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Home , Jeremiah 21

8. JUDGMENT & HINTS OF HOPE

JEREMIAH 21:1 – 25:14

161 Nebuchadrezzar is YHWH’s instrument

1This is the word that came to Jer- The authors of the scroll have inserted emiah from YHWH, when King this passage here as an introduction to sent to him son of the material in chapters 21-24. There are Malchiah and the priest parallels with the events described later in son of Maaseiah, saying, 2“Please the scroll (see 34:1-6; 37:3-10; inquire of YHWH on our behalf, for 52:4-11). The background is the rebellion King Nebuchadrezzar of instigated by Zedekiah in 588, which led to is making war against us; perhaps the siege by Nebuchadrezzar, the capture YHWH will perform a wonderful of Zedekiah, the destruction of deed for us, as he has often done, and the taking of more of the inhabitants and will make him withdraw from of the city into exile in Babylon. us.” Pashhur (verse 1) is not the priest Pashhur ben Immer mentioned in 20:1.

3Then Jeremiah said to them: 4Thus Everything else having failed, the king is you shall say to Zedekiah: Thus says asking Jeremiah to carry out one of the YHWH, the God of : I am going central functions of a : to intercede to turn back the weapons of war that with YHWH. Zedekiah is hoping God will are in your hands and with which do what he did in against the Phar- you are fighting against the king of aoh, and protect Jerusalem as he did in Babylon and against the Chaldeans 701 (verse 2; see Isaiah 37:33-37; 2Kings who are besieging you outside the 19:35-36). walls; and I will bring them to- Jeremiah tells the king’s ambassadors that 5 gether into the centre of this city. I YHWH has taken sides with the besieging myself will fight against you with army and is fighting with them against outstretched hand and mighty arm, Zedekiah and his subjects, ‘with out- in anger, in fury, and in great wrath. stretched hand and mighty arm’(verse 5; 6And I will strike down the inhabit- see Deuteronomy 26:8; Psalm 136:12). ants of this city, both human beings The final statement in verse 6 is a reminder and animals; they shall die of a great of the pestilence that broke out in the camp pestilence. of the Assyrians in 701 (see 2Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36). There is no hope of this 7Afterward, says YHWH, I will give happening again. On the contrary, it is the King Zedekiah of , and his inhabitants of Jerusalem who will experi- servants, and the people in this city ence the pestilence, for YHWH is angry – those who survive the pestilence, with them. sword, and famine – into the hands of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, Verse 7 is a further expansion, reflecting the into the hands of their enemies, into experience of what happened at the end of the hands of those who seek their the siege. Jerusalem was captured and its lives. He shall strike them down inhabitants slain or taken into exile. YH- with the edge of the sword; he shall WH’s ‘wonderful deed’(verse 2) is directed not pity them, or spare them, or have against Judah, not in favour of it. compassion.

162 Jeremiah 21:8-14

The writers responsible for verses 8-10 8And to this people you shall say: Thus seem to be drawing in verse 8 on the says YHWH: See, I am setting before theme of choice found in the writings of you the way of life and the way of the Deuteronomic School (see Deuter- death. 9Those who stay in this city shall onomy 30:15). To the people Jeremiah die by the sword, by famine, and by is to offer the possibility of hope. pestilence; but those who go out and Jeremiah is presented as conveying surrender to the Chaldeans who are to the people YHWH’s determination besieging you shall live and shall have 10 that Jerusalem will be burnt. Verse 10 their lives as a prize of war. For I have echoes Amos 9:4 which is in reference set my face against this city for evil to Samaria. and not for good, says YHWH: it shall be given into the hands of the king of Verse 9 reflects the fact that not all the Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire. inhabitants were killed. Some lived on: those considered valuable were taken into exile; the others left behind. Verses 11-12 are a separate unit: an oracle 11To the house of the king of Judah in which Jeremiah reminds the king of say: Hear the word of YHWH, his responsibility to see that justice is 12O house of ! Thus says YHWH: done, and done expeditiously, to protect Execute justice in the morning, the oppressed (this is developed in the and deliver from the hand of the prose expansion, 22:1-5). If there is oppressor anyone who has been to be an escape, it will be through the wronged, exercise of justice. or else my wrath will go forth like fire, and burn, with no one to quench it, because of your evil doings.

Verses 13-14 constitute yet another 13See, I am against you, O inhabitant separate oracle, addressed against the of the valley, argument that Jerusalem is impregnable O rock of the plain, says YHWH; because of its position (on a ‘rock’ sur- you who say, “Who can come down rounded by valleys). Jerusalem cannot against us, escape God’s judgment. It will be burnt or who can enter our places of like a forest and its environs will be refuge?” caught up in the conflagration. 14I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, says YHWH; I will kindle a fire in its forest, and it shall devour all around.

163 To the king of Judah

1Thus says YHWH: Go down to the The authors of this sermon are reflecting on house of the king of Judah, and the essential duty of the king. In light of the speak there this word, 2and say: fact that the palace did become ‘a desola- Hear the word of YHWH, O King tion’, they are aligning themselves with of Judah sitting on the throne of the prophet Jeremiah (see 21:12) in blam- David—you, and your servants, and ing the failure of the king and his advisers your people who enter these gates. to be faithful to the essential demands of 3Thus says YHWH: Act with justice Yahwism. The king is to act ‘with justice and righteousness, and deliver from and righteousness’(verse 3; see Psalm 72; the hand of the oppressor anyone Isaiah 9:7; 1Kings 10:9; Proverbs 8:20. He who has been wronged. And do is to care for ‘the alien, the widow and the no wrong or violence to the alien, orphan’(verse 3). the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place. 4For if you will indeed obey this word, The king is subject to the Torah, like then through the gates of this house everyone else. shall enter kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their serv- ants, and their people. 5But if you will not heed these words, I swear by myself, says YHWH, that this house shall become a desolation.

6 For thus says YHWH concerning the Jeremiah is conveying YHWH’s words to the house of the king of Judah: king, telling him that the Davidic dynasty You are like Gilead to me, will be cut down (like the forests of Gilead like the summit of Lebanon; and Lebanon). but I swear that I will make you a desert, an uninhabited city. 7I will prepare destroyers against you, all with their weapons; they shall cut down your choicest cedars and cast them into the fire.

164 :8-12

This is yet another attempt to deal with 8And many nations will pass by this the amazement caused by the destruction city, and all of them will say one to of YHWH’s city. It fits with Jeremiah’s another, “Why has YHWH dealt in teaching that the destruction resulted from this way with that great city?” 9And apostasy: the abandonment of the covenant they will answer, “Because they and worshipping other gods. Verses 8-9 abandoned the covenant of YHWH draw on Deuteronomy 29:23-25 and 1Kings their God, and worshipped other 9:8-9. This abandoning of the covenant is gods and served them.” manifest in the failure of justice noted in verse 3. 10 Jeremiah’s words in verse 10 could be Do not weep for him who is dead, speaking of the death of (609) and the nor bemoan him; imminent exile to Egypt of his son and suc- weep rather for the one who is cessor, Jehoahaz (2Kings 23:30-34). They about to be banished, can apply also to the death of for he shall return no more (598) and the imminent exile to Babylon of to see his native land. his son and successor, Jehoiachin. 11For thus says YHWH concern- The prose commentary (verses 11-12) ing Shallum son of King Josiah of speaks of Shallum, son of Josiah. One pos- Judah, who succeeded his father sibility is that Shallum received the throne Josiah, and who went away from name Jehoahaz (though see 1Chronicles this place: He shall return here no 3:15). Jehoahaz was chosen as king in more, 12but in the place where they Jerusalem in the hope that he would carry have carried him captive he shall on the policies of his father, Josiah. Necho, die, and he shall never see this land the Egyptian , replaced him with his again. brother Eliakim who took the throne name Jehoiakim (see 2Kings 23:34). Jehoahaz was exiled to Egypt.

165 Jehoiakim’s end 13Woe to him who builds his house Jeremiah is speaking out against King by unrighteousness, Jehoiakim, who, in spite of the tribute and his upper rooms by injustice; imposed by Egypt (2Kings 23:35) is who makes his neighbours work determined to make his palace luxuri- for nothing, ous, while ignoring his duty of seeing and does not give them their wages; to justice for the poor. He is treating the 14who says, “I will build myself a people like slaves, demanding that they spacious house labour for nothing. The irony was that he with large upper rooms, died in his bed just before the siege (see windows will be set in it, 2Kings 24:5-7). It was his son and the it will be panelled with cedar, people who suffered the consequences and painted with vermilion.” of his injustice and foolish political 15Are you a king decisions. because you compete in cedar? Jeremiah contrasts Jehoiakim’s behav- Did not your father eat and drink iour with that of his father Josiah. His and do justice and righteousness? criticism goes to the heart of what it Then he prospered. YHWH 16 means to ‘know’ . It consists in He judged the cause of the poor hearing the cry of the poor and taking and needy; up their cause. and he prospered. Is not this to know me? says YHWH. 17 But your eyes and heart Verse 17 reflects 2Kings 24:4, which are only on your dishonest gain, condemns Jehoiakim for shedding in- for shedding innocent blood, nocent blood. and for practicing oppression and violence.

18Therefore thus says YHWH concern- ing King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah: They shall not lament for him, There will be no mourning for Jehoiakim “Alas, my brother!” “Alas, brother!” when he dies. Moreover his corpse will They shall not lament for him, be treated like the corpse of an ass: “Alas, lord!” “Alas, his majesty!” 19 dumped outside the city as food for the With the burial of a donkey he shall vultures and wild animals (compare be buried— :30). In fact Jehoiakim dragged off and thrown out beyond enjoyed a royal burial (2Kings 24:6). the gates of Jerusalem. The poetry of verse 19 is declaring the truth that he died in shame. The pomp was a sham.

166 Jeremiah 22:20-30 The prophet is addressing Jerusalem 20Go up to Lebanon, and cry out, and its ‘shepherds’(leaders). If they and lift up your voice in Bashan; go to the highest mountain ranges cry out from Abarim, (Lebanon to the north, Bashan to for all your lovers are crushed. the north-east bordering Syria, and 21I spoke to you in your prosperity, Abiram to the south-east in ) but you said, “I will not listen.” in the hope that their lament will be This has been your way heard by the gods (‘lovers’) that they from your youth, have been appealing to, they will for you have not obeyed my voice. achieve nothing. These neighbour- 22The wind shall carry away ing nations will suffer the same fate all your shepherds, as Judah: they too will be taken into and your lovers shall go into captivity; exile. Once again we have in the ora- then you will be ashamed and cles of Jeremiah a foundation for the dismayed later ‘oracles against the nations’(see because of all your wickedness. -51). 23O inhabitant of Lebanon, nested among the cedars, how you will groan when pangs Verse 24 declares that even if Coniah come upon you, (that is , who took on the pain as of a woman in labour! throne name Jehoiachin) were to 24 be YHWH’s signet ring, and so pos- As I live, says YHWH, though King sess YHWH’s authority, he and his Coniah son of Jehoiakim of Judah were the signet ring on my right hand, even mother would still be torn off and 25 sent into exile. In other words, the from there I would tear you off and give closeness to YHWH of the new king, you into the hands of those who seek your who succeeded his father Jehoiakim life, into the hands of those of whom you just before the siege, is not the issue. are afraid, even into the hands of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon and into the Jerusalem’s fate is sealed. There is 26 no point in the exiles holding out hands of the Chaldeans. I will hurl you any hope of returning. and the mother who bore you into another country, where you were not born, and Verses 28-30 express amazement there you shall die. 27But they shall not at the terrible destiny of the young return to the land to which they long to king. He had no time to do wrong as return. king, yet he was cast out into exile, 28Is this man Coniah a despised broken and with him the Davidic dynasty pot, a vessel no one wants? Why are he came to an end. He had sons in exile and his offspring hurled out and cast (1Chronicles 3:17-18), but they did away in a land that they do not know? 29O not ‘rule again in Judah’. land, land, land, hear the word of YHWH! This strong anti-Jeconiah state- 30Thus says YHWH: Record this man as ment may express the stand of the childless, a man who shall not succeed in anti-Zerubbabel party in post-exilic his days; for none of his offspring shall Yehud. Zerubbabel was Jeconiah’s succeed in sitting on the throne of David, grandson (1Chronicles 3:17-18). and ruling again in Judah. 167 Messianic hope

1Woe to the shepherds who lead Verses 1-2 echo Jeremiah’s oracles (22:22; astray and scatter the sheep of my 10:21) to blame bad leadership for the exile. pasture! says YHWH. 2Therefore They offer a theological reflection on the catas- thus says YHWH, the God of Is- trophe of the exile. This comment is included rael, to the shepherds who shep- here in order to round off the sayings addressed herd my people: It is you who to the king and his advisers. have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will at- tend to you for your evil doings, says YHWH. Verses 3-4 are a later reflection on verses 1-2. 3 Then I myself will gather the If they were composed after the return from remnant of my flock out of all exile in Babylon, they express disappointment the lands where I have driven at the imperfect situation in Jerusalem, and them, and I will bring them back give expression to the Messianic hope that to their fold, and they shall be one day all would be restored under faithful 4 fruitful and multiply. I will raise leadership. up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dis- Jeremiah’s focus is on the lead up to the cata- mayed, nor shall any be missing, strophic events of 597 and 587. says YHWH. Verses 5-6 are better seen as a later expression of hope based, not on historical events or the 5The days are surely coming, says behaviour of known kings, but rather on faith YHWH, when I will raise up for in YHWH and his fidelity. The authors are David a righteous Branch, and looking outside history for an intervention of he shall reign as king and deal YHWH. Verses 5-6 are Messianic; that is to wisely, and shall execute justice say at a time when there is no king, they look and righteousness in the land. 6In forward to a time when a righteous king will his days Judah will be saved and be given them by YHWH. Jewish disciples of Israel will live in safety. And this Jesus saw him as fulfilling this hope. is the name by which he will be Mattaniah (Josiah’s son and Jeconiah’s uncle, called: “YHWH is our righteous- see 2Kings 24:17) took on the throne name ness.” Zedekiah (…wh`D¥yIq√dIx). The Messiah will be what Zedekiah failed to be: one who shows that ‘YHWH is our righteousness’(…wnáéq√dIx h¶Dwh◊y) – reversing the elements in the name ‘Zedekiah’. The Davidic king is called to mediate the righteousness of YHWH (see Jeremiah 21:12; 22:13-19; 2Samuel 12:1-7; 15:1-6).

168 :7-12 In the Greek Version verses 7Therefore, the days are surely coming, 7-8 are found after verse 40. This an says YHWH, when it shall no longer indication that these verses form a sepa- be said, “As YHWH lives who brought rate unit. The Hebrew Masoretic text the people of Israel up out of the land places them here, for they represent a of Egypt,” 8but “As YHWH lives who further development of the theological brought out and led the offspring of reflection found in verse 3. They hold the house of Israel out of the land of the hope that one day YHWH will bring the north and out of all the lands where about an Exodus of all Israel, not just he had driven them.” Then they shall from Egypt as in the first Exodus, but live in their own land. from every land to which they have been dispersed.

The editorial heading ‘Concerning the 9 ’ is introduced here because, as Concerning the prophets: verse 11 indicates, the following oracles My heart is crushed within me, focus on prophets (rather than kings). all my bones shake; I have become like a drunkard, In verse 9 Jeremiah speaks of the pro- like one overcome by wine, found confusion that he experiences because of YHWH and because of because of the words that he receives his holy words. from YHWH. Verses 10-12 are an ex- 10“The land is full of adulterers; ample. The word ‘adultery’ could refer because of the curse the land to the breakdown of family morality mourns, that is rampant in the community, or it and the pastures of the wilderness could refer to religious infidelity and are dried up. apostasy. They lead evil lives, In verse 11 we find that those who should and their power is corrupt. 11 have countered this breakdown are Both prophet and priest themselves compliant with it. The resist- commit sacrilege; ance to divine enlightenment means that even in my house I have found the community, which is on a slippery their wickedness, says YHWH. 12 path, has no light to go by, and so will Therefore their way shall be to them inevitably stumble and fall. like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall; for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment”, says YHWH.

169 Sinful prophets

13In the prophets of Samaria Jeremiah is reminding his contemporar- I saw a disgusting thing: ies of what happened in Samaria (721), they prophesied by and he focuses blame on the prophets and led my people Israel astray. who claimed to speak for God but who 14In the prophets of Jerusalem lent their support to the religious corrup- I have seen a shocking thing: tion, and so led the people astray. they commit adultery and walk Things are no better in Jerusalem where in lies; those who claim to speak in God’s name they strengthen the hands are not only failing to speak out against of evildoers, the moral corruption around them, but are so that no one turns from themselves part of it. ‘Adultery’(verse wickedness; 14) often refers to infidelity to YHWH, all of them have become but it can also refer to disregard of the like Sodom to me, sanctity of marital fidelity (see 29:23). and its inhabitants like Gomorrah. 15Therefore thus says YHWH of hosts The false prophets are responsible for concerning the prophets: the widespread decline in religious and “I am going to make them eat moral standards (compare 14:13-15). wormwood, They are to be tried and proven guilty and give them poison to drink; when the potion they drink brings about for from the prophets of Jerusalem their death. ungodliness has spread throughout McKane writes (page 584): the land.” Prophets who proclaim easy peace [shalom] in the presence of arrogant 16 Thus says YHWH of hosts: unbelief, self-assertive stubborn- Do not listen to the words of the ness, and a way of life that has prophets who prophesy to you; settled down to wickedness, are not they are deluding you. spokesmen for Yahweh. Response They speak visions of their own, to the word of Yahweh is a strenu- not from the mouth of YHWH. ous exercise and is profoundly 17They keep saying to those who disturbing; it shakes the founda- tion of settled ideas and modes of despise the word of YHWH, behaviour. It calls for the greatest “It shall be well with you”; spiritual effort to amend what is and to all who stubbornly follow wrong in ideas and attitudes and to their own stubborn hearts, make a new beginning. they say, “No calamity shall come upon you.” False prophets offer an unconditional guarantee of security. God’s peace is unconditionally offered, but it is not unconditionally received. It demands a

18 genuine welcome and a commitment to For who has stood in the council let grace reform us. of YHWH so as to see and to hear his word? Who has given heed to his word Verse 18 offers a profound analysis of the so as to proclaim it? prophetic charism (compare Job 15:8).

170 Jeremiah 23:19-24

In stark contrast to the wishful thinking 19Look, the storm of YHWH! of the false prophets, Jeremiah paints a Wrath has gone forth, picture of what is actually happening as a whirling tempest; the whirlwind approaches. The people it will burst upon the head of might choose to trust the words of the the wicked. false prophets, but when they experience 20The anger of YHWH will not subside what actually takes place they will see until he has executed and how wrong they were. The people are accomplished his aims. unrelenting in evil. YHWH is unrelenting When that time comes you will in judgment. understand it clearly.

21 Verses 21-22 cut to the heart of the I did not send the prophets, phenomenon of false prophesy. False yet they ran; prophets head off in a direction with- I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. out waiting on God’s direction. They 22 are not ‘sent’(contrast :7). But if they had stood in my council, They speak without first listening to then they would have proclaimed God. If they were YHWH’s instruments my words to my people, they would have ‘stood in YHWH’s turning them from their council’(verse 22; see verse 18), and wicked ways and evil deeds. they would know the mnd of God and be declaring his will to the people, not 23Am I a God near by, says YHWH, supporting the people in their wayward and not a God far off? thinking and wayward lives. 24Who can hide in secret places so that Verses 23-24 is a separate oracle. The key I cannot see them? says YHWH. point being made is that God’s scrutiny Do I not fill heaven and earth? is not limited within the bounds of what says YHWH. is now happening. God is near (compare Deuteronomy 30:11-14), but he ‘fills heaven and earth’ and sees everything. His knowledge is complete and infal- lible. Nothing is hidden from him.

171 Genuine and False Prophecy 25I have heard what the proph- The extraordinary events of the capture and de- ets have said who proph- struction of Jerusalem and the temple of YHWH at esy lies in my name, saying, the hands of the Babylonian forces opened up the “I have dreamed, I have whole question of authentic and false prophecy. It dreamed!” 26How long? Will was Jeremiah who warned of the coming catastro- the hearts of the prophets ever phe, against those who assured the leaders and the turn back—those who proph- people that what Jeremiah was telling them could esy lies, and who prophesy not be right. Jeremiah was rejected, but proved the deceit of their own heart? right; those who opposed him proved wrong. 27They plan to make my peo- Verses 25-32 deal with the difficulty of discerning ple forget my name by their genuine prophecy from the statements of those who dreams that they tell one claim to speak in YHWH’s name but who are only another, just as their ancestors mouthing their own deluded convictions. As one forgot my name for Baal. 28Let would expect discernment is easier with hindsight. the prophet who has a dream This passage is a warning against those who would tell the dream, but let the one pronounce in God’s name without attempting to who has my word speak my truly listen for YHWH’s inspiring word. word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? Verse 29 is the only verse that attempts to establish says YHWH. criteria for making this discernment. It has been understood in various ways. One way is to look at 29Is not my word like fire, says the effect that inspiration has on the prophet. The YHWH, and like a hammer that word of YHWH overwhelms the prophet, burning breaks a rock in pieces? away all that is of his own imagining, and shatter- ing the prophet’s own preferred way of thinking. 30See, therefore, I am against Another way is to think of the effects which the the prophets, says YHWH, prophetic word has on those who hear it. who steal my words from one Either way there is a power in the word of YHWH 31 another. See, I am against the that is not found in the flights of fancy of those prophets, says YHWH, who who claim to speak in YHWH’s name but whose use their own tongues and words comfort without making demands. say, “Says YHWH.” 32See, I am against those who prophesy In the history of Rabbinic interpretation we find lying dreams, says YHWH, and constant reference to verse 29. They thought of a who tell them, and who lead hammer striking flint, and the myriad of sparks that my people astray by their lies shot forth. Because the word of God was thought of and their recklessness, when I as being rich in mysterious meanings, they hoped did not send them or appoint to discern a ‘thousand’ meanings in the word, a them; so they do not profit this ‘thousand’ shafts of light coming from the genuine people at all, says YHWH. words of prophecy, enlightening those who read and study it in countless ways. Since their origin is in God, one should expect these words to hold infinite meanings and power.

172 Jeremiah 23:33-40

The authors of this final reflection on chap- 33When this people, or a prophet, or ter 23 are asserting, once again, that it was a priest asks you, “What is the bur- Jeremiah, and not the reassuring ‘peace densome word of YHWH?” you shall prophets’ who proved correct. By playing say to them, “You are the burden, on two meanings carried by the Hebrew and I will cast you off, says YHWH.” maśā’ ,’oracle’ and ‘burden’, they recapture 34And as for the prophet, priest, or the scoffing rejection of Jeremiah, whom the people who speak of “YHWH’s his opponents accused of having nothing burden”, I will punish them and to say from YHWH except words of doom, their households. thus claiming YHWH’s authority for his own pessimism, and forgetting YHWH’s 35Thus shall you say to one another, predilection for his own people, and city among yourselves, “What has YHWH and temple. answered?” or “What has YHWH 36 As it turned out Jeremiah was right and those spoken?” But “the burden of who rejected him were wrong. It was his YHWH” you shall mention no more, opponents whom YHWH found a ‘burden’ for the burden is what he entrusts and they would be ‘cast off’ (into exile). to the one who bears his word. You pervert the words of the living God, YHWH’s words were a ‘burden’ to Jeremiah, YHWH of hosts, our God. but he bore them well and uttered them faithfully. Rather than reject the messenger, 37Thus you shall ask the prophet, they should have listened to him and shared “What has YHWH answered you?” his burden by taking the trouble to change or “What has YHWH spoken?” 38But their behaviour. Rather than scoffing at the if you say, “the burden of YHWH,” prophet, they should have listened to him, thus says YHWH: Because you have eager to hear what proved to be a genuine said these words, “the burden of word from YHWH. YHWH,” when I sent to you, say- ing, You shall not say, “the burden of YHWH,” 39therefore, I will surely lift you up and cast you away from my presence, you and the city that I gave to you and your ancestors. 40And I will bring upon you ev- erlasting disgrace and perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.

173 Good and Bad Figs

1YHWH showed me two baskets of figs It is understandable that those who placed before the temple of YHWH. stayed back in Judah would think of This was after King Nebuchadrezzar of themselves as the specially favoured Babylon had taken into exile from Jeru- of God, in contrast to those whom God salem King Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim punished by having them sent into ex- of Judah, together with the officials of ile. They would also see Zedekiah as Judah, the artisans, and the smiths, and carrying on the Davidic dynasty. 2 had brought them to Babylon. One This passage turns the table on such an basket had very good figs, like first-ripe idea. Its authors intend to see Jeconiah figs, but the other basket had very bad as the true king in exile, and the exiles figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. 3 who went into Babylon (and returned, And YHWH said to me, “What do you see verse 6) as the ones who carried on see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs, the good the authentic faith of Israel (and planted figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, it back in Judah on their return). These so bad that they cannot be eaten.” are the ‘good figs’. Compare Ezekiel 4 Then the word of YHWH came to me: 11:14-21. 5Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard By contrast they see Zedekiah and as good the exiles from Judah, whom those who stayed behind and supported I have sent away from this place to the him in rebelling against Babylon (and land of the Chaldeans. 6I will set my who were, therefore, responsible for the eyes upon them for good, and I will destruction of the city and its temple), bring them back to this land. I will build as the ones rejected by YHWH (the them up, and not tear them down; I will ‘bad figs’). plant them, and not pluck them up. 7I will give them a heart to know that I Verse 7 is a fine statement of the cov- am YHWH; and they shall be my people enant. Just as the assumption was that and I will be their God, for they shall the exile occurred because the people return to me with their whole heart. refused to repent, the return from exile 8 must mean that YHWH is creating a But thus says YHWH: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so new beginning by giving them a ‘new will I treat King Zedekiah of Judah, his heart’ to make it possible for the exiles officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who to repent ‘with their whole heart’. remain in this land, and those who live Compare Ezekiel 36:24-28. in the land of Egypt. 9I will make them a Verses 8-10 proclaim God’s rejection horror, an evil thing, to all the kingdoms of Zedekiah and the ‘bad figs’ who of the earth—a disgrace, a byword, a supported him. The language is from taunt, and a curse in all the places where the curse tradition (see Deuteronomy I shall drive them. 10And I will send 28:37). sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they are utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their ancestors.

174 :1-7

The Greek Septuagint Version here, as in 1The word that came to Jeremiah many places of the Jeremiah scroll, points concerning all the people of Judah, to an earlier (and briefer) Hebrew text, that in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim has been expanded to produce the Masoretic son of Josiah of Judah (that was the Hebrew text. first year of King Nebuchadrezzar 2 The authors of verses 1-7 are portraying of Babylon), which the prophet Jeremiah as looking back over his career Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of as a prophet, and they locate this reminis- 3 cence in 605 (see also 36:1), the year of the Jerusalem: For twenty-three years, Babylonian victory over Egypt and from the thirteenth year of King at . According to their calcula- Josiah son of , to this tion, Jeremiah’s prophetic career began in day, the word of YHWH has come to 627 (see also 1:2). me, and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened. Jeremiah is accusing the people of stub- 4And though YHWH persistently bornly refusing to listen to the word that sent you all his servants the proph- YHWH was speaking through him, as they ets, you have neither listened nor persistently rejected the words of the other inclined your ears to hear 5when prophets that YHWH kept sending them they said, “Turn now, everyone of (see verse 4). you, from your evil way and wicked Verse 5 seems to be formed out of 23:22 doings, and you will remain upon – yet another example of the authors of the the land that YHWH has given to prose commentary using Jeremiah’s words you and your ancestors from of old 6 in their composition. and forever; do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, and In 605 there was still the possibility of their do not provoke me to anger with ‘remaining upon the land’(verse 5). It all the work of your hands. Then I will depended on their repenting and ceasing do you no harm.” 7Yet you did not from worshipping other gods. listen to me, says YHWH, and so you have provoked me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm.

175 Judah, a ruin and a waste 8Therefore thus says YHWH of hosts: In verse 9 the Greek Version refers to ‘the Because you have not obeyed my tribes of the north’, but does not identify words, 9I am going to send for all the them with Nebuchadrezzar, which ap- tribes of the north, says YHWH, even pears as a later clarification to an earlier for King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, Hebrew text. It is significant that the later my servant, and I will bring them editors speak of Nebuchadrezzar as YH- against this land and its inhabitants, WH’s ‘servant’(compare Isaiah 45:1), and against all these nations around; thereby insisting on the fact that Neb- I will utterly destroy them, and make uchadrezzar’s victory was not because them an object of horror and of hiss- Babylon’s god is stronger that YHWH. ing, and an everlasting disgrace. 10And Rather, he is acting in accordance with I will banish from them the sound of YHWH’s will. Verse 9 also refers to the mirth and the sound of gladness, the destruction of Judah’s neighbours, thus voice of the bridegroom and the voice forging a link with the oracles against of the bride, the sound of the mill- the nations that are to follow. stones and the light of the lamp. 11This Some take the ‘seventy years’ as meas- whole land shall become a ruin and a uring from the destruction of Jerusalem waste, and these nations shall serve the (587) to the completion of the second king of Babylon seventy years. temple (516). However, seventy is a symbolic number and could stand here for the fullness of time as determined by God (compare Isaiah 23:15,17; Zechariah 1:12; 7:5; 2Chronicles 36:21; Daniel 9:2). It is significant that it does point to a silver lining on a very dark cloud (verse 9). 12Then after seventy years are com- In verses 12-14 our attention shifts to pleted, I will punish the king of the punishment YHWH will enact upon Babylon and that nation, the land of Babylon. YHWH willed the destruction the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, says of Jerusalem as a punishment to shock YHWH, making the land an everlasting the people into repentance. That does waste. 13I will bring upon that land all not mean that YHWH approved of the the words that I have uttered against terrible behaviour of Babylon, which it, everything written in this book, they would have to pay for in God’s which Jeremiah prophesied against good time. 14 all the nations. For many nations and Reference to ‘this ’(verse great kings shall make slaves of them 13) indicates that we are reading a text also; and I will repay them according from later commentators. The authors of to their deeds and the work of their the Jeremiah scroll are attempting to ex- hands. plain how Babylon was doing YHWH’s will in destroying Jerusalem and the temple, but that they, like Judah, would be punished for their injustices.

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