Bible Commentary: Jeremiah 23-41
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 10:32 am
Bible Commentary for Jeremiah 23 thru 41
Jeremiah Chapter 23
Jehovah pronounces judgment on the leaders of His people because of their oppressing and scattering them so that they wandered alone without any protection. (Ezekiel 34:1-10) Jehovah would gather a remnant of His flock from all the countries where He had sent them and He would give them good pasture where they would flourish. He would give them shepherds who would treat them properly as He intended. Then Jehovah will raise up a king, who would be a branch of the Davidic line, but not a descendant of Jehoiachin as Jehovah had cursed him. This one would rule in justice and righteousness and Jehovah would save Judah and Israel in his day. He would be called The LORD [Jehovah] Our Righteousness or Yah Our Righteousness.
Jehovah now turns His attention to the prophets who were falsely prophesying in His Name. Jeremiah felt very emotional because of the words of Jehovah against these prophets. The land had become cursed because of the evil that the prophets and the priest were doing. Both priests and prophets were godless and their wickedness could be found even in the temple. Jehovah would bring disaster upon them when it was time to punish them. The prophets of Samaria led the people astray by prophesying by means of the Baals. Judah’s prophets were no different and they were guilty of adultery and supporting those doing evil so that no one turned away from their wickedness. Therefore Jehovah considered the nation to be as filthy as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were. He would give the prophets wormwood as food and poisoned water to drink because they had fostered ungodliness in Judah. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22)
Jeremiah warned the people not to listen these prophets because they were giving them false hopes. Their words did not come from Jehovah but were visions conjured up in their own minds. They were encouraging those who hated Jehovah’s laws to continue in their own ways by saying that Jehovah would not do anything to them. This was proof that Jehovah had not spoken to these men because if He had, they would have been telling the people to turn from their evil ways and not to feel safe in continuing in them. Jehovah’s anger would come upon them like a storm and it would not be appeased until it had accomplished His purposes. He had not sent these prophets nor had He spoken to them but they had prophesied anyway.
They continued to mislead the people by saying that Jehovah had spoken to them through dreams but the purpose of their dreams was to turn the people away from Him. If they had Jehovah’s word in their mouths, it would have been like a fire that burns or like a hammer that breaks rock. They were prophesying nothing but straw so Jehovah declared that He was against them because they were leading His people astray with reckless lies and there was no benefit that would come to those listening to these false prophets.
When the people came to Jeremiah to ask for an oracle from Jehovah, he was to tell them that there was none because Jehovah had already told them that they were going to be punished. According to the NIV Bible Commentary, Volume I, page 1207, the word, oracle (Hebrew, 'massa'), “comes from the verb “to lift, lift up;” thus it denotes a “burden” in the physical sense. By usage, however, the word came to mean that which was placed as a burden on the heart of a prophet, having already been such on the heart of God. Thus it referred to a threatening prediction or oracle.” The prophets had begun to misuse this term ‘oracle’ in a mocking and derisive way by attaching it to whatever words any one of them might speak. In this way they were distorting His word even though He had warned them against doing this. They had themselves become a burden upon Jehovah and He would rid Himself of them. He would cast them from His presence and they would suffer everlasting shame that would not be forgotten.
Jeremiah Chapter 24
After Jehoiachin, his officials, the craftsmen, the smiths and all the important people had been taken to Babylon, Jehovah showed Jeremiah two baskets of figs that had been placed in front of the temple. One basket had good figs in it and the other had figs so bad that they could not be eaten. Those good figs represented the people that had just been sent into exile in Babylon, that is, King Jehoiachin and the leading people of Judah. These were the ones that Jehovah would bring back to the land where He would plant them. He would give them a heart to know Him and they would become His people and He would be their God. They would return to Him with all their hearts. Ezekiel, the prophet, was among this group taken captive at this time. (Ezekiel 1:1, 2)
The basket of figs that were so bad that they could not be eaten represented King Zedekiah along with those who were left in Jerusalem. These ones Jehovah would abandon and make them abhorrent and offensive to all the nations where He would send them. He would send the sword, famine and plague after them until they were destroyed from the land.
NOTE: The Watchtower Society in their New World Translation mistranslated verse 5 in reference to the ones that had been sent into captivity. They translated it as though these ones had not yet been sent away by writing " Like these good figs, so I shall regard the exiles of Judah whom I will send away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans in a good way." By the mere fact that they are called "exiles" means that they had already gone into captivity.
Jeremiah Chapter 25
In the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, which also was the year Nebuchadnezzar became king of Babylon, Jehovah sent Jeremiah to those living in Judah. Jeremiah’s ministry had at that time lasted for twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah up to this time. During this time he had spoken to the people again and again but they had not listened just as they had not listened to any of the other prophets that Jehovah had sent to them. They had been told that if they would stop their evil practices; they would remain in the land. But as they refused to listen and continued to provoke Jehovah with their false gods, He would bring Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, against their land and against all of the surrounding nations. He would make them an object of horror and scorn, banishing all normal sounds of everyday life from their nation and they would have to serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. When the seventy years were up, He would punish the king of Babylon for his guilt and his land would become a desolate waste and he would be enslaved by many nations.
Jehovah told Jeremiah that he was sending him to all the nations and he was to take with him the cup of the wine of His wrath, which the nations were to drink. This was a symbolic cup that represented Jehovah’s anger that would be poured out on them and it would make them stagger and go mad. The first to drink from this cup would be Jerusalem and all the towns of Judah and all their people. Then it would go to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, then to the kings of Uz, Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon, Dedan, Tema, Buz, the Arabian rulers, Zimri, Elam and Media. None would be left out as all of them would fall to the king of Babylon. After all of these had tasted of Jehovah’s wrath, then the king of Babylon would also have to drink from this cup. The king of Babylon is here called the king of Sheshach, a name that is believed to be a cryptogram for Babylon.
These nations were invited to drink and get drunk because of the sword coming upon them. If they refused to take the cup, Jeremiah was to tell them that they had no choice but to take it and drink it. Jehovah was starting His punishment with the city that was called by His name and there was no way that they would escape this punishment. (1 Peter 4:17) They would be told that Jehovah would roar from the heaven with the voice of a lion, He would shout like those treading grapes and the sound would reverberate throughout the earth as He brings charges against all the nations and executes judgment against all the wicked of the earth.
Disaster would spread from one nation to another and the slain of Jehovah at that time would be from one end of the earth to the other. They would not be buried nor mourned but would be as refuse on the surface of the ground. All of the leaders of these people will cry and wail and cover themselves with thick dust because it is Jehovah’s time of vengeance. No one will escape and the land itself will suffer because of His anger and all of these lands will become desolated wastelands when the king of Babylon comes against them.
Jeremiah Chapter 26
In the early part of Jehoiakim’s reign, Jehovah told Jeremiah to stand in the courtyard of the temple and speak to all those who came to worship there. He was to tell them all that Jehovah had commanded him to speak, leaving out nothing. They might possibly listen to him and turn from their evil ways and Jehovah would not have to bring disaster upon them. But if they refused to listen, which was their normal course of action, then Jehovah would treat this temple the same as He had done to Shiloh and Jerusalem would be debased before all the nations.
When the people, the priests and the prophets heard all of Jeremiah’s words, they seized him and threaten to put him to death. When the officials heard what was going on they came and stood at the entrance to the New Gate in the courtyard and the people said to them that Jeremiah needed to die because he had prophesied against the city. Jeremiah repeated Jehovah’s words to them again that they should repent of their idolatry and Jehovah would not bring destruction upon them. He told them that God had sent him to speak to them all the words that they had heard. If they chose to kill him then they would be spilling innocent blood.
The officials of Jerusalem said that Jeremiah had not said anything that was deserving of death as he had spoken in Jehovah’s name. The elders told the people that the prophet Micah of Moresheth had prophesied in the days of Hezekiah and had also spoken of the destruction of Jerusalem just as Jeremiah had done. Hezekiah had not taken any action against him for speaking so but had sought Jehovah’s favor and Jehovah had relented and had not brought destruction upon the city. If the people continued in what they had planned to do against Jeremiah, then they would bring disaster upon themselves.
It is not stated when the incident with Uriah a prophet of Jehovah happened nor who related the incident but it shows that King Jehoiakim would put a prophet of Jehovah to death. Uriah had been sent by Jehovah to the people to tell them essentially what Jeremiah had said. When he learned that Jehoiakim wanted to kill him, he fled to Egypt. Since Judah was a vassal to Egypt at this time, it was easy to extradite Uriah from Egypt back to Judah. King Jehoiakim sent some men to Egypt to bring him back and when he came back, he was put to death with the sword. Jeremiah was spared this fate because Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, an influential official, did not allow the people to put him to death.
Jeremiah Chapter 27
In the fourth year of the reign of Zedekiah, (28:1) Jehovah had Jeremiah to make a yoke with crossbars and straps, similar to what a person would put on oxen, and he was to put it on his neck. He was then to send a message to the kings of Edom, Moab, Amnon, Tyre and Sidon through their envoys that they had sent to Zedekiah probably to plan a strategy against the king of Babylon. He would tell them that Jehovah, the one who had made the earth and all the people and animals living upon it, had decreed that He would give it all to His servant, Nebuchadnezzar, including the wild animals. They would all serve him until Jehovah’s set time to judge him and his people came.
If any nation decided that it would not serve Nebuchadnezzar, then Jehovah would bring the sword, famine and plague upon them until they were completely destroyed. Jeremiah warned them that they should not listen to their prophets, diviners, mediums or sorcerers who would tell them that they would not have to serve the king of Babylon because they would only be telling them lies. If, however, they would put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, then they could remain on their land and continue to cultivate it.
Jeremiah gave this same message to Zedekiah to submit to the king of Babylon and thus spare his and the people’s lives. He also spoke to the priests and all the people. They too were not to listen to the lies of their prophets who were prophesying lies in Jehovah’s name. They were telling the people that soon all the articles belonging to the temple that had been taken to Babylon would be returned. But Jehovah’s words to these prophets were that if they were true prophets, then they should pray that the remaining articles in the temple and in the king’s palace would remain in their places and not be taken to Babylon. Jehovah was telling them that everything that was left in the temple that Nebuchadnezzar did not take when he removed Jehoiachin to Babylon would be taken to Babylon and would remain there until the time when Jehovah would come for them and bring them back to the temple.
Jeremiah Chapter 28
Later, in the fifth month of the fourth year of Zedekiah, king of Judah, Hananiah, the prophet, contradicted what Jeremiah had said regarding the nations putting themselves under the yoke of the king of Babylon. He said that Jehovah had told him that He would break the yoke of the king of Babylon and within two years all the articles that belonged in the temple would be returned. He also said that Jehovah would bring Jehoiachin and the other exiles back. Hananiah was in effect accusing Jeremiah of being a false prophet and he was urging the people not to submit to the king of Babylon as Jehovah had told them to do. Jeremiah answered him by saying that Jehovah could very well do as Hananiah had said. But from early times most prophets that Jehovah had sent brought messages warning the people of war, disaster and plague that would come upon them because of their wickedness. Those who prophesied peace were only recognized as true prophets if their message came true. Since there could be no true peace without repentance, then these prophets were proved to be false prophets just as Hananiah would be.
Hananiah then took the yoke off Jeremiah’s neck and broke it and said that Jehovah would break the yoke of the king of Babylon off the neck of the nations within two years. Jehovah then told Jeremiah to tell Hananiah that since he broke the wooden yoke they and all the other nations would instead get a yoke of iron on their necks. They would serve the king of Babylon as Jehovah had said. Jeremiah also told him that because he had not been sent by Jehovah and had persuaded the people to believe lies, Jehovah was going to put him to death that very year. Hananiah died two months later in the seventh month of this same year.
Jeremiah Chapter 29
Jehovah told Jeremiah to write a letter to the elders, priests and prophets who had been taken to Babylon with King Jehoiachin. He sent the letter by the men that Zedekiah had sent to King Nebuchadnezzar. In the letter the people were told to build houses, plant gardens, and marry so that they might increase in number. They were told to pray for the peace of the city where they were living so that it would prosper. They were not to listen to their prophets who were encouraging them with lies that they would soon be restored to their land as Jehovah had not sent them. When the seventy years that Jehovah had decreed for the kingdom of Babylon to rule are completed, then Jehovah would fulfill His gracious promise to bring them back to their land. It was His purpose that His people would prosper and have a future. They would pray to Him and He would listen to them; they would seek him with all their hearts and He would let Himself be found by them. He would gather them from all the places where he had driven them and would restore their fortunes.
The exiles believed that Jehovah had raised up prophets for them in Babylon but Jeremiah warned them that these men were prophesying lies to them. Those who had been left in Judah including their king were destined for the sword, famine and plague as they were like figs that were too bad to be eaten and had to be thrown out. They had spurned Jehovah’s words of warning to them that He had given through His prophets, as had those who were now in exile. Jeremiah specified two of the prophets that were guilty of immorality and of telling lies in Jehovah’s name, Ahab and Zedekiah. These two men would be handed over to the king of Babylon who would put them to death. Because they were telling the exiles that the king of Babylon would be defeated, Nebuchadnezzar probably viewed this as a treasonous act, which would bring about their death. Their names would become a byword among the exiles.
Shemaiah the Nehelamite, another false prophet, who, after hearing the words of the letter that Jeremiah had written to the exiles, sent a letter in his name to the people in Jerusalem, to Zephaniah, the priest, and all the other priest. In his letter he said that since Zephaniah was in charge of the temple, he should put anyone who acted like a prophet in the stocks. Jeremiah was one of these and he should have been disciplined because of his letter stating that the captivity would last a long time. When Zephaniah, the priest, got the letter he read it to Jeremiah. Then Jehovah told Jeremiah to send another letter to the exiles and tell them that Shemaiah was prophesying falsely in His name teaching them to believe a lie and that He had not sent him. He would punish him by cutting off all of his descendants and they would not live to see all the good that He would do for the people.
Jeremiah Chapter 30
Jehovah told Jeremiah to write all the words that He had spoken to him in a book. He was now to record a future prophecy concerning Judah and Israel. He describes a day when fear and terror would take hold of the people, even the men would be in such agony that it is described as that of a woman in labor. It would be a day unlike any that Jacob had seen but Jehovah would save him out of it. He will break the yoke of all foreign powers who were enslaving them and they would serve Jehovah their God and David their king whom He would raise up. Jacob should not to be fearful or feel dismay as Jehovah assures him that He will bring his descendants from even the most distant lands. They would again enjoy peace and security. The discipline that they received was necessary but Jehovah did not intend to destroy them as He did those nations who took them captive.
Jacob’s wound is incurable and his injury beyond healing. Jehovah had struck him just as an enemy would have because of his flagrant sins against Jehovah. There is no one who can plead their case before Jehovah because their sins are so grievous. There is no reason that Jacob should complain about the treatment he is receiving because he deserved it. But those who have mistreated them will also themselves be devoured. They will go into exile and be plundered and despoiled. But Jehovah will restore Israel to health by healing their wounds and their city, Jerusalem, will be rebuilt upon it ruins. Songs of thanksgiving and rejoicing will be heard coming from her and He will increase their numbers and no one will look down on them again.
Their leader will be from among themselves and he will approach Jehovah with His permission in a priestly position and ministry. No one would dare approach Jehovah on his own initiative. At that time Israel will truly become His people as her worship will be acceptable to Him and He will be their God. But first Jehovah must expend his fierce anger upon the heads of the wicked until He has accomplished his purposes.
Jeremiah Chapter 31
In future days, Jehovah will become the God of Israel, the 10-tribe kingdom. Those who survived the sword will go to the wilderness and will find Jehovah’s favor. Jehovah had assured Israel in the past that His love for her was an everlasting love insuring that she would be rebuilt. She would again take up her tambourines and dance with joy. She would plant vineyards in Samaria and enjoy its fruits and she would again go up to Zion to worship Jehovah.
Jehovah invites all to sing with joy for Jacob as He gathers His people from the north and from the ends of the earth. Those who will be delivered will include the lame, the blind, and women who were pregnant or in labor. They will weep and pray as they return and they will be led to streams of water and on level paths where they will not stumble. The word to be proclaimed to the nations is that He, Jehovah, who scattered them, will also gather them and watch over them as a shepherd does his flock. They will be ransomed from those who are stronger than they are and will shout for joy in Zion. They will enjoy bounteous provisions from Jehovah and will sorrow no more.
As Judah is taken captive, Jeremiah describes hearing a voice coming from Ramar, a city through which the captives would pass. (40:1) He says it is the voice of Rachel weeping for her children because they have been taken from the land. (Matthew 2:18) Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were the dominant tribes in the Northern Kingdom and Benjamin was a part of the two-tribe kingdom. This statement could have reference to both kingdoms being taken into captivity. She is told by Jehovah to stop weeping because her work will be rewarded, that is, her children would return to their land.
Ephraim is spoken of as saying that Jehovah had disciplined him as one would an unruly calf that finally learns his lesson. After being brought under judgment from Jehovah, he repented and began to understand how his former life had brought disgrace upon him. Jehovah views Ephraim as a child in whom he took delight. He had spoken against him many times but He had not forgotten him and He would have compassion for him. Israel is told to set up guideposts, road signs and note the highway that they were to take so that they could retrace their steps in order to return to their towns.
Jeremiah now gives attention to Judah and her restoration. When she returns from captivity the people will invoke a blessing on Jerusalem and on the temple saying: ‘The LORD bless you O righteous dwelling, O sacred mountain.’ People would again live together in the towns of Judah along with farmers and shepherds. Jehovah would provide for all their needs. Jeremiah awoke from his sleep and felt refreshed after learning what Jehovah had promised regarding His people.
In future days Jehovah will repopulate the land of Israel and Judah with both people and animals. Just as He had overthrown them to tear them down, He would now watch over them to build them up. No more will the saying be true that the sons reap what the fathers had sown. Everyone will pay for the sins he has committed.
In future days Jehovah would conclude a new covenant with Israel and Judah. It will not be like the one He concluded with them when He brought them out of Egypt, which they broke. This new covenant would not be written on stone tablets but on their hearts and in their minds. No one will say ‘Know Jehovah’ because they will know Him. He will forgive their sins and will remember them no more. Just as the laws governing the heavenly bodies will stand before Jehovah, their creator, so Israel will continue to be a nation before Him. Jehovah promises that Jerusalem will be rebuilt to its full dimensions and it will be holy to Him. It will never again be destroyed.
Jeremiah Chapter 32
In the tenth year of Zedekiah the city had come under siege by the king of Babylon. Jeremiah was under arrest and was confined in the courtyard of the guards because of prophesying against the city and against King Zedekiah saying that he would be captured by Nebuchadnezzar and taken to Babylon and would remain there until Jehovah dealt with him. Jehovah told Jeremiah that his cousin would ask him to buy a field that belonged to him. And when he did, Jeremiah knew that this was from Jehovah. So he signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed and paid him in silver, then gave the documents to Baruch in the presence of all those that were sitting in the courtyard of the guard. He told Baruch to put the documents in a clay jar so that they would last a long time. In recent times, documents have been found in clay jars that were nearly 2,000 years old. He did this because Jehovah had said that houses and fields would again be purchased in the land.
Jeremiah then prayed to Jehovah acknowledging all that He had done for Israel in times past and in the present days. But they had not obeyed Him or followed His laws so He had brought all the disaster that he was witnessing this day. The Babylonians had built siege ramps up to the walls and were about to take the city just as Jehovah had said they would. Yet Jehovah had told him to buy a field and have the transaction witnessed.
Jehovah said to Jeremiah that yes, He would hand the city over to the Babylonians and they would burn it down along with all the houses where the people burned incense on their roofs to the Baals. The people had constantly provoked Jehovah with what their hands had made. The city had always since it was built incurred His wrath so He would remove it from His sight. They turned their backs on Him and refused to listen to Him as He taught them the right way to go. They put their idols in the house that bore His name. They sacrificed their children to the god Molech on the high place that they built in the Valley of Hinnon.
In spite of all of this, Jehovah would, after a time of punishment, bring them back to their land and they would live there in safety. He would give them singleness of heart so that they would always fear him. He would make an everlasting covenant with them and they would never turn away from Him again. He would give them prosperity and they would buy fields with silver in Benjamin, in the towns near Jerusalem and Judah, in the hill country, the western foothills and the Negev.
Jeremiah Chapter 33
Jehovah spoke to Jeremiah while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard and He identified Himself as the creator of the earth, Jehovah is His name. If there were things that Jeremiah did not understand, he could ask and He would answer him and would tell him things that he could not possible know unless Jehovah revealed them. Jeremiah was concerned the restoration of his countrymen because of the great devastation He was bringing upon them. No matter how much effort the people exerted to try to keep the enemy army out of the city, Jehovah was going to turn this city over to them and many Israelites would die because of their wickedness. Yet, He would heal His people and the city and they would again enjoy peace and prosperity.
He would restore both Judah and Israel to their land and it would be rebuilt to its former state. He would cleanse them of the sins and forgive their rebellion against Him. At this time Jerusalem would be a place of renown for Jehovah and all the nations will hear about the good things that He had done for them and they would be in awe. Jeremiah’s view of the city at this time was that it was a desolate waste without inhabitants. In these same towns and streets, the sounds of joy and gladness would return as typified by the voices of bride and bridegroom and of those bringing thank offerings to the temple to honor Jehovah. Shepherds will again pasture their flocks in safety. The towns from the north, south, east and west will all experience peace and prosperity.
In the time for Him to act in behalf of His people, Jehovah assures that He will fulfill His promises to Israel and Judah. He will also raise up a righteous Branch from David’s line who would do what is right and just for the people. Judah and Jerusalem will be known by the name ‘The LORD [Jehovah] Our Righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:6) Jehovah’s promise that there would always be a descendant of David sitting on his throne as well as a priest to stand before Him offering the burnt offerings will be fulfilled. (2 Samuel 7:13; Numbers 25:12, 13) Since Jehovah’s covenant with day and night, that these appear at their appropriate time, cannot be broken, then neither will His covenant with David and the Levites. Their descendants will become as many as the stars in the sky or the sands on the seashore for number. (Genesis 12:2) Jehovah would not reject His people as the nations around them were saying but He would restore them to their inheritance as He promised.
Jeremiah Chapter 34
While Nebuchadnezzar was besieging Jerusalem, Lachish and Azekah, the last fortified cities he had not yet captured, Jehovah sent a message to King Zedekiah. Jeremiah told him that Jehovah was ready to turn the city over to the king of Babylon who would destroy it and Zedekiah would be captured and taken to Babylon. But Nebuchadnezzar would not put him to death; he would die peacefully in his sleep and would be mourned and given a proper burial befitting a king by the people. This message was probably delivered to Zedekiah before Jeremiah had been put in prison.
During this time period, Zedekiah had the people agree to free their brothers who had become slaves to them. They freed them but later changed their minds and enslaved these ones again. After this, Jehovah sent Jeremiah to them to remind them that the covenant that He had concluded with their forefathers specified that every seventh year they would free any Hebrew who had sold himself to them. His length of service was to be six years and then he was to go free. They had just recently repented and had done what was right in His eyes, but then they profaned His name by forcing these ones to become slaves again. They had now disobeyed Jehovah in not proclaiming freedom to their fellow countrymen. Jehovah would now proclaim freedom to them, freedom to die by the sword, plague and famine.
Those who had violated His covenant and had not fulfilled its terms would be treated the same as the calf that they cut in two pieces and walked between the pieces. According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Volume I, page 1178, “By walking through the parts of the animal they were symbolizing the judgment that should befall them if they violated the agreement. They were to be hacked to pieces like the calf.” All the leaders, court officials, priests and the people would be handed over to the Babylonians who would put them to death. At that particular time, the army of the Babylonians had withdrawn from Jerusalem but Jehovah would bring them back and they would take the city and burn it down. It would become a waste where no one could live.
Jeremiah Chapter 35
During the reign of Joiakim, Jehovah told Jeremiah to invite the Rechabites to come into one of the side rooms of the temple and give them wine to drink. The Rechabites were a nomadic tribe who descended from Jonadab, son of Rechab, who had assisted Jehu in eradicating Baal worship from Israel. (2 Kings 10:15-27) They were living in Jerusalem at this time because of the Babylonian threat. When Jeremiah brought them into the room, he set bowls of wine and cups before them and told them to drink it. But they told him that their forefather Jonadab had commanded that they were never to drink wine, build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards but were to live in tents. This way they would be able to live a long time in the land. They had obeyed everything their forefather had commanded them to do.
Jehovah then spoke to Jeremiah and told him to set the Rechabites before Judah as an example of obedience. He was to ask them if they would not learn a lesson from these people and obey His words. The Rechabites were obedient to a human forefather but the Israelites, in spite of being warned again and again by the God of the heavens, had not obeyed Him. They had paid no attention to His words that His prophets had brought to them. Therefore He was going to bring on them all of the disasters He had spoken against them. Jeremiah then told the Rechabites that Jehovah had said that because they had been obedient to their forefather in all that he had commanded them, there would always a descendant of their forefather, Jonadab, serving before him.
Jeremiah Chapter 36
In the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, Jehovah told Jeremiah to write all of the words that He had spoken to him concerning Judah, Israel and the nations, starting from the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign up to now, in a book. When the people heard the words that Jehovah had spoken about them, maybe they would repent of their ways and He could forgive them. Jeremiah called on Baruch, the son of Neriah, to write down the words on a scroll as Jeremiah dictated them. At this time Jeremiah had been restricted from going to the temple, so Baruch would have to read the words written on the scroll instead. He was to do this on a day when the people will have congregated at the temple.
In the fifth year of Jehoiakim in the ninth month, Chislev, a fast had been proclaimed and all the people had assembled at the temple. At this time Judah was a vassal to Babylon and they were paying a heavy tribute to Nebuchadnezzar. Baruch read from the scroll on this day from the room of Gemariah, son of Shaphan that was located in the upper courtyard at the entrance of the New Gate of the temple. When Micaiah, Gemariah’s son, heard the words written on the scroll, he went to the officials of Jehoiakim and told them what he had heard Baruch read. These officials then sent for Baruch and asked him to read the words on the scroll to them. When he finished reading it to them, they became afraid and said that they must report this to the king. They asked Baruch if Jeremiah had dictated those words and Baruch replied that he had done so. The officials told Baruch that he and Jeremiah should hide themselves and not let anyone know where they were hiding. They knew what Jehoiakim’s reaction would be. (26:20-23) They put the scroll in the secretary’s room and went to find the king.
The king was in his winter apartment with a fire burning in a firepot. When the officials told him of Jeremiah’s writings, he sent Jehudi to get the scroll and to read it to him. As he finished reading the columns of the scroll, Jehoiakim would cut those off and put them in the firepot to burn them in spite of the urgings of his officials not to burn the scroll. When he had burned the entire scroll, he sent men to arrest Jeremiah and Baruch but they could not find them because Jehovah had hidden them.
Jehovah then told Jeremiah to take another scroll and write on it everything that he had written on the first one. He was to tell Jehoiakim that because he had burned the scroll on which Jehovah had said that the king of Babylon would destroy the land and take the people into captivity, he would have no descendant to sit on the throne. He would be killed and he would not have a burial but his body would be exposed to the elements day and night. Jehovah would punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness and every disaster that He had pronounced against them would come upon all the people because they had not listened. Jeremiah had Baruch write down all the words that had been written previously and he even added similar words that had not been on the first scroll.
Jeremiah Chapter 37
When Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem to quell a rebellion against him, he took Jehoiachin into captivity and put Zedekiah on the throne in his place. He too ignored Jehovah’s words that Jeremiah spoke. He did, however, send the priest, Zephaniah and Jehucal, son of Shelemiah to Jeremiah to ask him to pray to Jehovah in behalf of the people. At this time Jeremiah was not confined in prison and the Babylonian army had withdrawn from Jerusalem in order to pursue Pharaoh and his army that they heard was coming to help Judah. Jehovah told Jeremiah to tell Zedekiah that Pharaoh’s army would be sent back to Egypt by the Babylonian army and would be of no help to him. The Babylonian army would return, attack the city, capture it and burn it down. Jehovah told Zedekiah that he should not deceive himself thinking that the Babylonians would not return because they would. And even if the entire Babylonian armies were defeated, the wounded left in the tents would come and burn the city down.
After the Babylonian army had gone to pursue the Egyptian army, Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to Anathoth in Benjamin to either secure his share of some property or to divide family property for sale. When he reached the Benjamin Gate, he was stopped by the captain of the guard and arrested because he believed that he was deserting the city to go over to the Babylonians. He brought him to some officials who because of their anger against him, had him beaten and thrown into prison. He remained there for some time before Zedekiah sent for him to find out if he had any word from Jehovah for him.
Jeremiah told him only that he was going to be handed over to the king of Babylon. Jeremiah then asked Zedekiah why had he been put in prison. He had, after all, prophesied truthfully that the king of Babylon would come against Jerusalem while the other prophets had prophesied falsely to the people. Jeremiah then petitioned the king not to send him back to the prison where he was or he would die there. So Zedekiah had him confined to the courtyard of the guard and he was to be given bread each day until there was none left in the city.
Jeremiah Chapter 38
While Jeremiah was confined in the courtyard of the guard, he took the opportunity to tell the people what Jehovah had said they should do in order to preserve their lives. Four of Zedekiah’s officials heard what Jeremiah had been telling the people and they went to Zedekiah to say that Jeremiah should be put to death because he was telling the people to desert to the Babylonians so that they would not be killed. They felt that these words were discouraging to the soldiers who were defending the city. The king, being a coward, told them he would not oppose what they wanted to do. So they took Jeremiah and put him in a cistern that had no water in it, only mud in which the prophet immediately sank down into.
Ebed-Melech, a Cushite who was a palace official, heard what they had done to Jeremiah and he went to Zedekiah to complain about this treatment of the prophet. Zedekiah then gave him permission to take thirty men and remove Jeremiah from the cistern before he died. Ebed-Melech then took some rags and some rope and went to the cistern. He told Jeremiah to put the rags around the rope to pad it and put it under his arms so that they could pull him out. After they lifted him out of the cistern, he remained in the courtyard of the guard.
King Zedekiah again sent for Jeremiah to ask him a question and he wanted him to tell him everything and not to hide anything from him. Jeremiah told him that if he did not like his answer, he would put him to death. Zedekiah assured Jeremiah that he would not kill him nor turn him over to his enemies. Jeremiah told him that Jehovah said that if he would surrender to the king of Babylon, he and his family would be spared. But if he refused to obey, then the king of Babylon would burn the city down and Zedekiah would not escape his hand. Zedekiah said that he was afraid to do this because he was afraid of the Jews who had already gone over to Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah said that if he would just obey Jehovah, then it would go well with him. If not, then all the women in the palace would become the property of the conquering army and they would say to the king that he had been fooled by his friends into opposing the Babylonians and they had now deserted him, leaving him in a indefensible position.
Zedekiah warned Jeremiah not to tell anyone what he had talked to him about or he might be put to death. If the officials of Zedekiah came to him and asked him what he talked to the king about, he was to say that he was pleading with the king not to send him back to the dungeon located in Jonathan’s house. When the officials came to him, Jeremiah told them exactly what the king told him to say. Therefore Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until Jerusalem was captured.
Jeremiah Chapter 39
Nebuchadnezzar began to besiege Jerusalem in the ninth year of Zedekiah in the tenth month and in his eleventh year, in the fourth month, the walls of Jerusalem were breached. Then all the officials of Nebuchadnezzar came and took seats in the gate that divided the upper and lower division of the city. When Zedekiah saw this, he and other members of his family and some of his soldiers fled the city by way of the king’s garden but were captured by the Babylonian soldiers and taken to Riblah where King Nebuchadnezzar was headquartered. He killed Zedekiah’s sons and his officials and then Zedekiah was blinded, shackled and was taken to Babylon.
The Babylonians then set fire to the entire city and pulled the walls down all around the city. Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guard took the people who were left in the city and those who had deserted to the Babylonians into exile in Babylon and he left the poorest people in the land to cultivate vineyards and fields that he had given them. Nebuchadnezzar gave orders regarding Jeremiah that he was not to be harmed. Nebuzaradan then had him released from the courtyard of the guard and allowed him to remain with the newly appointed governor, Gedaliah. Before his release, Jehovah had sent word to Jeremiah to tell Ebed-Melech that when He fulfilled his words against Jerusalem, he would be rescued and would not be handed over to the Babylonians; he would escape with his life because he trusted in Jehovah.
Jeremiah Chapter 40
After his release from prison, Jeremiah must have mistakenly been rearrested because Nebuzaradan found him in chains being carried to Babylon. He released him and told him that he was familiar with Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning what would happen to Jerusalem because of their disobedience to Jehovah. Jeremiah was free to go wherever he wanted; he could go to Babylon or he could stay in the land. But he strongly suggested that he should go to Gedaliah and live with him, which Jeremiah decided to do. The commander gave him some provisions and a present and Jeremiah left to go to Mizpah.
The army officers and the men with them who had been not been killed by the Babylonians heard that they had left people in the land and had appointed a governor over them, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Gedaliah told them not to be afraid to serve the Babylonians and to settle in the land, harvest the summer crop and to store some of them for the coming winter. He would live at Mizpah to act as their representative before the Babylonians. When the Jews who had fled to Moab, Ammon, and Edom hear that a remnant had been left in Judah, they also came back to live there.
Johanan and the army officers learned that Ishmael and the men with him had been sent by the king of Moab to kill Gedaliah. They went to Gedaliah and told him of the plot but Gedaliah refused to believe them. Even when Johanan suggested that he be allowed to put Ishmael to death because if Gedaliah were killed it would disrupt the lives of those that had been left in the land and they would scatter. Gedaliah still refused to believe that Ishmael would kill him.
Jeremiah Chapter 41
In the seventh month, Ishmael, along with ten men, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and while they were having a meal, he and his men killed Gedaliah, the Jews, and even the Babylonian soldiers who were there. Eighty men who had come from the territory of the Northern Kingdom were on their way to Jerusalem to mourn at the site of the ruined temple carrying grain offerings and incense. Ishmael intercepted them encouraging them to pay their respects to Gedaliah. When they came into the city he proceeded to put them to death. Ten of these men saved their lives by saying that they had more food stashed away in a cistern. They threw all the bodies of the men that they had killed into the cistern that King Asa had made when he was at war with Baasha, king of Israel.
Ishmael them took the rest of the people captive and set out to go to Ammon. When the army officers heard what Ishmael had done, they pursued them and caught up with them at Gibeon. When the people saw them coming they rejoiced because they had been forced to follow Ishmael. Ishmael and eight of his men escaped and fled to Ammon. The people then decided that, after what Ishmael had done, the Babylonians would probably come back for retribution for the killing the appointed governor. So they decided that Egypt might be the safest place for them to go.
NOTE: The translations used in this commentary are the New American Standard Bible (NAS), the New International Version (NIV) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
***©2005 by YORWW Congregation
Jeremiah Chapter 23
Jehovah pronounces judgment on the leaders of His people because of their oppressing and scattering them so that they wandered alone without any protection. (Ezekiel 34:1-10) Jehovah would gather a remnant of His flock from all the countries where He had sent them and He would give them good pasture where they would flourish. He would give them shepherds who would treat them properly as He intended. Then Jehovah will raise up a king, who would be a branch of the Davidic line, but not a descendant of Jehoiachin as Jehovah had cursed him. This one would rule in justice and righteousness and Jehovah would save Judah and Israel in his day. He would be called The LORD [Jehovah] Our Righteousness or Yah Our Righteousness.
Jehovah now turns His attention to the prophets who were falsely prophesying in His Name. Jeremiah felt very emotional because of the words of Jehovah against these prophets. The land had become cursed because of the evil that the prophets and the priest were doing. Both priests and prophets were godless and their wickedness could be found even in the temple. Jehovah would bring disaster upon them when it was time to punish them. The prophets of Samaria led the people astray by prophesying by means of the Baals. Judah’s prophets were no different and they were guilty of adultery and supporting those doing evil so that no one turned away from their wickedness. Therefore Jehovah considered the nation to be as filthy as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were. He would give the prophets wormwood as food and poisoned water to drink because they had fostered ungodliness in Judah. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22)
Jeremiah warned the people not to listen these prophets because they were giving them false hopes. Their words did not come from Jehovah but were visions conjured up in their own minds. They were encouraging those who hated Jehovah’s laws to continue in their own ways by saying that Jehovah would not do anything to them. This was proof that Jehovah had not spoken to these men because if He had, they would have been telling the people to turn from their evil ways and not to feel safe in continuing in them. Jehovah’s anger would come upon them like a storm and it would not be appeased until it had accomplished His purposes. He had not sent these prophets nor had He spoken to them but they had prophesied anyway.
They continued to mislead the people by saying that Jehovah had spoken to them through dreams but the purpose of their dreams was to turn the people away from Him. If they had Jehovah’s word in their mouths, it would have been like a fire that burns or like a hammer that breaks rock. They were prophesying nothing but straw so Jehovah declared that He was against them because they were leading His people astray with reckless lies and there was no benefit that would come to those listening to these false prophets.
When the people came to Jeremiah to ask for an oracle from Jehovah, he was to tell them that there was none because Jehovah had already told them that they were going to be punished. According to the NIV Bible Commentary, Volume I, page 1207, the word, oracle (Hebrew, 'massa'), “comes from the verb “to lift, lift up;” thus it denotes a “burden” in the physical sense. By usage, however, the word came to mean that which was placed as a burden on the heart of a prophet, having already been such on the heart of God. Thus it referred to a threatening prediction or oracle.” The prophets had begun to misuse this term ‘oracle’ in a mocking and derisive way by attaching it to whatever words any one of them might speak. In this way they were distorting His word even though He had warned them against doing this. They had themselves become a burden upon Jehovah and He would rid Himself of them. He would cast them from His presence and they would suffer everlasting shame that would not be forgotten.
Jeremiah Chapter 24
After Jehoiachin, his officials, the craftsmen, the smiths and all the important people had been taken to Babylon, Jehovah showed Jeremiah two baskets of figs that had been placed in front of the temple. One basket had good figs in it and the other had figs so bad that they could not be eaten. Those good figs represented the people that had just been sent into exile in Babylon, that is, King Jehoiachin and the leading people of Judah. These were the ones that Jehovah would bring back to the land where He would plant them. He would give them a heart to know Him and they would become His people and He would be their God. They would return to Him with all their hearts. Ezekiel, the prophet, was among this group taken captive at this time. (Ezekiel 1:1, 2)
The basket of figs that were so bad that they could not be eaten represented King Zedekiah along with those who were left in Jerusalem. These ones Jehovah would abandon and make them abhorrent and offensive to all the nations where He would send them. He would send the sword, famine and plague after them until they were destroyed from the land.
NOTE: The Watchtower Society in their New World Translation mistranslated verse 5 in reference to the ones that had been sent into captivity. They translated it as though these ones had not yet been sent away by writing " Like these good figs, so I shall regard the exiles of Judah whom I will send away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans in a good way." By the mere fact that they are called "exiles" means that they had already gone into captivity.
Jeremiah Chapter 25
In the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, which also was the year Nebuchadnezzar became king of Babylon, Jehovah sent Jeremiah to those living in Judah. Jeremiah’s ministry had at that time lasted for twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah up to this time. During this time he had spoken to the people again and again but they had not listened just as they had not listened to any of the other prophets that Jehovah had sent to them. They had been told that if they would stop their evil practices; they would remain in the land. But as they refused to listen and continued to provoke Jehovah with their false gods, He would bring Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, against their land and against all of the surrounding nations. He would make them an object of horror and scorn, banishing all normal sounds of everyday life from their nation and they would have to serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. When the seventy years were up, He would punish the king of Babylon for his guilt and his land would become a desolate waste and he would be enslaved by many nations.
Jehovah told Jeremiah that he was sending him to all the nations and he was to take with him the cup of the wine of His wrath, which the nations were to drink. This was a symbolic cup that represented Jehovah’s anger that would be poured out on them and it would make them stagger and go mad. The first to drink from this cup would be Jerusalem and all the towns of Judah and all their people. Then it would go to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, then to the kings of Uz, Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon, Dedan, Tema, Buz, the Arabian rulers, Zimri, Elam and Media. None would be left out as all of them would fall to the king of Babylon. After all of these had tasted of Jehovah’s wrath, then the king of Babylon would also have to drink from this cup. The king of Babylon is here called the king of Sheshach, a name that is believed to be a cryptogram for Babylon.
These nations were invited to drink and get drunk because of the sword coming upon them. If they refused to take the cup, Jeremiah was to tell them that they had no choice but to take it and drink it. Jehovah was starting His punishment with the city that was called by His name and there was no way that they would escape this punishment. (1 Peter 4:17) They would be told that Jehovah would roar from the heaven with the voice of a lion, He would shout like those treading grapes and the sound would reverberate throughout the earth as He brings charges against all the nations and executes judgment against all the wicked of the earth.
Disaster would spread from one nation to another and the slain of Jehovah at that time would be from one end of the earth to the other. They would not be buried nor mourned but would be as refuse on the surface of the ground. All of the leaders of these people will cry and wail and cover themselves with thick dust because it is Jehovah’s time of vengeance. No one will escape and the land itself will suffer because of His anger and all of these lands will become desolated wastelands when the king of Babylon comes against them.
Jeremiah Chapter 26
In the early part of Jehoiakim’s reign, Jehovah told Jeremiah to stand in the courtyard of the temple and speak to all those who came to worship there. He was to tell them all that Jehovah had commanded him to speak, leaving out nothing. They might possibly listen to him and turn from their evil ways and Jehovah would not have to bring disaster upon them. But if they refused to listen, which was their normal course of action, then Jehovah would treat this temple the same as He had done to Shiloh and Jerusalem would be debased before all the nations.
When the people, the priests and the prophets heard all of Jeremiah’s words, they seized him and threaten to put him to death. When the officials heard what was going on they came and stood at the entrance to the New Gate in the courtyard and the people said to them that Jeremiah needed to die because he had prophesied against the city. Jeremiah repeated Jehovah’s words to them again that they should repent of their idolatry and Jehovah would not bring destruction upon them. He told them that God had sent him to speak to them all the words that they had heard. If they chose to kill him then they would be spilling innocent blood.
The officials of Jerusalem said that Jeremiah had not said anything that was deserving of death as he had spoken in Jehovah’s name. The elders told the people that the prophet Micah of Moresheth had prophesied in the days of Hezekiah and had also spoken of the destruction of Jerusalem just as Jeremiah had done. Hezekiah had not taken any action against him for speaking so but had sought Jehovah’s favor and Jehovah had relented and had not brought destruction upon the city. If the people continued in what they had planned to do against Jeremiah, then they would bring disaster upon themselves.
It is not stated when the incident with Uriah a prophet of Jehovah happened nor who related the incident but it shows that King Jehoiakim would put a prophet of Jehovah to death. Uriah had been sent by Jehovah to the people to tell them essentially what Jeremiah had said. When he learned that Jehoiakim wanted to kill him, he fled to Egypt. Since Judah was a vassal to Egypt at this time, it was easy to extradite Uriah from Egypt back to Judah. King Jehoiakim sent some men to Egypt to bring him back and when he came back, he was put to death with the sword. Jeremiah was spared this fate because Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, an influential official, did not allow the people to put him to death.
Jeremiah Chapter 27
In the fourth year of the reign of Zedekiah, (28:1) Jehovah had Jeremiah to make a yoke with crossbars and straps, similar to what a person would put on oxen, and he was to put it on his neck. He was then to send a message to the kings of Edom, Moab, Amnon, Tyre and Sidon through their envoys that they had sent to Zedekiah probably to plan a strategy against the king of Babylon. He would tell them that Jehovah, the one who had made the earth and all the people and animals living upon it, had decreed that He would give it all to His servant, Nebuchadnezzar, including the wild animals. They would all serve him until Jehovah’s set time to judge him and his people came.
If any nation decided that it would not serve Nebuchadnezzar, then Jehovah would bring the sword, famine and plague upon them until they were completely destroyed. Jeremiah warned them that they should not listen to their prophets, diviners, mediums or sorcerers who would tell them that they would not have to serve the king of Babylon because they would only be telling them lies. If, however, they would put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, then they could remain on their land and continue to cultivate it.
Jeremiah gave this same message to Zedekiah to submit to the king of Babylon and thus spare his and the people’s lives. He also spoke to the priests and all the people. They too were not to listen to the lies of their prophets who were prophesying lies in Jehovah’s name. They were telling the people that soon all the articles belonging to the temple that had been taken to Babylon would be returned. But Jehovah’s words to these prophets were that if they were true prophets, then they should pray that the remaining articles in the temple and in the king’s palace would remain in their places and not be taken to Babylon. Jehovah was telling them that everything that was left in the temple that Nebuchadnezzar did not take when he removed Jehoiachin to Babylon would be taken to Babylon and would remain there until the time when Jehovah would come for them and bring them back to the temple.
Jeremiah Chapter 28
Later, in the fifth month of the fourth year of Zedekiah, king of Judah, Hananiah, the prophet, contradicted what Jeremiah had said regarding the nations putting themselves under the yoke of the king of Babylon. He said that Jehovah had told him that He would break the yoke of the king of Babylon and within two years all the articles that belonged in the temple would be returned. He also said that Jehovah would bring Jehoiachin and the other exiles back. Hananiah was in effect accusing Jeremiah of being a false prophet and he was urging the people not to submit to the king of Babylon as Jehovah had told them to do. Jeremiah answered him by saying that Jehovah could very well do as Hananiah had said. But from early times most prophets that Jehovah had sent brought messages warning the people of war, disaster and plague that would come upon them because of their wickedness. Those who prophesied peace were only recognized as true prophets if their message came true. Since there could be no true peace without repentance, then these prophets were proved to be false prophets just as Hananiah would be.
Hananiah then took the yoke off Jeremiah’s neck and broke it and said that Jehovah would break the yoke of the king of Babylon off the neck of the nations within two years. Jehovah then told Jeremiah to tell Hananiah that since he broke the wooden yoke they and all the other nations would instead get a yoke of iron on their necks. They would serve the king of Babylon as Jehovah had said. Jeremiah also told him that because he had not been sent by Jehovah and had persuaded the people to believe lies, Jehovah was going to put him to death that very year. Hananiah died two months later in the seventh month of this same year.
Jeremiah Chapter 29
Jehovah told Jeremiah to write a letter to the elders, priests and prophets who had been taken to Babylon with King Jehoiachin. He sent the letter by the men that Zedekiah had sent to King Nebuchadnezzar. In the letter the people were told to build houses, plant gardens, and marry so that they might increase in number. They were told to pray for the peace of the city where they were living so that it would prosper. They were not to listen to their prophets who were encouraging them with lies that they would soon be restored to their land as Jehovah had not sent them. When the seventy years that Jehovah had decreed for the kingdom of Babylon to rule are completed, then Jehovah would fulfill His gracious promise to bring them back to their land. It was His purpose that His people would prosper and have a future. They would pray to Him and He would listen to them; they would seek him with all their hearts and He would let Himself be found by them. He would gather them from all the places where he had driven them and would restore their fortunes.
The exiles believed that Jehovah had raised up prophets for them in Babylon but Jeremiah warned them that these men were prophesying lies to them. Those who had been left in Judah including their king were destined for the sword, famine and plague as they were like figs that were too bad to be eaten and had to be thrown out. They had spurned Jehovah’s words of warning to them that He had given through His prophets, as had those who were now in exile. Jeremiah specified two of the prophets that were guilty of immorality and of telling lies in Jehovah’s name, Ahab and Zedekiah. These two men would be handed over to the king of Babylon who would put them to death. Because they were telling the exiles that the king of Babylon would be defeated, Nebuchadnezzar probably viewed this as a treasonous act, which would bring about their death. Their names would become a byword among the exiles.
Shemaiah the Nehelamite, another false prophet, who, after hearing the words of the letter that Jeremiah had written to the exiles, sent a letter in his name to the people in Jerusalem, to Zephaniah, the priest, and all the other priest. In his letter he said that since Zephaniah was in charge of the temple, he should put anyone who acted like a prophet in the stocks. Jeremiah was one of these and he should have been disciplined because of his letter stating that the captivity would last a long time. When Zephaniah, the priest, got the letter he read it to Jeremiah. Then Jehovah told Jeremiah to send another letter to the exiles and tell them that Shemaiah was prophesying falsely in His name teaching them to believe a lie and that He had not sent him. He would punish him by cutting off all of his descendants and they would not live to see all the good that He would do for the people.
Jeremiah Chapter 30
Jehovah told Jeremiah to write all the words that He had spoken to him in a book. He was now to record a future prophecy concerning Judah and Israel. He describes a day when fear and terror would take hold of the people, even the men would be in such agony that it is described as that of a woman in labor. It would be a day unlike any that Jacob had seen but Jehovah would save him out of it. He will break the yoke of all foreign powers who were enslaving them and they would serve Jehovah their God and David their king whom He would raise up. Jacob should not to be fearful or feel dismay as Jehovah assures him that He will bring his descendants from even the most distant lands. They would again enjoy peace and security. The discipline that they received was necessary but Jehovah did not intend to destroy them as He did those nations who took them captive.
Jacob’s wound is incurable and his injury beyond healing. Jehovah had struck him just as an enemy would have because of his flagrant sins against Jehovah. There is no one who can plead their case before Jehovah because their sins are so grievous. There is no reason that Jacob should complain about the treatment he is receiving because he deserved it. But those who have mistreated them will also themselves be devoured. They will go into exile and be plundered and despoiled. But Jehovah will restore Israel to health by healing their wounds and their city, Jerusalem, will be rebuilt upon it ruins. Songs of thanksgiving and rejoicing will be heard coming from her and He will increase their numbers and no one will look down on them again.
Their leader will be from among themselves and he will approach Jehovah with His permission in a priestly position and ministry. No one would dare approach Jehovah on his own initiative. At that time Israel will truly become His people as her worship will be acceptable to Him and He will be their God. But first Jehovah must expend his fierce anger upon the heads of the wicked until He has accomplished his purposes.
Jeremiah Chapter 31
In future days, Jehovah will become the God of Israel, the 10-tribe kingdom. Those who survived the sword will go to the wilderness and will find Jehovah’s favor. Jehovah had assured Israel in the past that His love for her was an everlasting love insuring that she would be rebuilt. She would again take up her tambourines and dance with joy. She would plant vineyards in Samaria and enjoy its fruits and she would again go up to Zion to worship Jehovah.
Jehovah invites all to sing with joy for Jacob as He gathers His people from the north and from the ends of the earth. Those who will be delivered will include the lame, the blind, and women who were pregnant or in labor. They will weep and pray as they return and they will be led to streams of water and on level paths where they will not stumble. The word to be proclaimed to the nations is that He, Jehovah, who scattered them, will also gather them and watch over them as a shepherd does his flock. They will be ransomed from those who are stronger than they are and will shout for joy in Zion. They will enjoy bounteous provisions from Jehovah and will sorrow no more.
As Judah is taken captive, Jeremiah describes hearing a voice coming from Ramar, a city through which the captives would pass. (40:1) He says it is the voice of Rachel weeping for her children because they have been taken from the land. (Matthew 2:18) Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were the dominant tribes in the Northern Kingdom and Benjamin was a part of the two-tribe kingdom. This statement could have reference to both kingdoms being taken into captivity. She is told by Jehovah to stop weeping because her work will be rewarded, that is, her children would return to their land.
Ephraim is spoken of as saying that Jehovah had disciplined him as one would an unruly calf that finally learns his lesson. After being brought under judgment from Jehovah, he repented and began to understand how his former life had brought disgrace upon him. Jehovah views Ephraim as a child in whom he took delight. He had spoken against him many times but He had not forgotten him and He would have compassion for him. Israel is told to set up guideposts, road signs and note the highway that they were to take so that they could retrace their steps in order to return to their towns.
Jeremiah now gives attention to Judah and her restoration. When she returns from captivity the people will invoke a blessing on Jerusalem and on the temple saying: ‘The LORD bless you O righteous dwelling, O sacred mountain.’ People would again live together in the towns of Judah along with farmers and shepherds. Jehovah would provide for all their needs. Jeremiah awoke from his sleep and felt refreshed after learning what Jehovah had promised regarding His people.
In future days Jehovah will repopulate the land of Israel and Judah with both people and animals. Just as He had overthrown them to tear them down, He would now watch over them to build them up. No more will the saying be true that the sons reap what the fathers had sown. Everyone will pay for the sins he has committed.
In future days Jehovah would conclude a new covenant with Israel and Judah. It will not be like the one He concluded with them when He brought them out of Egypt, which they broke. This new covenant would not be written on stone tablets but on their hearts and in their minds. No one will say ‘Know Jehovah’ because they will know Him. He will forgive their sins and will remember them no more. Just as the laws governing the heavenly bodies will stand before Jehovah, their creator, so Israel will continue to be a nation before Him. Jehovah promises that Jerusalem will be rebuilt to its full dimensions and it will be holy to Him. It will never again be destroyed.
Jeremiah Chapter 32
In the tenth year of Zedekiah the city had come under siege by the king of Babylon. Jeremiah was under arrest and was confined in the courtyard of the guards because of prophesying against the city and against King Zedekiah saying that he would be captured by Nebuchadnezzar and taken to Babylon and would remain there until Jehovah dealt with him. Jehovah told Jeremiah that his cousin would ask him to buy a field that belonged to him. And when he did, Jeremiah knew that this was from Jehovah. So he signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed and paid him in silver, then gave the documents to Baruch in the presence of all those that were sitting in the courtyard of the guard. He told Baruch to put the documents in a clay jar so that they would last a long time. In recent times, documents have been found in clay jars that were nearly 2,000 years old. He did this because Jehovah had said that houses and fields would again be purchased in the land.
Jeremiah then prayed to Jehovah acknowledging all that He had done for Israel in times past and in the present days. But they had not obeyed Him or followed His laws so He had brought all the disaster that he was witnessing this day. The Babylonians had built siege ramps up to the walls and were about to take the city just as Jehovah had said they would. Yet Jehovah had told him to buy a field and have the transaction witnessed.
Jehovah said to Jeremiah that yes, He would hand the city over to the Babylonians and they would burn it down along with all the houses where the people burned incense on their roofs to the Baals. The people had constantly provoked Jehovah with what their hands had made. The city had always since it was built incurred His wrath so He would remove it from His sight. They turned their backs on Him and refused to listen to Him as He taught them the right way to go. They put their idols in the house that bore His name. They sacrificed their children to the god Molech on the high place that they built in the Valley of Hinnon.
In spite of all of this, Jehovah would, after a time of punishment, bring them back to their land and they would live there in safety. He would give them singleness of heart so that they would always fear him. He would make an everlasting covenant with them and they would never turn away from Him again. He would give them prosperity and they would buy fields with silver in Benjamin, in the towns near Jerusalem and Judah, in the hill country, the western foothills and the Negev.
Jeremiah Chapter 33
Jehovah spoke to Jeremiah while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard and He identified Himself as the creator of the earth, Jehovah is His name. If there were things that Jeremiah did not understand, he could ask and He would answer him and would tell him things that he could not possible know unless Jehovah revealed them. Jeremiah was concerned the restoration of his countrymen because of the great devastation He was bringing upon them. No matter how much effort the people exerted to try to keep the enemy army out of the city, Jehovah was going to turn this city over to them and many Israelites would die because of their wickedness. Yet, He would heal His people and the city and they would again enjoy peace and prosperity.
He would restore both Judah and Israel to their land and it would be rebuilt to its former state. He would cleanse them of the sins and forgive their rebellion against Him. At this time Jerusalem would be a place of renown for Jehovah and all the nations will hear about the good things that He had done for them and they would be in awe. Jeremiah’s view of the city at this time was that it was a desolate waste without inhabitants. In these same towns and streets, the sounds of joy and gladness would return as typified by the voices of bride and bridegroom and of those bringing thank offerings to the temple to honor Jehovah. Shepherds will again pasture their flocks in safety. The towns from the north, south, east and west will all experience peace and prosperity.
In the time for Him to act in behalf of His people, Jehovah assures that He will fulfill His promises to Israel and Judah. He will also raise up a righteous Branch from David’s line who would do what is right and just for the people. Judah and Jerusalem will be known by the name ‘The LORD [Jehovah] Our Righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:6) Jehovah’s promise that there would always be a descendant of David sitting on his throne as well as a priest to stand before Him offering the burnt offerings will be fulfilled. (2 Samuel 7:13; Numbers 25:12, 13) Since Jehovah’s covenant with day and night, that these appear at their appropriate time, cannot be broken, then neither will His covenant with David and the Levites. Their descendants will become as many as the stars in the sky or the sands on the seashore for number. (Genesis 12:2) Jehovah would not reject His people as the nations around them were saying but He would restore them to their inheritance as He promised.
Jeremiah Chapter 34
While Nebuchadnezzar was besieging Jerusalem, Lachish and Azekah, the last fortified cities he had not yet captured, Jehovah sent a message to King Zedekiah. Jeremiah told him that Jehovah was ready to turn the city over to the king of Babylon who would destroy it and Zedekiah would be captured and taken to Babylon. But Nebuchadnezzar would not put him to death; he would die peacefully in his sleep and would be mourned and given a proper burial befitting a king by the people. This message was probably delivered to Zedekiah before Jeremiah had been put in prison.
During this time period, Zedekiah had the people agree to free their brothers who had become slaves to them. They freed them but later changed their minds and enslaved these ones again. After this, Jehovah sent Jeremiah to them to remind them that the covenant that He had concluded with their forefathers specified that every seventh year they would free any Hebrew who had sold himself to them. His length of service was to be six years and then he was to go free. They had just recently repented and had done what was right in His eyes, but then they profaned His name by forcing these ones to become slaves again. They had now disobeyed Jehovah in not proclaiming freedom to their fellow countrymen. Jehovah would now proclaim freedom to them, freedom to die by the sword, plague and famine.
Those who had violated His covenant and had not fulfilled its terms would be treated the same as the calf that they cut in two pieces and walked between the pieces. According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Volume I, page 1178, “By walking through the parts of the animal they were symbolizing the judgment that should befall them if they violated the agreement. They were to be hacked to pieces like the calf.” All the leaders, court officials, priests and the people would be handed over to the Babylonians who would put them to death. At that particular time, the army of the Babylonians had withdrawn from Jerusalem but Jehovah would bring them back and they would take the city and burn it down. It would become a waste where no one could live.
Jeremiah Chapter 35
During the reign of Joiakim, Jehovah told Jeremiah to invite the Rechabites to come into one of the side rooms of the temple and give them wine to drink. The Rechabites were a nomadic tribe who descended from Jonadab, son of Rechab, who had assisted Jehu in eradicating Baal worship from Israel. (2 Kings 10:15-27) They were living in Jerusalem at this time because of the Babylonian threat. When Jeremiah brought them into the room, he set bowls of wine and cups before them and told them to drink it. But they told him that their forefather Jonadab had commanded that they were never to drink wine, build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards but were to live in tents. This way they would be able to live a long time in the land. They had obeyed everything their forefather had commanded them to do.
Jehovah then spoke to Jeremiah and told him to set the Rechabites before Judah as an example of obedience. He was to ask them if they would not learn a lesson from these people and obey His words. The Rechabites were obedient to a human forefather but the Israelites, in spite of being warned again and again by the God of the heavens, had not obeyed Him. They had paid no attention to His words that His prophets had brought to them. Therefore He was going to bring on them all of the disasters He had spoken against them. Jeremiah then told the Rechabites that Jehovah had said that because they had been obedient to their forefather in all that he had commanded them, there would always a descendant of their forefather, Jonadab, serving before him.
Jeremiah Chapter 36
In the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, Jehovah told Jeremiah to write all of the words that He had spoken to him concerning Judah, Israel and the nations, starting from the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign up to now, in a book. When the people heard the words that Jehovah had spoken about them, maybe they would repent of their ways and He could forgive them. Jeremiah called on Baruch, the son of Neriah, to write down the words on a scroll as Jeremiah dictated them. At this time Jeremiah had been restricted from going to the temple, so Baruch would have to read the words written on the scroll instead. He was to do this on a day when the people will have congregated at the temple.
In the fifth year of Jehoiakim in the ninth month, Chislev, a fast had been proclaimed and all the people had assembled at the temple. At this time Judah was a vassal to Babylon and they were paying a heavy tribute to Nebuchadnezzar. Baruch read from the scroll on this day from the room of Gemariah, son of Shaphan that was located in the upper courtyard at the entrance of the New Gate of the temple. When Micaiah, Gemariah’s son, heard the words written on the scroll, he went to the officials of Jehoiakim and told them what he had heard Baruch read. These officials then sent for Baruch and asked him to read the words on the scroll to them. When he finished reading it to them, they became afraid and said that they must report this to the king. They asked Baruch if Jeremiah had dictated those words and Baruch replied that he had done so. The officials told Baruch that he and Jeremiah should hide themselves and not let anyone know where they were hiding. They knew what Jehoiakim’s reaction would be. (26:20-23) They put the scroll in the secretary’s room and went to find the king.
The king was in his winter apartment with a fire burning in a firepot. When the officials told him of Jeremiah’s writings, he sent Jehudi to get the scroll and to read it to him. As he finished reading the columns of the scroll, Jehoiakim would cut those off and put them in the firepot to burn them in spite of the urgings of his officials not to burn the scroll. When he had burned the entire scroll, he sent men to arrest Jeremiah and Baruch but they could not find them because Jehovah had hidden them.
Jehovah then told Jeremiah to take another scroll and write on it everything that he had written on the first one. He was to tell Jehoiakim that because he had burned the scroll on which Jehovah had said that the king of Babylon would destroy the land and take the people into captivity, he would have no descendant to sit on the throne. He would be killed and he would not have a burial but his body would be exposed to the elements day and night. Jehovah would punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness and every disaster that He had pronounced against them would come upon all the people because they had not listened. Jeremiah had Baruch write down all the words that had been written previously and he even added similar words that had not been on the first scroll.
Jeremiah Chapter 37
When Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem to quell a rebellion against him, he took Jehoiachin into captivity and put Zedekiah on the throne in his place. He too ignored Jehovah’s words that Jeremiah spoke. He did, however, send the priest, Zephaniah and Jehucal, son of Shelemiah to Jeremiah to ask him to pray to Jehovah in behalf of the people. At this time Jeremiah was not confined in prison and the Babylonian army had withdrawn from Jerusalem in order to pursue Pharaoh and his army that they heard was coming to help Judah. Jehovah told Jeremiah to tell Zedekiah that Pharaoh’s army would be sent back to Egypt by the Babylonian army and would be of no help to him. The Babylonian army would return, attack the city, capture it and burn it down. Jehovah told Zedekiah that he should not deceive himself thinking that the Babylonians would not return because they would. And even if the entire Babylonian armies were defeated, the wounded left in the tents would come and burn the city down.
After the Babylonian army had gone to pursue the Egyptian army, Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to Anathoth in Benjamin to either secure his share of some property or to divide family property for sale. When he reached the Benjamin Gate, he was stopped by the captain of the guard and arrested because he believed that he was deserting the city to go over to the Babylonians. He brought him to some officials who because of their anger against him, had him beaten and thrown into prison. He remained there for some time before Zedekiah sent for him to find out if he had any word from Jehovah for him.
Jeremiah told him only that he was going to be handed over to the king of Babylon. Jeremiah then asked Zedekiah why had he been put in prison. He had, after all, prophesied truthfully that the king of Babylon would come against Jerusalem while the other prophets had prophesied falsely to the people. Jeremiah then petitioned the king not to send him back to the prison where he was or he would die there. So Zedekiah had him confined to the courtyard of the guard and he was to be given bread each day until there was none left in the city.
Jeremiah Chapter 38
While Jeremiah was confined in the courtyard of the guard, he took the opportunity to tell the people what Jehovah had said they should do in order to preserve their lives. Four of Zedekiah’s officials heard what Jeremiah had been telling the people and they went to Zedekiah to say that Jeremiah should be put to death because he was telling the people to desert to the Babylonians so that they would not be killed. They felt that these words were discouraging to the soldiers who were defending the city. The king, being a coward, told them he would not oppose what they wanted to do. So they took Jeremiah and put him in a cistern that had no water in it, only mud in which the prophet immediately sank down into.
Ebed-Melech, a Cushite who was a palace official, heard what they had done to Jeremiah and he went to Zedekiah to complain about this treatment of the prophet. Zedekiah then gave him permission to take thirty men and remove Jeremiah from the cistern before he died. Ebed-Melech then took some rags and some rope and went to the cistern. He told Jeremiah to put the rags around the rope to pad it and put it under his arms so that they could pull him out. After they lifted him out of the cistern, he remained in the courtyard of the guard.
King Zedekiah again sent for Jeremiah to ask him a question and he wanted him to tell him everything and not to hide anything from him. Jeremiah told him that if he did not like his answer, he would put him to death. Zedekiah assured Jeremiah that he would not kill him nor turn him over to his enemies. Jeremiah told him that Jehovah said that if he would surrender to the king of Babylon, he and his family would be spared. But if he refused to obey, then the king of Babylon would burn the city down and Zedekiah would not escape his hand. Zedekiah said that he was afraid to do this because he was afraid of the Jews who had already gone over to Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah said that if he would just obey Jehovah, then it would go well with him. If not, then all the women in the palace would become the property of the conquering army and they would say to the king that he had been fooled by his friends into opposing the Babylonians and they had now deserted him, leaving him in a indefensible position.
Zedekiah warned Jeremiah not to tell anyone what he had talked to him about or he might be put to death. If the officials of Zedekiah came to him and asked him what he talked to the king about, he was to say that he was pleading with the king not to send him back to the dungeon located in Jonathan’s house. When the officials came to him, Jeremiah told them exactly what the king told him to say. Therefore Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until Jerusalem was captured.
Jeremiah Chapter 39
Nebuchadnezzar began to besiege Jerusalem in the ninth year of Zedekiah in the tenth month and in his eleventh year, in the fourth month, the walls of Jerusalem were breached. Then all the officials of Nebuchadnezzar came and took seats in the gate that divided the upper and lower division of the city. When Zedekiah saw this, he and other members of his family and some of his soldiers fled the city by way of the king’s garden but were captured by the Babylonian soldiers and taken to Riblah where King Nebuchadnezzar was headquartered. He killed Zedekiah’s sons and his officials and then Zedekiah was blinded, shackled and was taken to Babylon.
The Babylonians then set fire to the entire city and pulled the walls down all around the city. Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guard took the people who were left in the city and those who had deserted to the Babylonians into exile in Babylon and he left the poorest people in the land to cultivate vineyards and fields that he had given them. Nebuchadnezzar gave orders regarding Jeremiah that he was not to be harmed. Nebuzaradan then had him released from the courtyard of the guard and allowed him to remain with the newly appointed governor, Gedaliah. Before his release, Jehovah had sent word to Jeremiah to tell Ebed-Melech that when He fulfilled his words against Jerusalem, he would be rescued and would not be handed over to the Babylonians; he would escape with his life because he trusted in Jehovah.
Jeremiah Chapter 40
After his release from prison, Jeremiah must have mistakenly been rearrested because Nebuzaradan found him in chains being carried to Babylon. He released him and told him that he was familiar with Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning what would happen to Jerusalem because of their disobedience to Jehovah. Jeremiah was free to go wherever he wanted; he could go to Babylon or he could stay in the land. But he strongly suggested that he should go to Gedaliah and live with him, which Jeremiah decided to do. The commander gave him some provisions and a present and Jeremiah left to go to Mizpah.
The army officers and the men with them who had been not been killed by the Babylonians heard that they had left people in the land and had appointed a governor over them, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Gedaliah told them not to be afraid to serve the Babylonians and to settle in the land, harvest the summer crop and to store some of them for the coming winter. He would live at Mizpah to act as their representative before the Babylonians. When the Jews who had fled to Moab, Ammon, and Edom hear that a remnant had been left in Judah, they also came back to live there.
Johanan and the army officers learned that Ishmael and the men with him had been sent by the king of Moab to kill Gedaliah. They went to Gedaliah and told him of the plot but Gedaliah refused to believe them. Even when Johanan suggested that he be allowed to put Ishmael to death because if Gedaliah were killed it would disrupt the lives of those that had been left in the land and they would scatter. Gedaliah still refused to believe that Ishmael would kill him.
Jeremiah Chapter 41
In the seventh month, Ishmael, along with ten men, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and while they were having a meal, he and his men killed Gedaliah, the Jews, and even the Babylonian soldiers who were there. Eighty men who had come from the territory of the Northern Kingdom were on their way to Jerusalem to mourn at the site of the ruined temple carrying grain offerings and incense. Ishmael intercepted them encouraging them to pay their respects to Gedaliah. When they came into the city he proceeded to put them to death. Ten of these men saved their lives by saying that they had more food stashed away in a cistern. They threw all the bodies of the men that they had killed into the cistern that King Asa had made when he was at war with Baasha, king of Israel.
Ishmael them took the rest of the people captive and set out to go to Ammon. When the army officers heard what Ishmael had done, they pursued them and caught up with them at Gibeon. When the people saw them coming they rejoiced because they had been forced to follow Ishmael. Ishmael and eight of his men escaped and fled to Ammon. The people then decided that, after what Ishmael had done, the Babylonians would probably come back for retribution for the killing the appointed governor. So they decided that Egypt might be the safest place for them to go.
NOTE: The translations used in this commentary are the New American Standard Bible (NAS), the New International Version (NIV) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
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