.
7 aBabylon was a golden cup in the LORD’s hand,
That made all the earth drunk.
bThe nations drank her wine;
Therefore the nations care deranged.
8 Babylon has suddenly afallen and been destroyed.
bWail for her!
cTake balm for her pain;
Perhaps she may be healed.
9 We would have healed Babylon,
But she is not healed.
Forsake her, and alet us go everyone to his own country;
bFor her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies.
10 The LORD has arevealed our righteousness.
Come and let us bdeclare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.
Gather the shields!
bThe LORD has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes.
cFor His plan is against Babylon to destroy it,
Because it is dthe vengeance of the LORD,
The vengeance for His temple.
12 aSet up the standard on the walls of Babylon;
Make the guard strong,
Set up the watchmen,
Prepare the ambushes.
For the LORD has both devised and done
What He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 aO you who dwell by many waters,
Abundant in treasures,
Your end has come,
The measure of your covetousness.
14 aThe LORD of hosts has sworn by Himself:
“Surely I will fill you with men, bas with locusts,
And they shall lift cup a shout against you.”
15 aHe has made the earth by His power;
He has established the world by His wisdom,
And bstretched out the heaven by His understanding.
There is a multitude of waters in the heavens:
a“He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
He makes lightnings for the rain;
He brings the wind out of His treasuries.”
17 aEveryone is dull-hearted, without knowledge;
Every metalsmith is put to shame by the carved image;
bFor his molded image is falsehood,
And there is no breath in them.
18 They are futile, a work of errors;
In the time of their punishment they shall perish.
19 The *Portion of Jacob is not like them,
For He is the Maker of all things;
And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance.
The LORD of hosts is His name.
20 “Youa are My battle-ax and weapons of war:
For with you I will break the nation in pieces;
With you I will destroy kingdoms;
21 With you I will break in pieces the horse and its rider;
With you I will break in pieces the chariot and its rider;
22 With you also I will break in pieces man and woman;
With you I will break in pieces aold and young;
With you I will break in pieces the young man and the maiden;
23 With you also I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock;
With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke of oxen;
And with you I will break in pieces governors and rulers.
And all the inhabitants of Chaldea
For all the evil they have done
In Zion in your sight,” says the LORD.
25 “Behold, I am against you, aO destroying mountain,
Who destroys all the earth,” says the LORD.
“And I will stretch out My hand against you,
*Roll you down from the rocks,
bAnd make you a burnt mountain.
26 They shall not take from you a stone for a corner
Nor a stone for a foundation,
aBut you shall be desolate forever,” says the LORD.
27 aSet up a banner in the land,
Blow the trumpet among the nations!
bPrepare the nations against her,
Call cthe kingdoms together against her:
Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz.
Appoint a general against her;
Cause the horses to come up like the bristling locusts.
28 Prepare against her the nations,
With the kings of the Medes,
Its governors and all its rulers,
All the land of his dominion.
29 And the land will tremble and sorrow;
For every apurpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon,
bTo make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant.
30 The mighty men of Babylon have ceased fighting,
They have remained in their strongholds;
Their might has failed,
aThey became like women;
They have burned her dwelling places,
bThe bars of her gate are broken.
31 aOne runner will run to meet another,
And one messenger to meet another,
To show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on all sides;
32 aThe passages are blocked,
The reeds they have burned with fire,
And the men of war are terrified.
33 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
“The daughter of Babylon is alike a threshing floor
When bit is time to thresh her;
Yet a little while
cAnd the time of her harvest will come.”
34 “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon
Has adevoured me, he has crushed me;
He has made me an bempty vessel,
He has swallowed me up like a monster;
He has filled his stomach with my delicacies,
He has spit me out.
35 Let the violence done to me and my flesh be upon Babylon,”
The inhabitant of Zion will say;
“And my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea!”
Jerusalem will say.
36 Therefore thus says the LORD:
“Behold, aI will plead your case and take vengeance for you.
bI will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.
37 aBabylon shall become a heap,
A dwelling place for jackals,
bAn astonishment and a hissing,
Without an inhabitant.
38 They shall roar together like lions,
They shall growl like lions’ whelps.
39 In their excitement I will prepare their feasts;
aI will make them drunk,
That they may rejoice,
And sleep a perpetual sleep
And not awake,” says the LORD.
Like lambs to the slaughter,
Like rams with male goats.
41 “Oh, how aSheshach1 is taken!
Oh, how bthe praise of the whole earth is seized!
How Babylon has become desolate among the nations!
42 aThe sea has come up over Babylon;
She is covered with the multitude of its waves.
43 aHer cities are a desolation,
A dry land and a wilderness,
A land where bno one dwells,
Through which no son of man passes.
44 I will punish aBel1 in Babylon,
And I will bring out of his mouth what he has swallowed;
And the nations shall not stream to him anymore.
Yes, bthe wall of Babylon shall fall.
45 “Mya people, go out of the midst of her!
And let everyone deliver 1himself from the fierce anger of the LORD.
And you fear afor the rumor that will be heard in the land
(A rumor will come one year,
And after that, in another year
A rumor will come,
And violence in the land,
Ruler against ruler),
47 Therefore behold, the days are coming
That I will bring judgment on the carved images of Babylon;
Her whole land shall be ashamed,
And all her slain shall fall in her midst.
48 Then athe heavens and the earth and all that is in them
Shall sing joyously over Babylon;
bFor the plunderers shall come to her from the north,” says the LORD.
49 As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall,
So at Babylon the slain of all the earth shall fall.
50 aYou who have escaped the sword,
Get away! Do not stand still!
bRemember the LORD afar off,
And let Jerusalem come to your mind.
51 aWe are ashamed because we have heard reproach.
Shame has covered our faces,
For strangers bhave come into the 1sanctuaries of the LORD’s house.
52 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD,
“That I will bring judgment on her carved images,
And throughout all her land the wounded shall groan.
53 aThough Babylon were to 1mount up to heaven,
And though she were to fortify the height of her strength,
Yet from Me plunderers would come to her,” says the LORD.
54 aThe sound of a cry comes from Babylon,
And great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans,
55 Because the LORD is plundering Babylon
And silencing her loud voice,
Though her waves roar like great waters,
And the noise of their voice is uttered,
56 Because the plunderer comes against her, against Babylon,
And her mighty men are taken.
Every one of their bows is broken;
aFor the LORD is the God of recompense,
He will surely repay.
Her princes and awise men,
Her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men.
And they shall sleep a perpetual sleep
And not awake,” says bthe King,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts.
58 Thus says the LORD of hosts:
“The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly abroken,1
And her high gates shall be burned with fire;
bThe people will labor in vain,
And the nations, because of the fire;
And they shall be weary.”
Jeremiah’s Command to Seraiah
59 The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of aNeriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And Seraiah was the quartermaster.
60 So Jeremiah awrote in a book all the evil that would come upon Babylon, all these words that are written against Babylon.
61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you arrive in Babylon and see it, and read all these words,
62 “then you shall say, ‘O LORD, You have spoken against this place to cut it off, so that anone shall *remain in it, neither man nor beast, but it shall be desolate forever.’
63 “Now it shall be, when you have finished reading this book, athat you shall tie a stone to it and throw it out into the Euphrates.
64 “Then you shall say, ‘Thus Babylon shall sink and not rise from the catastrophe that I will bring upon her. And they shall be weary.’ ” Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
The Fall of Jerusalem Reviewed
1 Zedekiah was atwenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of bLibnah.
2 He also did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
3 For because of the anger of the LORD this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, till He finally cast them out from His presence. Then Zedekiah arebelled against the king of Babylon.
4 Now it came to pass in the aninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around.
5 So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
6 By the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine had become so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
7 Then the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled and went out of the city at night by way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden, even though the Chaldeans were near the city all around. And they went by way of the 1plain.
8 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. All his army was scattered from him.
9 aSo they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he pronounced judgment on him.
10 aThen the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. And he killed all the princes of Judah in Riblah.
11 He also aput out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in 1bronze fetters, took him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.
The Temple and City Plundered and Burned
12 aNow in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month (bwhich was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), cNebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
13 He burned the house of the LORD and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire.
14 And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down all the walls of Jerusalem all around.
15 aThen Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poor people, the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen.
16 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers.
17 aThe bbronze pillars that were in the house of the LORD, and the carts and the bronze Sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all their bronze to Babylon.
18 They also took away athe pots, the shovels, the trimmers, the 1bowls, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils with which the priests ministered.
19 The basins, the firepans, the bowls, the pots, the lampstands, the spoons, and the cups, whatever was solid gold and whatever was solid silver, the captain of the guard took away.
20 The two pillars, one Sea, the twelve bronze bulls which were under it, and the carts, which King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD—athe bronze of all these articles was beyond measure.
21 Now concerning the apillars: the height of one pillar was eighteen 1cubits, a measuring line of twelve cubits could measure its circumference, and its thickness was 2four fingers; it was hollow.
22 A capital of bronze was on it; and the height of one capital was five cubits, with a network and pomegranates all around the capital, all of bronze. The second pillar, with pomegranates was the same.
23 There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; aall the pomegranates, all around on the network, were one hundred.
The People Taken Captive to Babylonia
24 aThe captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, bZephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.
25 He also took out of the city an 1officer who had charge of the men of war, seven men of the king’s close associates who were found in the city, the principal scribe of the army who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the midst of the city.
26 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took these and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.
27 Then the king of Babylon struck them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land.
28 aThese are the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: bin the seventh year, cthree thousand and twenty-three Jews;
29 ain the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred and thirty-two persons;
30 in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred and forty-five persons. All the persons were four thousand six hundred.
Jehoiachin Released from Prison
31 aNow it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that 1Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, blifted2 up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.
32 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon.
33 So 1Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments, aand he ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life.
34 And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king of Babylon, a portion for each day until the day of his death, all the days of his life.
1:1 Son of Hilkiah: Used to distinguish this Jeremiah from several other men of the same name, two of whom were his contemporaries (35:3; 52:1). Priests: Like Ezekiel, who was his younger contemporary, Jeremiah was both a prophet and priest. Anathoth: A city located about 3 miles northeast of Jerusalem in the territory of Benjamin and the birthplace of Jeremiah. God instructed him to redeem a field in that city (32:7–9).
1:2 Word of the LORD: A favorite expression of Jeremiah, used more than 50 times. Josiah was the last good king of Judah, and Jeremiah’s ministry began in Josiah’s thirteenth year (626 B.C.).
1:3 After the righteous king Josiah, four kings reigned over Judah: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. The two who are not mentioned here probably are omitted due to the brevity of their reigns, each approximately three months. Fifth month: The month of Ab (July–August).
1:4–10 See section 5 of Truth-In-Action at the end of Jer.
1:5 God’s sovereignty is shown in that He formed, sanctified (set apart), and ordained (appointed) Jeremiah to be a prophet (one who is called) and to be His spokesman to the nations (Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Judah, and others).
1:6–8 I cannot speak: Like Moses (Ex. 3:4), Jeremiah claimed inadequacy and inexperience (a youth), but God’s support and presence (I am with you) will overcome Jeremiah’s deficiency.
1:7, 8 God makes three demands of Jeremiah: stop voicing disqualification, speak obediently God’s bidding, and refuse to fear.
1:9 Touched my mouth: Compare the experience of Isaiah (see Is. 6:7). This may connote God’s cleansing and consecrating of Jeremiah’s mouth.
1:10 God’s word is a dynamic and creative force that will accomplish His purpose (see Is. 55:10, 11). Jeremiah repeatedly uses the verbs to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant (see 18:7–9; 24:6; 31:28; 42:10).
1:11, 12 See section 5 of Truth-In-Action at the end of Jer.
1:11, 12 This vision is the first of many uses of nature in the book. The play on words between the similar sounding almond and “watching” in Hebrew is a reminder that the almond tree blooms early in the spring, becoming the tree that is ready and watching as all other blossoms/events unfold.
1:13–19 See section 5 of Truth-In-Action at the end of Jer.
1:13, 14 A second vision is a boiling pot (judgment and calamity) from the north, since most of the invaders of Israel and Judah came from that direction.
1:15, 16 The Babylonians are the major instrument used by God to punish His enemies (see Hab. 1:6), and they did set up a throne in the middle gate of Jerusalem (39:3). Judgment will come because of the broken covenant (they have forsaken Me) and idolatry.
1:17 Prepare yourself: Literally “gird your loins,” that is, arrange your clothing for activity. For similar action, see Ex. 12:11 and 1 Kin. 18:46.
2:1, 2 See section 5 of Truth-In-Action at the end of Jer.
2:2 Kindness: The Hebrew word conveys the concept of covenant loyalty, love, and faithfulness. Betrothal: The Sinai covenant is compared to a marriage vow, and God is called Israel’s husband (see Is. 54:5; Ezek. 16:1–14; Hos. 2:16).
2:3 Holiness: As in 1:5, the basic idea is to be set apart to the LORD. Firstfruits: Israel was to be the first of many nations to follow after God.
2:4 Sometimes, as here, Israel refers to the southern kingdom of Judah, Jeremiah’s audience, since God views them as part of the original nation of Israel. Elsewhere in the book, for example in 2:14, 15; 3:6, 7, Israel refers specifically to the northern kingdom taken into Assyrian captivity over 100 years earlier.
2:6, 7 The Exodus from Egypt, wilderness wanderings, and conquest of the land are mentioned as part of God’s grace and mercy, but Israel defiled the land, making it ceremonially unclean by her action (see 3:1, 2, 9).
2:8 Those responsible for leading—the priests, rulers, and prophets—were all disobedient because they failed to consult the LORD.
2:9–13 Such folly had not been seen in any culture, neither in Cyprus (representing the Western cultures) nor in Kedar (a site in northern Arabia representing the Eastern cultures); that is, the folly of a people forsaking living waters, which only God can supply (see 17:13; Ps. 36:9; Is. 55:1; John 4:10–14) for cisterns that leak. The ability to make cisterns watertight by the use of plaster enabled the Israelites to settle where no natural water supply was available. The two evils are that of forsaking and then replacing God.
2:15 Lions: Used figuratively of the Assyrians who made his land waste and burned his cities.
2:16 Noph: Memphis, capital of ancient lower (northern) Egypt. Tahpanhes: Egyptian border fortress, also known as Baal Zephon (Greek Daphnai, modern Tell Deforeh), in the eastern delta region about 27 miles SSW of modern Port Said. Broken: More likely “grazed,” in the sense that the head is shaved, which brought disgrace.
2:18 History shows Israel’s tendency to seek help alternately from Assyria and Egypt. Sihor: More properly Shihor, the easternmost branch of the Nile River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Pelusium. Perhaps it forms the southwest limit of the territory of Israel (see Josh. 13:3). The term is Egyptian and means “Waters of Horus.” The River is the Euphrates.
2:20—3:5 Jeremiah uses numerous figures of speech to portray the rebellion of Judah: a stubborn ox (v. 20), a wild vine (v. 21), a stain that will not wash out (v. 22), a dromedary and wild donkey in heat (vv. 23, 24), and a thief (v. 26).
2:20 Although Judah has sworn to keep the commands of the Lord who freed her from her yoke and bonds, she has offered sacrifices where the pagans worship on every high hill and under every green tree. In doing this she has committed spiritual adultery like a harlot.
2:21 God had planted Judah as a noble vine (a Sorek vine bore red grapes of highest quality), but she has become degenerate (see Is. 5:1–7).
2:22 Lye and soap are mineral and vegetable alkali respectively. Judah’s iniquity can be taken away only by repentance, never by soap.
2:23 The valley: Probably the Hinnom Valley where infants were sacrificed to the pagan god Molech. The dromedary here is a young she-camel galloping aimlessly.
2:24 The wild donkey was free and untameable (see Job 39:5–8) and was used to the wilderness. Sniffs at the wind indicates active searching. Her lovers will not need to find her; she will find them.
2:25 Withhold your foot has the implication of not wearing out the shoes running after aliens, either foreign gods or people or both.
2:26 The thief is ashamed when he is caught, not so much because he has been doing wrong, but that he is found out. For the rulers involved, see v. 8.
2:27 The tree (or Asherah) and stone (or sacred pillar) were used in pagan cult practices. The Israelites were ordered to destroy them (Deut. 12:2, 3), but much of the time they joined in their use (Judg. 2:11–15).
2:30 Sword has devoured your prophets: An example is 26:20–23. Thus, the threats that will be made against Jeremiah’s life will be real. See also Neh. 9:26; Matt. 23:35.
2:32 Forget: Contrast v. 2 where God remembers (see 18:15).
2:36 Egypt and Assyria: See vv. 15–18.
2:37 Hands on your head: Ancient reliefs depict captives with their hands tied together above their heads. Trusted allies: Assyria and Egypt.
3:1 Deut. 24:1–4 forbids a husband from taking back his divorced wife if she has married another man. Judah has played the harlot on such a scale that the land itself is polluted (see Lev. 18:25, 27, where the land is defiled by the action of the people). Yet return to Me: Rather to be taken as a question: “Will you return to Me?” Just before the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel, the prophet Hosea featured a message about marriage. Jeremiah’s ministry precedes the fall of the southern kingdom of Judah.
3:2 Desolate heights: Sites of pagan idolatry. By the road you have sat recalls the action of Tamar (Gen. 38:14), and its connection with harlotry is spelled out by Ezekiel (Ezek. 16:25). The spiritual adultery of Judah, participation in pagan cults, also involved sexual adultery in its worship practices, so there is oftentimes a double indictment present.
3:3 As a part of God’s remedial punishment, showers have been withheld (see 14:1–6; Amos 4:7). The latter rain is the spring rain (see Joel 2:23).
3:4 My Father: The title of God as Father is much rarer in the OT than in the NT. See v. 19; Ps. 2:7; 89:26; Is. 63:16; 64:8; Mal. 2:10.
3:6 Backsliding Israel: A reference to the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria, destroyed by Assyria in 722 B.C.).
3:7 Her treacherous sister: The southern kingdom of Judah.
3:8 Put her away is a reference to the Exile, a literal enactment of the divorce proceedings, which included the giving of a certificate (see Deut. 24:1).
3:9 Committed adultery with stones and trees: Worship of pagan gods. See note on 2:27.
3:10 Pretense: Judah’s response to the reform instituted by Josiah was superficial and insincere.
3:11 More righteous: Judah had the example of Israel, her “elder” sister, but this did not deter her from going the same way (see v. 8).
3:12 North: The direction in which Israel went into captivity.
3:14 Married to you: The root of this verb is ba‘al, “to be husband or ruler.” Instead of treating God as their husband, His people ran after “the Baals” (2:23; see 31:32). One … two: The remnant (see Is. 10:20–22).
3:15 Shepherds: Rulers (see 2:8). According to My heart: Like David (see 1 Sam. 13:14).
3:16 In those days: The period when these and other prophecies will come to pass, best seen as the messianic age (v. 18). See note on Obad. 15. The ark of the covenant symbolized God’s presence among His people (see 1 Sam. 4:3, 7). When the Messiah is present, the symbol is no longer relevant. They: Israel.
3:18 Judah and Israel will once again be united in the land. See note on Ezek. 37:15–28.
3:19 My Father: See v. 4. The image changes from a husband-wife relationship to that of father-son, but switches back again in the next verse.
3:20 Wife treacherously departs: Spelled out in detail in Hos. 1—3.
3:21 If v. 23 refers back to this outcry, then this must be a futile plea to their false gods, which they would have done from the heights.
3:22 Return: The Hebrew root occurs many times in this prophecy (3:6—4:4) and is used as a pun here, since return, backsliding, and backslidings are all variations of the same root.
3:25 From our youth: Historically, the period of the judges. In view is the corporate personality of Israel.
4:1–4 God’s reply to the people’s confession. Blessing awaits if repentance is genuine and sincere, but fury like a fire awaits if the repentance is deception.
4:2 In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness emphasize the quality of genuine repentance.
4:3 The first image used by Jeremiah is taken from agriculture. Judah is to break up the fallow ground, that is, prepare it for planting (see Hos. 10:12). She must also be careful where she sows and avoid thorns (see Matt. 13:7, 22).
4:4 A second image taken from the religious practice. The people are told to circumcise the foreskins of your hearts, a reference to spiritual preparedness and inner change, not mere outward conformity.
4:5 Trumpet: Used to warn the inhabitants of danger. Fortified cities: People living in the open country would flee to the nearest walled city to protect themselves from the invader.
4:6 Set up the standard: A flag raised on a pole signaled danger and the place for assembly. Disaster from the north: The Babylonians will come from the north and bring great destruction (see 1:14).
4:7 Lion: A metaphor for Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (see 2:15 where lions are a symbol of Assyrians).
4:8 Sackcloth was worn to express grief, mourning, and repentance.
4:10 You have greatly deceived: Through false prophets, purporting to speak for God, the people have been led astray. They falsely preached peace (see 14:13; 23:17). It was common in ancient thinking to view God as actually doing what He only allowed to be done. It is also possible that this statement refers to God handing the people over to their own choice of deception. James 1:13 makes it clear that God does not tempt anyone toward evil.
4:11 Dry wind: The khamsin or sirocco, a dry, hot, devastating wind blowing from the desert.
4:12 A wind too strong: A gentle breeze from the Mediterranean was used to fan (winnow, a process of separating chaff from grain) or to cleanse (blow dust from the grain).
4:15 Dan was the northern border of Israel, while Mount Ephraim was only a few miles from Jerusalem. This may indicate the rapid pace of the enemy (see v. 13).
4:16 Far country: Babylon (see Is. 39:3).
4:19–26 A personal lament expressing the agony that Jeremiah feels at the destruction of his people.
4:21 Standard and trumpet: See vv. 5, 6.
4:22 God speaks: See Is. 1:3; Hos. 4:1.
4:23–26 This short poem is tied together by the literary device of repetition. I beheld occurs at the beginning of each verse.
4:23 Without form, and void: This phrase is used only here and in Gen. 1:2. Jeremiah sees his land in ruins. His vision expresses the awesome extent of the destruction brought by the Babylonians in judgment on Judah, a cosmic cataclysm and a return to the primeval chaos. No light: Conditions before the first day of creation (see Gen. 1:2, 3).
4:25 No man: See Gen. 2:5. The work of creation is undone.
4:27 Not make a full end: God’s judgment is tempered by mercy (see 5:10, 18; 30:11; 46:28).
4:28 Will not relent: Repentance brings mercy, but judgment is sure unless His people repent (see 18:8).
4:30, 31 Jeremiah personifies Judah and Jerusalem, first as a prostitute (v. 30), then as a woman in labor (v. 31).
4:30 Paint: Antimony, a black powder used to make the eyes seem larger and more glamorous (fair). See 2 Kin. 9:30; Ezek. 23:40.
5:1–6 Jeremiah is told to run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem to try to locate anyone who executes judgment. If such a man is found, God will forgive the inhabitants. Jeremiah starts with the poor (the little people), but is unsuccessful (v. 4). He then goes to the great men (the leaders), but fares no better. All have broken the yoke, that is, rebelled (2:20), and so God will send wild beasts to punish them.
5:1 A man: Hyperbole used to illustrate the wickedness of the city of Jerusalem. If one man seeks the truth, God will pardon the city (see Gen. 18:32). Judgment and truth describe righteousness.
5:2 As the LORD lives: See 4:2. Swear falsely: Perjury (see Lev. 19:12). The same concept is expressed by the phrase “take the name of the LORD your God in vain” (Ex. 20:7).
5:3 Your eyes: Used to express God’s sovereign awareness of all that transpires (see Judg. 2:11; Job. 36:7; Ps. 33:18). Faces harder than rock: A vivid expression for rebellion.
5:6 Wild animals are considered instruments of God’s judgment. See Lev. 26:22; 2 Kin. 17:25, 26; Ezek. 14:15.
5:7–9 Idolatry is portrayed as flagrant adultery, like stallions neighing after the wives of others. God promises punishment for such action.
5:12, 13 The false prophets have lied about the LORD, and they contradict the message of Jeremiah by saying, Neither will evil come upon us. See note on 4:10.
5:14–17 Failure to repent brings a mighty nation, the Babylonians, to eat the produce of the land and to destroy.
5:14 The words of Jeremiah will be like fire to devour, in contrast to the wind (v. 13) of the false prophets.
5:21 Eyes and ears: See Is. 6:10.
5:24 Rain, both the former and the latter: See 3:3. Appointed weeks: The seven weeks from Passover to Pentecost.
5:25 Satan’s lie is that righteousness causes good to be withheld. Actually, the opposite is true; sin withholds good.
5:26–30 Wicked men have caught the defenseless in cages like birds, and contrary to “orthodox” theology, the wicked have prospered. They have denied the rights of others in order to amass wealth for themselves. This is only a temporary situation, however, because the Lord will avenge Himself on them.
5:27 Deceit: The wealth they have accumulated by their dishonest schemes.
5:28 The fatherless and the needy are used as standards by which deeds are measured. Kings and all others have an obligation to the destitute and suffering ones because God desires it (see 22:16; Deut. 10:18; James 1:27).
5:30 Astonishing and horrible describe the acceptance by the people of the ministry of false prophets and wicked priests; they actually desire to continue this farce (see 6:13–15).
6:1 In 4:6 the people are encouraged to flee to Jerusalem for refuge. Now, they are warned to flee from Jerusalem because no place will be safe from the invaders. Benjamin was the tribal territory just north of Jerusalem. Tekoa was 12 miles south of Jerusalem. Beth Haccerem is modern Ramat Rahel, 2 miles south of Jerusalem. Blow and “Tekoa” are a wordplay; the words sound similar in Hebrew. Set up and signal-fire are also a wordplay for the same reason.
6:3 Shepherds with their flocks are rulers with their troops.
6:4, 5 The invaders are speaking.
6:4 Prepare: The root of this word in Hebrew is the same as “consecrate” (see Joel 3:9; Mic. 3:5). Preparation included religious ritual (see 1 Sam. 21:4, 5). Noon: Chosen as an element of surprise since the attack normally began in the morning.
6:5 Night: Indicates the eagerness of the soldiers since most fighting stopped at sundown.
6:6 Preparation for a siege included the cutting of trees and the building of a mound or siege ramps.
6:9 Glean: See Is. 17:5, 6 and note on Ruth 2:1. Remnant: A very important concept in the prophetic material (see 11:23; 23:3; 31:7; 40:11, 15; 42:2, 15, 19; 43:5; 44:12, 14, 28; and note on Zeph. 2:7).
6:10–15 The prophet speaks. He alternates between speaking the wrath of God and showing compassion and concern. Here wrath predominates.
6:11 Fury (see 25:15) comes on all; children, young men, husband, wife, and the aged.
6:12–15 Repeated with slight variation in 8:10–12.
6:12 The figure of an outstretched arm occurs several times (21:5; 27:5; 32:17, 21) and is used of God’s power to deliver (Ex. 6:6), to punish (21:5), and here to destroy (see 15:6).
6:14 The peace expressed by the false prophets was absence of war or calamity, a concept far removed from the OT shalom, which emphasizes wholeness or soundness. True peace involves complete fellowship with God and right relations with others. It has more to do with character and attitude than outward circumstances.
6:16–23 The Lord speaks and admonishes His people to walk in the old paths of righteousness, but in their stubbornness they refuse.
6:17 Watchmen: One of the terms used for true prophets. See notes on Ezek. 3:17; 33:1–9; Hab. 2:1.
6:18, 19 God’s sovereignty over and use of both nations and nature is a theme in Jeremiah.
6:20 Outward conformity to religious ritual is not enough. This point is stressed as well by the eighth-century prophets (see Is. 1:10–17; Amos 5:21–24; Mic. 6:6–8). Sheba: A site in Arabia known for its spice trade (Is. 60:6). Sweet cane: Calamus, an aromatic reed (see Ex. 30:23; Song 4:14; Is. 43:24).
6:21 To put stumbling blocks before the blind was forbidden by Lev. 19:14. Judah’s spiritual blindness has created the nation’s own stumbling blocks, the Babylonians.
6:22–24 Repeated with slight variation in 50:41–43; but there “Babylon” is substituted for Zion, and “the king of Babylon” for we have heard.
6:24–26 Jeremiah speaks to or for the people.
6:25 Fear is on every side: A favorite expression of Jeremiah to indicate all-encompassing danger (20:10; 46:5; 49:29).
6:26 Sackcloth and ashes are used as symbols of mourning (see note on 4:8).
6:27–30 God speaks to Jeremiah and assigns him the task of testing the people as an assayer tests metals. See 9:7; Is. 1:25; Mal. 3:2, 3.
6:27 A fortress: Better understood as “precious metals.”
6:28 Bronze and iron: Compared to silver and gold these are base metals.