Chapter 26

(Verses 1 through 7) In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, Thus  saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent Me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to Me, to walk in My law, which L have set before you, to hearken to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.

This particular incident took place in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, who became king of Judah instead of his father Josiah. The LORD commanded Jeremiah to go, and stand in the court of the temple, and speak to all the people all the words that He would command him. The message the LORD gave him was indeed a warning, that if they refused to heed what He had told them, He would utterly destroy the city of Jerusalem , as he had the city of Shiloh , and make it a curse to all the nations of the earth. This was no new message, but the same that He had given them many times by His servants the prophets; but they had refused to heed it. Accordingly Jeremiah did as the LORD had told him. And the priests, prophets, and all the people heard him declare this message.

(Verses 8 through 11) Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh , and this city shall be desolate without inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gats of the LORD’S house. Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

Such was the reaction of all the people. The priests and the prophets Immediately declared the sentence of death against Jeremiah. Then the princes, or civil rulers, of Judah, who were not present at Jeremiah’s proclamation, came up to the temple, and sat down to listen to the account of the matter as given by those who had been present. The prophets, the priests, and all the people seemed to be in agreement that Jeremiah should be put to death, because he had prophesied against the city of Jerusalem . They were not concerned about the truth of the prophecy, but only about its being against the city. They seemed to be of the same mind that many are today. They thought that since the building that they considered the temple of the LORD was there, no harm could befall Jerusalem , no matter how far the people had departed from the true worship of God. Many today think that, in spite of the fact that we have so obviously turned away from the commandments of our Lord, and are permitting doctrines and practices contrary to His teaching and examples to come in, “The Grand Old Church” will stand forever. While it is true that our Lord said that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church, we, in our lifetime, have seen several places where once there were large, and very active churches; but they have already disbanded, or else they are reduced to such a small membership that they can hardly function at all. These people were ready to put Jeremiah to death, because He told them what the LORD was about to bring upon them.

(Verses 12 through 15) Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent Him of the evil He hath pronounced against you. As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me to speak all these words in your ears.

Thus Jeremiah gives his defense. He declares that the LORD has sent him to speak all these words unto the people. And the message is the LORD’S, and not of himself. They are at liberty to do whatever they may see fit to him. But, if they do put him to death, they are bringing innocent blood upon themselves, the city, and all the people. For this message is the word of the LORD; and he has only delivered the message as given him of the LORD. This seems to leave the matter altogether in their hands, Though the LORD will surely be well aware of what they do.

(Verses 16 through 24) Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God. Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying, Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest. Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? Did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented Him of the evil which He pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls. And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah: and when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it , he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt; and Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt. And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt , and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

When the princes heard what Jeremiah had to say, they decided that he did not deserve to be put to death because he had spoken in the name of the LORD. Then some among the elders of the people rehearsed some bits of history concerning some who had previously prophesied practically the same things that had been spoken by Jeremiah. In fact, they only bring forth two incidents. One was in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah , when Micah prophesied that Jerusalem would be plowed like a field and Jerusalem would be reduced to heaps of rubbish. At his prophesying, the king feared the LORD, and prayed to Him for mercy. And mercy was granted. But since Jehoiakim had become king, there was another, Urijah, who prophesied approximately the same things Jeremiah had just told them. And though he was afraid, and fled to Egypt , the king sent for him, killed him, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. This would, seemingly, make it likely that under Jehoialim’s rule, they should put Jeremiah to death. But there was one among them, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, who took Jeremiah’s side of the situation, and prevailed against those who would have executed him.

(Verses 1 through 11) In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck, and send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah; and command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters; I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto Me. And now I have given all these lands into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon , My servant: and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand. Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish. But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon , and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD, and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

Not only is the LORD the God of Israel; but He is the God of all the earth. So He sent a message, not only to Judah , but to all the nations and kingdoms around the area. To emphasize this message, He had Jeremiah make some bonds and yokes, the things which slaves were often made to wear. These he was to put upon himself. Then he was to take them off, and send them to the kings of the nations throughout the area, by their messengers whom they had sent to the king of Judah . These messengers were to carry also a message to their king of what these bonds and yokes represented. First of all this message carried a declaration that The LORD is He Who made the earth, together with both man and the beasts that are upon it. Therefore, as its Supreme Ruler, He gives it to whom He will. Now He has delivered it into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon . The nations that refuse to yield themselves to this king will be destroyed, while those that yield themselves to be his servants will be permitted to remain in the land where they are. Since the LORD has given all this into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar, He will help Nebuchadnezzar, by sending the sword, the famine, and the pestilence upon all who resist until He has consumed them. He warns the nations, as He has already warned Judah , to give no heed to their prophets who tell them that everything is going to be all right, and they will be safe. These are only lies that will cause them to be removed from their land. He, the LORD, will drive them out, and they shall perish. Their only hope of deliverance is by yielding themselves to Nebuchadnezzar. Those who do yield to him shall remain in their own land to cultivate it, and to dwell therein.

(Verses 12 through 18) I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live. Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon ? Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak to you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon : for they prophesy a lie unto you. For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in My name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you. Also I spake to the priests and to all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD’S house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon , and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste? But if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.

Not only did Jeremiah send to the kings of the nations round about the message the LORD gave him for them, he also spoke to Zedekiah the king of Judah, giving him the same message. He begged the king to turn away from those prophets that were trying to keep him from yielding to Nebuchadnezzar, warning him that what these prophets were telling him was nothing but lies. He even gave him a test to apply to them. If they were speaking the word of the LORD, let them make intercession to the LORD that those vessels that still remained in the temple, and in the house of the king of Judah not be taken to Babylon . The prophets had been saying that those vessels that had been already carried to Babylon would soon be returned to Jerusalem . But this is not what the LORD said. And Jeremiah tried to persuade the king to give heed to the word of the LORD instead of that of these false prophets.

(Verses 19 through 22) For thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city, which Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem; yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem.; They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.

It seems unnecessary to attempt to explain this text, inasmuch as it is already about as clear as it can be made. Not only are the vessels that have already been carried to Babylon going to remain there, but even those that still remain in Jerusalem will also be taken there. And they will stay there until the day the LORD shall cause them to be brought back to Jerusalem . Nevertheless He will surely cause them to be brought back to their rightful place. But it will be at the time He has purposed, and not until then.

(Verses 1 through 4) And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD’S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them away to Babylon; and I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

Hananiah was one of the false prophets of Judah who had been persuading the priests and the people that Nebuchadnezzar was not going to do anything against them. Now he comes forth boldly, and declares that the Lord has said that “within two full years,” that is, in no more than two years, all the vessels that Nebuchadnezzar took away from the temple of the LORD will be returned to their place; and that the LORD will even bring back Jeconiah whom he had already taken away captive to Babylon, with all the captives that had been taken with him. He further says that the LORD will break the yoke of the king of Babylon . That is, He will break the yoke the king of Babylon has put upon these captives. No doubt this was very pleasing to the ears of all the people. The only bad thing about it is that it was all a lie. It was false comfort, as they were to find out later.

(Verses 5 through 9) Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD, even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD’S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; the prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.

“Amen” is a word that is often used, and, perhaps, seldom understood. Many seem to think that it means that whatever has been said is the truth. Instead it only means, “May it be,” or “Let it be;” and it is often translated, “So be it.” All of these statements are only expressions of the desire that this may be as said. The word itself is a Greek word that has been transliterated into the English Language, that is, adopted without being translated. So when Jeremiah said “Amen,” as Hananiah finished his declaration, he was not affirming that prophecy as true. He was simply bearing testimony that it would be pleasing to him if it were true. This is also witnessed in the remainder of his response to Hananiah. He says, “The LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied.” But he knew that, according to the word of the LORD, He was not going to do so. So he reminded Hananiah of the prophets who had been before them, and how they had prophesied against Jerusalem . He further reminded him that when a prophet prophesies of peace, the test of that prophet is made manifest when his prophecy comes true. If it comes to pass, the LORD, no doubt, sent that prophet. But if it fails to come to pass, the LORD did not send him.

(Verses 10 and 11) Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and brake it. And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

Thus Hananiah answered Jeremiah, as if his breaking the yoke off the neck of Jeremiah could give strength to his prophecy. He again declared that the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar would be broken off the necks of all nations within two years. Instead of continuing the controversy, Jeremiah left the scene, and went on his way.

(Verses 12 through 14) Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Go, and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the necks of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: I have given him the beasts of the field also.

After Jeremiah had left the assembly where Hananiah was, the LORD gave him a message for Hananiah. That message is that although he might break the wooden yoke that Jeremiah was wearing, the yokes on the necks of the nations were of stronger material. They were of iron; and these he could not break. Since the LORD had put these yokes upon them, they would serve Nebuchadnezzar. Of this there would be no doubt. Not only so, but He had also given the beasts of the fields into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.

(Verses 15 through 17) Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest His people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth; this year shalt thou die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. so Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

Since Hananiah had been prophesying lies in the name of the LORD, and had thus misled the LORD’S people by those lies, the LORD gave Jeremiah a message for him. Because he had taught rebellion against the LORD, he would die in that same year. And this he did, just as the LORD said. In fact, he died in about two months after Jeremiah declared the word of the LORD to him.

(Verses 1 through 7) Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon; (after that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;) by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah the king of Jerusalem sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and begat sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

Jeremiah, as he considered those who had already been carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, was, no doubt instructed by the LORD to write a message to them. That this was a message from the LORD, he confirms in the text of the letter. In that letter he tells them, by the word of the LORD, that they are to build houses, and live in them; plant gardens, and eat of the fruit of them; and raise families, that the children of Israel might increase while in Babylon, instead of diminishing.  Not only so, but they should work and pray for the peace of the city in which they were. For only in the peace of that city could they have peace.

(Verses 8 through 14) For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in My name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD. For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

This is a continuation of the message of the letter Jeremiah sent to those already taken captive by the Babylonians. In it the LORD warns the people that the prophets and diviners that are among them are prophesying falsely to them, and are telling them that what they say is the word of the LORD, whereas He has not even sent them, and certainly He has not spoken by them. They are saying that their captivity will be of very short duration. One of the prophets still in Jerusalem had declared that within two years the captives would be back in Jerusalem . The LORD declares that it will be seventy years before the captives will be freed. When that period has passed, the LORD will visit them in His mercy, and will cause them to return to Jerusalem . Then shall they who seek Him with all their heart be able to find him. Verse 14 seems to carry also the promise of the final restoration of Israel , “from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”

(Verses 15 through 19) Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon; know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity; thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sward, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. And I will persecute them with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them: because they have not hearkened to My words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.

The people who had been already carried away to Babylon had begun to think that the LORD had given them prophets even in Babylon . (These prophets were the ones that the LORD said were not sent by Him, but were prophesying lies in his name.) Because they trusted what these prophets were telling them, they believed that they would soon be back in Jerusalem . So the LORD told them what they could expect concerning their brethren who were still in Jerusalem . “The king that sitteth upon the throne of David,” as well as all the others who had not yet been carried away, would fare worse than those who had already been carried to Babylon . The LORD said that he would send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and would deliver them into the hand of the enemy so that the residue of them would be scattered into all nations. And there they would be a curse, an astonishment, and a reproach, wherever they went. This is not to be construed as that they would be a curse to the nations where they were driven, but that they would be by those nations considered a curse. That has been fulfilled time after time. Indeed they have been a blessing to the nations where they have been. But the host nation has always considered them a curse. That is the reason the Germans, under Hitler’s regime, put forth such effort to destroy them. Hitler had, through his propaganda efforts led the people to believe that the Jews were the cause of all their financial troubles, and that the LORD had forever cut them off. So they came up with the idea that the best course was to destroy them, and take all their wealth. Anti-Semitism is still rampant in many places today; and it will be until the final restoration of Israel . If God would send such punishment as this upon the people He chose, led out of Egypt, led for forty years through the wilderness, brought to the land of Canaan, and built into a great nation, because of their disobedience, what can we expect if we follow in their path?

(Verses 20 through 23) Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon: thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in My name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes; and of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire; because they have committed villainy in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken lying words in My name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.

Here the LORD gives sentence against two of the prophets that have arisen among the Jews in Babylon . He names them, and tells what is their sentence. This is to come upon them because they have been prophesying lies, and claiming their prophecies to be the word of the LORD. These prophets have not only been prophesying falsely, but have also been living very immoral lives also. It reminds one of the stories that fill the news reports today concerning men who claim to be ministers of God. His sentence on them is that Nebuchadnezzar will slay them, and burn them with fire before the very ones to whom they have been prophesying. Even the Jews in Babylon will invoke them as a curse upon anyone upon whom they wish evil. The LORD declares that He is aware of their evil. He has witnessed it. Therefore He needs no one to tell Him of their works.

(Verses 24 through 29) Thou shalt also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks. Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you? For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon , saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And Zephaniah the prince read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.

In the beginning of this chapter Jeremiah had written a letter to all the Jews who had already been carried away captive to Babylon . In this letter, according to the word of the LORD, he had told them to prepare for a long captivity by building houses, and living in them, and carrying on their lives according to their established customs. Now Shemaiah, who was one of those who had been carried to Babylon , had written a letter back to Zephaniah and the other priests who were still left in Jerusalem , trying to arouse them against Jeremiah the prophet, and complaining about the letter Jeremiah had sent to those at Babylon . Then Zephaniah took the letter, and read it in the presence of Jeremiah. This is only the prelude to the word of God against Shemaiah, as we shall shortly see.

(Verses 30 through 32) Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie: therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for My people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.

Among the Jews it was considered an extremely great calamity for a family to be reduced to the point that there were no male descendants of it. And this is the curse the LORD declared against Shemaiah and his family because he had taught rebellion against the LORD. Notice should be taken of the fact that what he did was simply to deny that the word of the LORD, as prophesied by Jeremiah, would come to pass. What then should we think of those among us today, even many who claim to be ministers of the Lord, as did Shemaiah, who tell us that the prophecies of the LORD are not to be taken literally, because they think such events just cannot literally come to pass? That is the underlying principle of most of what is called, “spiritualizing” the scriptures. Be fully warned, that whatsoever the LORD has said he will do, He is fully able to perform, no matter how incredible it may seem to some. Anyone who truly believes Genesis 1:1 should have no difficulty believing all the scriptures, without changing them to fit someone’s idea of what they ought to mean. Those who will not accept the word of the LORD as written are teaching rebellion against the LORD.

(Verses 1 through 3) The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel , saying, write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of My people Israel and Judah , saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

Here the LORD speaks to Jeremiah, instructing him to write all the words that he has spoken to him in a book. There is a very important reason for this. That reason is that He, the LORD, will, at His appointed time, bring both Israel and Judah back to the land he gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. Today there is much discussion, and indeed, much argument in the world concerning the proposition of “land for peace,” in the Middle East conflict. Notice that the LORD did not say that Israel and Judah would possess part of the land. He said, “And they shall possess it.” That this prophecy looks beyond the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity is evident by the LORD’S use of the expression of “ Israel and Judah .” Although Judah was released from the Babylonian captivity after seventy years, just as the LORD had said, Israel was never brought back from her dispersion. Actually, in 1948 this process was begun, but it is not yet completed. How soon it will be completed no man knows. But it has begun, and it will be completed. When it is, Israel and Judah shall possess the land.

(Verses 4 through 9) And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah . For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble: but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: but they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up among them.

The LORD declares that there is coming upon Israel such a time of trouble and affliction that every man will be suffering as a woman in childbirth. It is a time that will be unique. There will never be another like it. It is even given a special name, “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” And although it will be such that there is no other like it Israel shall be saved out of it. In spite of the terrible suffering of that day, it will be the day in which the LORD will break the yoke of bondage from Israel ’s neck, and set them free from all their bonds. Not only will the LORD set them free, but that freedom shall continue forever. The gentiles shall no more serve themselves of the Israelites. But the only service they will be called upon to render will be to the LORD their God, and David their king, whom the LORD will raise up unto them. This reference to “David their king,” is actually not to the David who has long been dead, but to “the greater David,” the Lord Christ Jesus, as Zechariah indicates in his prophecy.

(Verses 10 through 17) Therefore fear thou not, O My servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel : for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines. All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee. Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying This is Zion , whom no man seeketh after.

Notice should be given to the manner in which this message is laid out. First, the LORD encourages Israel to not fear all these troubles that are coming upon them, because He is going to save them, and bring them again to their own land, where He will permit none to make them afraid. But they shall be at rest, and be quiet. Even if he completely destroys all nations where He has scattered Israel , He will not completely destroy Israel . They will be spared. This He has promised; and it cannot fail. The punishment they are to endure is for correction, and not for destruction. Next, He tells them the condition in which they presently are. They have an incurable wound and no healing medicines for it. That is, this wound is beyond the ability of man to cure: all things are possible with the LORD. All those who loved them have turned away from them and forgotten them. So there is no help to be had by crying about it. There is none who can heal them, or comfort them in their suffering, since He is the One Who has given them this wound because of the multitude of their sins. Finally He declares to them that all who have devoured them shall themselves be devoured, and all their enemies shall be carried into captivity. And all that have preyed upon them shall become a prey. For He will restore the health of these who could not be cured. He will heal all their wounds. Men have considered Israel abandoned by the LORD, and have said, “This is Zion , whom no man seeketh after.” How like some of the doctrine we hear today, That God has completely abandoned Israel , and given all the promise of future blessings, made to them, to the gospel church. Be not deceived. God has not changed His mind concerning Israel . What he promised to do for them He will perform.

(Verses 18 through 22) Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before Me, and I will punish all that oppress them. And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto Me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto Me? saith the LORD. And ye shall be My people, and I will be your God.

That this is a promise of the final re-gathering of Israel cannot be successfully denied. And it is so clearly written that there is no space for explanation. The prophet has described in detail the glory of Israel in that day. The LORD has declared that this shall come to pass. And so it shall be, in spite of all who try to deny it.

(Verses 23 and 24) Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until He have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: In the latter days ye shall consider it.

This is a warning that we should take notice of the fact that the LORD has declared this wonderful work. And His anger will go forth as a great whirlwind, and fall with great force upon the head of the wicked. There will be no rest for the anger of the LORD until He has completed every detail of this work and all the intents of his heart. It is something concerning which men will not give much thought until “the latter days.” Then they will see it, and consider it. That is, the fulfilling of the promises of this chapter is reserved for a much later time than that in which they were written. But do not give up hope. They will be fulfilled in their proper time.

Chapter 31

(Verses 1 through 9) At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel , and they shall be My people. Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness, even Israel , when I went to cause him to rest. The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel : thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shall go forth in the dances of them that make merry. Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria : the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save Thy people, the remnant of Israel . Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel , and Ephraim is My firstborn.

“At the same time,” that is, in the latter days, the time to which He made reference in the preceding chapter as the time when Israel would consider His great work of restoring them, He, the LORD, will be the God of all the families of Israel ; and they shall be His people. That is the time when those who have been left of the sword shall find grace in the wilderness. For that is when He will cause Israel to rest. Certainly, in this text  we can find the foundation for many wonderful lessons for us today. But it must be remembered that all of this was spoken concerning Israel . At the time of this writing Israel had already been carried away captive, and scattered into many nations. Yet the LORD has “appeared of old,” declaring that His love for Israel is everlasting. And because of this everlasting love He has drawn Israel with loving kindness. Although this is said in the past tense, it is looking forward to the time of the restoration of Israel , at which time it will be in the past. For it is by His loving kindness that he will draw them to himself, that he may bring them back to the land he gave to their fathers. He declares that He will again build Israel . To those who think this refers to the gospel church, let me say, “This concerns something that has been torn down, or destroyed. And the LORD is going to build it again; not something new that he is going to establish.” It applies to Israel , “all the families of Israel .” Israel , at the time of this writing, had already been destroyed and the people taken away captive. But the LORD declares that He will build Israel again. He will give them great joy and prosperity in their own land, even on the mountains of Samaria . And the watchmen on Mount Ephraim shall cry, “Arise ye, and let us go up to Mount Zion unto the LORD our God.” In that day they will sing with gladness, and praise the LORD. They will cry unto Him, “O LORD, save (or keep) thy people, the remnant of Israel .” When He brings them back to their land, He will not forget the lame or the woman with child, but will bring them also. Remember that when He brought them out of Egypt He left none of them behind. So it shall be when He brings back the remnant of Israel from all the lands where they have been dispersed. However, they shall come with weeping and supplication, weeping because of their repentance from their having forsaken Him in the first place, and supplication to him for his mercy. But He will lead them beside the rivers of waters, so that they shall not thirst, and in a straight way that they shall not stumble. He tells us His reason for so doing. “For I am a father to Israel , and Ephraim is my firstborn.”

(Verses 10 through 14) Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, he that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and hath ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion , and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, saith the LORD.

This is such an important announcement that the LORD calls upon the nations (or heathen) hear it, and to publish the same in the “isles afar off.” “He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.” This is a very short statement, but it carries a great message. He declares, as he has many times before told us, that He is the One who has scattered Israel . He did it as chastisement for their sins. And He will be the One to gather them. They will not gather themselves, and neither will anyone else gather them. Not only will he gather them, but when He does, He will also keep them. So there is no possibility of any failure in the whole work. It will be accomplished. Although, certainly, the LORD did redeem Israel when He delivered them from the Egyptian bondage, verse 11 is not concerned with that redemption, but with the redemption of them from all the nations where they had been driven by the dispersion. He speaks of it as a finished work, although at the time of this writing it was far in the future. He often speaks in this manner because that which He has purposed is as sure as if it were already accomplished. There can be no failure. Because of this redemption “they shall come and sing in the height of Zion , and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD.” In that day the LORD will take away all their sorrow, and give them great joy, as well as all things that they will need. And what seems the greatest blessing of all is that the LORD shall cause them to be satisfied with His goodness. When people are, or an individual is, satisfied, there is no danger of wandering. For the wanderlust is a strong sign of being dissatisfied. And this shall not be in that day. Israel will be content to serve the LORD their God.

(Verses 15 through 17) Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

This is a text from which Matthew used a partial quotation to describe the sorrow in Bethlehem when Herod had all the children two years of age, and younger, murdered in his effort to destroy Jesus. Verse 15 is all that he used of this text for that. However, the whole text concerns the great sorrow in the day of the carrying away into captivity of the children in Ramah. And the most important part of it is the LORD’S promise that there is still hope that in the end the children shall come again to their own border. Since He has earlier in this chapter declared that He will gather them,. And keep them as a shepherd does for his flock, there is certainly hope that they shall come again to their own border. In this we see that a hope is far more than a wish. It is a confident expectation of good.

(Verses 18 through 21) I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn Thou me, and I shall be turned; for Thou art the LORD my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented, and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Is Ephraim My dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore My bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD. Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel , turn again to these thy cities.

Here the LORD represents himself as a man who has a dearly beloved son upon whom he has had to inflict heavy chastisement for his wrongdoings. Although he has had to punish him, he still loves him dearly. As he listens to the moaning of that son, his heart is moved for him, in spite of the evil he has done. This is the manner of His looking upon Ephraim, or Israel . And He is determined to show mercy to him. So He calls upon Israel to set up marks to indicate the way they have come to the place in which they now are, that the path for their return may be clearly shown. For the LORD is going to bring them home by that same road. He calls upon them to turn again to their cities.

(Verses 22 through 26) How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness. And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks. For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.

Verse 22 is one which seems to be a little obscure to most commentators. Few put forth any comment at all concerning it, while others read the last part of it as, “A woman shall be changed into a man.” Yet they give little, if any interpretation of its meaning. The earlier part of it, “How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth,” seems to be designed to call the attention of Israel to the fact that there is no advantage in continuing on in the way they have been going, because the LORD has brought something new into being. He speaks to Israel as to a daughter, thus likening her to a woman. If the reading of some, “A woman shall be changed into a man,” is correct, it may have reference to the same thing as that of which the Apostle Paul speaks in Galatians 3:28. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Or since it has always been considered that a woman is physically weaker than a man, it may simply mean that in that day her strength will be increased to match his. In that day the land and the cities of Judah shall be so greatly blessed with justice and holiness that the people will use this saying, “The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.” In that day the shepherds and husbandmen of the land will dwell in the cities, and go forth from them into the countryside with their flocks and herds, and everyone will be satisfied. And there shall be no sorrow in the land. This vision was evidently given to Jeremiah while he was sleeping. At the end of the vision he awoke, and realized that his sleep had been very peaceful.

(Verses 27 through 30) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict, so will I watch over them to build, and to plant, saith the LORD. In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

The LORD declares that the time is coming when He shall sow, or plant, both the house of Israel and the house of Israel with the seed of both man and beast. That is, He will cause both man and beast to be plentiful in both Israel and Judah . He will reverse the course of events with both of them. Instead of bringing things upon them to tear them down, He will only build them up. As every student of history knows, this has not yet been fulfilled. So it must still be in the future; for the word of God cannot fail. All through this time of dispersion, through which they have been going since the destruction of Jerusalem they have blamed their troubles upon their fathers. Their fathers have “eaten the sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” That is, their trouble is not because of their sin, but that of their fathers. This seems today to be the attitude of everyone, whether a Jew or a Gentile. No one wants to take any responsibility for his own condition, or for his own actions. But the LORD says that in that day all this will be changed. Everyone will have to shoulder his own responsibility.

(Verses 31 through 34) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

This is the same “New covenant” referred to by the writer of the Hebrew Epistle in the New Testament. And it does, as he shows, embrace the Christian. But it also embraces Israel and Judah also in the day when the LORD shall re-gather them. And that He has surely promised. He says that this covenant shall not be as the old one. For that old covenant see Exodus 19:3-8. “And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I brought you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then shall ye be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel . And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.” Thus the LORD set before them all the elements of this covenant. And the people, with one accord, agreed to it in its entirety. Notice that this covenant was based upon one condition, “Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant.” In short, it was based upon the works of man. The new covenant is not so; but is based upon only what the LORD will do. First, He declares that he will put His law in their inward parts, (not on tables of stone,) and He will write it in their hearts (the center of their affections). Thus they can never forget it. Not only so, but everyone from the least to the greatest of them will be made to know the LORD. So none will have to teach them to know Him. Neither does he propose conditions upon which He will forgive their sins. He simply declares that this he will do. And he will never again remember their sin. As mentioned before, this is also the same covenant in which the Christian Church is embraced.

(Verses 35 through 37) Thus saith the LORD Which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is His name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me for ever. Thus saith the LORD; if heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth be searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

Inasmuch as this declaration immediately follows the declaration of the new covenant, there can be no doubt that this whole chapter concerns the restoration and rebuilding of national Israel and Judah . Even this new covenant itself, although it does also embrace the Christian Church, is made with Judah and Israel . All the remainder of this chapter is directly to national Israel and Judah .

(Verses 38 through 40) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hannaneel unto the gate of the corner. And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

This literally refers to Jerusalem , as is evident from the various points around the city that are specifically mentioned. It shall be rebuilt completely. When he says that a measuring line shall go forth against it, his meaning is that it shall be surveyed as preparation for building gets underway. “The whole valley of the dead bodies,” or The Valley of the son of Hinnom, as it has been earlier identified, instead of being cursed as it has been, will be holy to the LORD, and will never again be “plucked up, nor thrown down.”

Chapter 33

(Verses 1 through 8) Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword; they come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men whom I have slain in Mine anger and in My fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid My face from this city. Behold I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against Me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against Me.

Jeremiah was still shut up in the court of the prison, as in earlier times when the word of the LORD came to him. Now the LORD again speaks to him, telling him to call upon Him, and he will show him some great things of which he is not yet aware. No doubt, Jeremiah knew of the fighting that was going on. But that which he did not know is that, it was all in vain, and would only serve to fill the area with the dead bodies of those whom the LORD was having killed in His anger and fury, that he might thereby cleanse the land from the iniquities and transgressions of the people. Then, at the end of the period of cleansing He will cause the captivity to return, and He will pardon all their sins and transgressions. The whole operation is designed to bring health and cure to the people, that they may be cured of their great disease, sin.

(Verses 9 through 14) And it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all nations of the earth, which shall hear of all the good that I will do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it. Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast, the voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for His mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin , and in the places about Jerusalem , and in the cities of Judah , shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah .

The time of the re-gathering of Israel and Judah shall be a time of joy, praise, and honor to the LORD before all nations of the earth, for all shall hear of it. And all that hear about it shall fear and tremble before the LORD because of all the good He will do unto Israel and Judah , and the prosperity He will bring upon them. This very place that has been made desolate, and made completely devoid of inhabitants, of both man and beast, will again be filled with the sounds of joy and gladness. There shall be heard the voice of both the bridegroom and the bride, as well as that of those who will be praising the LORD for His goodness and mercy. For the captivity will be over, and the land will be re-settled. Not only shall there be inhabitants in the cities, but even in the fields and pastures of the land there shall be shepherds and their flocks as of old. The LORD declares that the day is coming when He shall “perform that good thing” that He has declared He will do for both Israel and Judah .

(Verses 15 through 18) In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

Notice carefully the opening of this text: “In those days, and at that time.” As this follows upon the promise of the LORD that the day is coming when He shall perform the good that he has promised to both Israel and Judah, it signifies that, this is also the day when He will bring to pass what He is about to introduce. At that time He will “cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David.” Certainly, the Branch of righteousness is none other than our Lord Jesus the Christ. However, this particular reference to Him has to do with His coming to rule over Israel and Judah when they are re-gathered to Their land, and their enemies are destroyed. The fourteenth chapter of Zechariah’s prophecy, especially verses 16 through 20, should be read in connection with the present text. After He has overcome the enemies of Israel and Judah , the LORD will Himself reign in Jerusalem . Of course He will reign in the Person of the Christ, Who has also declared, “I and My Father are One.” He is also, according to the flesh, the Son of David. Therefore, as He reigns in Jerusalem , “David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel .” Neither will there be any lack of those who serve at the altar of the LORD. Since our Lord Jesus will be the King of Israel, all sacrifices and offerings will be presented to him. There is much argument among men as to whether or not Israel will in that day offer burnt offerings. But it seems that the use of such language here is for the purpose of reassuring people who were accustomed to such that they will be able to worship the LORD in that day, and not to establish the manner of that worship. Jesus and His apostles have shown us that in worshipping Him we are to offer the sacrifice of our lips, praise and thanksgiving, to Him. so we need not indulge in arguments about things which the LORD will himself take care of.

(Verses 19 through 26) And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, If ye can break My covenant of the day, and My covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; then may also My covenant be broken with David My servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, My ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured; so will I multiply the seed of David My servant, and the Levites that minister unto Me. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying The two families which the LORD hath chosen, He hath even cast them off? thus they have despised My people, that they should be no more a nation before them. Thus saith the LORD; If My covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David My servant, so that I will not take any of His seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

How anyone who claims to believe the Bible can read this chapter, and particularly this text, and still say that the LORD has forever cast off Israel , and given all the promises He made to her to the Gospel Church , is utterly beyond me. Here the LORD declares that His covenant with David, and with the Levites, and with the seed of Jacob, is just as His covenant of night and day. And the only way that He will cast Israel away is that His covenant of night and day fail. That is, day and night must fail to come in their orderly succession as they have since the beginning before He will cast off His chosen people. Even the Jews in the day of Jeremiah had begun to say, “The two families which the LORD hath chosen, He hath even cast them off.” That is the same doctrine we often hear today. But the LORD says, “Thus have they despised My people, that they should be a no more a nation before Me.” Then He declares that His covenant with them is just as sure as His covenant of night and day. And in Chapter 31, verses 35 through 37 He gives the same assurance. Those who thus despise the LORD’S people should take warning from this; for the LORD has spoken. And in spite of all the doubters His word shall stand.

Chapter 34

(Verses 1 through 7) The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire: and thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon. Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword: but thou shalt die in peace: and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings which were before thee, so shall they burn odours for thee; and they will lament thee, saying, Ah lord! for I have pronounced the word, saith the LORD. Then Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem , when the king of Babylon ’s army fought against Jerusalem , and against all the cities of Judah that were left, Lachish , and against Azekah: for these defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah .

While the siege against Jerusalem and all the other remaining cities of Judah was still in progress, the word of the LORD again came to Jeremiah. This was a special message for Zedekiah the king of Judah . Although the LORD repeated that Jerusalem would be overcome and destroyed by the army of the king of Babylon , Zedekiah would not be killed, but would be taken captive and carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. Furthermore Zedekiah would die at Babylon , but not by violence. He would die in peace, and be accorded all the funeral celebration that had been customary for the kings of Judah who were before him. So Jeremiah told Zedekiah all this message while the siege was still going on. At that time Lachish and Azekah, two well defended cities of Judah still remained in the fight.

(Verses 8 through 11) This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them; that every man should let his manservant , and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother. Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go. But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and handmaids.

Zedekiah had made a covenant with the people that all who had servants, either men or women, who were Jews should free these servants from bondage. When the people heard this proclamation, they obeyed it, and released these servants. But they broke their covenant, and made these servants return to the service in which they had held them before. This, however was not the fault of king Zedekiah. So the LORD sent him the message that we find in verses 4 and 5.

(Verses 12 through 16) Therefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying, At the end of seven years let go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he shall have served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto Me, neither inclined their ear. And ye have now turned, and done right in My sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before Me in the house which is called by My name: but ye turned and polluted My name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at liberty at their pleasures, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids..

Since the people, and not the king, were at fault in this matter, the LORD sends a message to them. First He reminds them that when He led them out of the Egyptian bondage, He gave them a commandment that they should release every Hebrew servant, male or female, after he or she had served for six years. The people had long ago ceased to obey this command. But upon the command of king Zedekiah they had released their servants; and for this the LORD commended them. Yet they did wrong when they turned away from this, and forced the servants they had released to return to their former condition of servitude. To make matters worse, their covenant to release them had been made “before Me in the house that is called by My name,” said the LORD. Breaking this covenant therefore amounted to polluting the name of the LORD, and was a great affront to Him.

(Verses 17 through 22) Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto Me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. And I will give the men that have transgressed My covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before Me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof, the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf; I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and unto the beasts of the earth. And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of then that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon ’s army, which are gone up from you. Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire, and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.

Thus the LORD tells the people what He is going to do to them because of their violation of the covenant they made before Him in the house that was called by His name. Jeremiah gives us a description of the ritual used in making a solemn covenant. And this ritual antedates even the going of the children of Israel into the bondage of Egypt . Genesis 15:8-18 gives a description of the ritual followed by Abraham in the covenant the LORD made with him. In Abraham’s case more than one sacrificial animal was used; but, at least one was always used, as was the case of which Jeremiah speaks. It was prepared, and, instead of its being cut into several pieces as was the custom when it was to be burned, it was simply divided into two parts, and placed so as to give room for passage between the two, Then all parties to the covenant passed between them. Thus the covenant was ratified so that it was considered unbreakable. But in spite of their having made such a covenant, they broke it by causing the servants they had released to return as their servants. Without any need of further explanation verse 20 tells what is their sentence. Although the LORD says that king Zedekiah and his princes shall be given into the hand of his enemies, this does not cancel the promise He has given him in verses 4 and 5. At this time Nebuchadnezzar’s army had lifted its siege against Jerusalem , and gone to another place. But the LORD declares that He will command them, and they shall return. And when they do they will overcome Jerusalem , take it, and burn it with fire. Thus the LORD “will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.”

(Verses 1 through 11) The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink. Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; and I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door: and I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, not your sons for ever: neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents, that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons nor our daughters; nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: but we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon cams up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem .

The Rechabites were a family of the scribes that dwelt at Jabez, according to 1 Chronicles 2:55. Some might wonder what could be the significance of this incident, as described by Jeremiah, inasmuch as the LORD commands him to do something, he attempts it, and finds that the men to whom he was sent refuse to do what he tells them. This is not the whole lesson in this incident, but only the beginning of it. One should keep in mind that this Jonadab who gave them such seemingly strange commandments was only a man. Yet, since he was the son of the man from whom their family counted its lineage, they have, without deviation, kept his command until for fear of the armies around them they have come to Jerusalem for safety. Still they will not break his command any further than they have felt forced to do for safety. The LORD will use this as an example for the people of Judah and Jerusalem , to instruct them in what they ought to do. Surely, there is in it also a lesson for us even today. The important question is, “Will we profit by this lesson, or, as did the people in Jeremiah’s day, ignore it?” We can readily see what was the price they paid for ignoring it.

(Verses 12 through 17) Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to My words? saith the LORD. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto Me. I have sent unto you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto Me. Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.

Here the LORD sets the contrast before the people of Judah and Jerusalem . These descendants of Jonadab the son of Rechab, have for many generations been obedient to the commandment of Jonadab because of their respect for him as their forefather, though they are aware that he was only a man. At the same time these inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah , although they claim the LORD of hosts as their God, will not even listen to what He has told them to do for their own good. Jonadab only, so far as we can prove, gave his commandment once, and it has been handed down from generation to generation. Yet it has been obeyed even to the time of Jeremiah. Through all the generations of the children of Israel the LORD has been sending His word by His prophets, and still the people will give it no heed. Therefore The LORD will bring upon them all the evil He has pronounced against them. There is no way of escape for them.

(Verses 18 and 19) And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept his precepts, and done according to that he hath commanded you: therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before Me for ever.

Certainly this needs no explanation. But since the LORD gives such a wonderful promise to the descendants of Rechab for their obedience to the command of their forefather, How much greater blessing will He give to those who keep His commandments with as meticulous zeal as these showed for the command of their father?

(Verses 1 through 10) And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day that I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day, It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which He had spoken unto him, upon the roll of the book. And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD: Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD’S house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities. It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people. And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD’S house. And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim king of Judah , in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem , and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem . Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD’S house, in the ears of all the people.

Sometime during the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, the Lord told Jeremiah to write down all the words He had said to him since He first begin to speak with him, all the time from the days of Josiah to the present time. All this was to be written in a scroll, (“the roll of a book”) and was to include, not only the LORD’S pronouncements against Israel and Judah , but also all He had said concerning the other nations as well. The purpose of this was that they, upon hearing these declarations might repent of their evil ways, and turn back to the LORD. The result of this entire action shows that God always gives men the “space to repent” of their evil ways before He sends punishment upon them. And it, just as clearly, shows that, unless He gives them the grace of repentance, they will never repent. They may even become frightened; but they will not repent. Since Jeremiah was in prison, he probably had no writing materials at hand. so he called Baruch the son of Neriah, (who evidently must have been a scribe, or a recorder, since it was to him that he committed the evidence of the purchase of his cousin’s property, in chapter 32,) and he, no doubt had writing materials, for Jeremiah dictated to him all the words of the LORD; and he wrote them in the scroll. When the writing was completed, Jeremiah, because he was shut up in prison, told Baruch to take the scroll into the house of the LORD on the day of fasting, and read it to all who came in, not only those of Jerusalem, but all who came in from the cities round about. And Baruch did as Jeremiah had commanded him. Then, in the fifth year of Jehoiakim, in the ninth month a fast was proclaimed before the LORD for all the people Jerusalem and for the people who came in from the other cities. Whether this is an additional fast, or whether it is the first one proclaimed after Baruch wrote the words spoken to him by Jeremiah may be a little unclear. But, at any rate, he did go to this one, and in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah, he read all these words in the hearing of all the people.

(Verses 11 through 19) When Micahaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard out of the book all the words of the LORD, then he went down into the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people. Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them. And they said unto him, sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears. Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and another, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king all these words. And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, how didst thou write all these words at his mouth? Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book. Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.

When Micahaiah heard the reading of this book, he went immediately to the king’s house into the scribe’s chamber, where were gathered the princes of Judah , as well as the scribe, and others. He told them, as best he could, all that he had heard when Baruch had read this scroll in the hearing of the people. This group wanted to hear it read, so they sent for Baruch, who came, and, at their request, read the entire book to them. Upon hearing this, they were all afraid, and told Baruch that they were surely going to tell the king all that was in the book.. The question they asked Baruch, together with his answer to them, may seem a little comical to us. But they are very serious, in spite of the strangeness of the warding. They were interested in just how it came about that Baruch wrote these words in the book. Perhaps, they may have thought that he made up the whole story himself. But, apparently, they were satisfied that Jeremiah had indeed dictated the words while Baruch wrote them. So they told Baruch to go and hide both himself and Jeremiah, and let no one know where they were.

(Verses 20 through 26) And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king. So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and of all the princes which stood before the king. Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them. But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.

Without trying to comment on each word, or phrase of this, let us consider what appears to be the primary lesson it shows. Although these princes were afraid when Baruch read this scroll to them in the scribe’s chamber, when they brought it to the king, and he showed such disrespect for it as to deliberately burn it, piece by piece, they lost their fear. Three of them had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the scroll; but when he disregarded their request, it, seemingly, did not even bother them. Apparently everyone had only had a momentary attack of fear, but it was soon forgotten, just as is often the case with evil minded people when they think they might be threatened by impending doom. As someone among them arises to show that he is not afraid, they also lose their fear. However, when the king sent men to arrest Baruch and Jeremiah, the LORD kept them hidden.

(Verses 27 through 31) Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned. And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah ; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem , and upon the men of Judah , all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.

After Jehoiakim had burned the first scroll the LORD had had Jeremiah cause to be written, He commands Jeremiah to write another. And not only say the same things that were in the first one, but to add a personal message to Jehoiakim, and to his descendants and servants. In addition to bringing upon Judah all the evil He had declared against them, He would punish Jehoiakim further by causing him to be put to death, and his dead body cast out into the open, without any burial at all. It would be left for the heat and the frost. In addition, none of his descendants would ever sit upon the “throne of David.” That is, none would ever be king of Judah . And He would still bring upon them, and the inhabitants of Israel and Judah , all the evil He had declared against them, in spite of their not believing His word.

(Verse 32) Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many other words.

This verse stands without any need for explanation. But it clearly shows that the LORD is never thwarted by anyone, whether king or commoner, in that which He has determined to do. He is invincible. Praise His holy name!

(Verses 1 through 5) And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah . But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the LORD, which were spoken by the prophet Jeremiah. And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us. Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison. Then Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt : and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem .

Just as Jeremiah had prophesied, the descendants of Jehoiakim were cut off from being king in Judah . When Nebuchadrezzar had slain Jehoiakim, he made Zedekiah the brother of Jehoiakim king instead of Jehoiakim’s son Coniah. But this made no change in the attitude of either the king or the people. None of them gave any heed to the word of the LORD, as spoken by Jeremiah. But Zedekiah the king did pretend to be impressed by it. He sent messengers to Jeremiah to ask him to pray unto the LORD for them. In the meantime the Chaldeans who had besieged Jerusalem heard that Pharaoh’s army had come out of Egypt , possibly, to fight them. So they left Jerusalem for a time.

(Verses 6 through 10) Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto Me to inquire of Me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land. And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire. Thus saith the LORD; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

Although the army of the Chaldeans had temporarily lifted the siege of Jerusalem , and gone away, the LORD declared that they would return, and do that which He had already said they would do. And lest the king and his people be too highly exalted in their own minds, the LORD further said that, if they had overcome the Chaldean army, and left none of them but wounded men, these wounded would still rise up and do what He had already said they would. They would burn Jerusalem with fire. The word of the LORD will never fail, regardless of the false hopes built up by seemingly fortuitous events.

(Verses 11 through 15) And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army, then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin , to separate himself thence in the midst of the people. And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans. Then said Jeremiah, It is false: I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes. Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.

Since Jeremiah was from Anathoth a city of Benjamin , while the siege against Jerusalem was temporarily lifted, he tried to return to the land of Benjamin . However, he had only gotten to the “Gate of Benjamin,” one of the gates of Jerusalem , when he saw there one Irijah, a captain of the ward, who arrested him and accused him of trying to desert to the enemy. This Jeremiah denied, but to no avail. Irijah returned him to the princes at Jerusalem , and they put him in prison, which at this time was in the house of Jonathan the scribe. They did not put him in an ordinary prison, but in the dungeon, as we shall see in the following account.

(Verses 16 through 21) When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days; then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in the house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: For, said He, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon . Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison? Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land? Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

After Jeremiah had been in the dungeon for many days, Zedekiah the king sent for him to be brought to him that he might inquire secretly of him if there was any word from the LORD. No doubt, he had hoped to hear something more comforting than the message he received. But Jeremiah declared the word of the LORD to him just as it was. It was the same message that Jeremiah had previously spoken. Zedekiah would be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon . Having delivered this word, Jeremiah asked Zedekiah to tell him what was his offense against either the king, the king’s servants, or the people. This, Zedekiah never answered. But Jeremiah made supplication to him that he not allow the people to put him back in the dungeons in which he had been, for he was fearful that if he were returned there, that is where he would die. So king Zedekiah changed Jeremiah’s place of imprisonment from the house of Jonathan the scribe to the court of the prison. And he also gave orders that as long as there was bread in the city Jeremiah was to be supplied with one piece of bread daily. This seems to us a very small amount. But it may have been as much as anyone else had, because in such a siege as that under which Jerusalem suffered, the food supply was very scarce.

(Verses 1 through 6) Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon ’s army, which shall take it. Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of the people, but the hurt. Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do anything against you. Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sank down in the mire.

As we see here, Jeremiah had many strong enemies among the princes of Judah . And when they heard the word of the LORD that Jeremiah had spoken to the people, they went to the king, and complained to him about Jeremiah, accusing him of destroying the confidence, and thus the fighting ability, of the people. Their idea was to have him put to death, in order to strengthen the resolve of the people to fight. King Zedekiah consented that they should do as they pleased with Jeremiah. So, for the moment, they put him in a dungeon, or a pit, in the court of the prison. (Before this he had only been confined in the court of the prison.) They had to let him down by cords, or ropes, into the pit, which, though it had no water in it, had a miry bottom, soft enough that Jeremiah sank down in the mire.

(Verses 7 through 13) Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin; Ebedmelech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying, My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city. Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die. So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went down into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

This text is certainly not difficult to understand. It ls only a very simple account of the freeing of Jeremiah from the mud and mire of the pit in which he had been put by his enemies. The most important thing about it is that it shows that the LORD can, and does take care of those who faithfully serve Him. And He can do so by means that we might never think of until they are put into use. Jeremiah was not helped by his brethren the Jews. The man who instigated it was an Ethiopian servant of the king. But the LORD moved him to go to the king, and make a plea for Jeremiah’s release. Although king Zedekiah had consented to the death of Jeremiah when the princes had asked him, yet he was willing to let Ebedmelech deliver him from such a horrible death as that of dying of hunger in the mire of that pit. The LORD has not promised us riches in this world, and neither has He promised us a life of happiness here, with no hardships or sorrows. But He has promised that He will be with us through them all. And this promise He will surely keep.

(Verses 14 through 23) Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me. Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? And if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me? so Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, as the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life. Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that have fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me. But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me: and, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back. So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon : and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.

No doubt, Zedekiah thought that by speaking secretly with Jeremiah he might get a more favorable message than that he had already received. But such was not the case. Jeremiah would not tell him the LORD’S answer until Zedekiah took an oath to neither put Jeremiah to death, nor turn him over to those men who desired to do that. According to the word of the LORD, Zedekiah had two options. He could surrender to the king of Babylon and his army, and Jerusalem would be spared from the burning that the LORD had pronounced upon it: or he could refuse to do so, and the city would be burned. In either case Zedekiah would be taken prisoner by the king of Babylon . There was no escape from this. It seems, from what Zedekiah said, that his greatest fear in surrendering to the Chaldeans was that they would turn him over to the Jews who had already defected to them, and they would badly abuse him. Thus he was so confused that he would not make answer to the prophet.

(Verses 24 through 28) Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die. But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee: then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house, to die there. Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived. So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.

(Verses 1 through 3) In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah , in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem , and they besieged it. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon .

Although the Babylonians had lifted the siege of Jerusalem when the army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt , they again laid siege to the city in the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah the king of Judah . The city fell on the ninth day of the fourth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, making the siege to last approximately one year and six months. After the city was overthrown all the princes of the Babylonians gathered in the middle gate of Jerusalem to decide the fate of the people and the city. Although Jeremiah gives the names of those he considered foremost, he adds the phrase, “with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon,” signifying that all who might have some say in the disposal of the matter were gathered for council.

(Verses 4 through 7) And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain. But the Chaldeans’ army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plain of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath , where he gave judgment upon him. Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah . Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon .

This should certainly make everyone aware of the futility of trying to escape from the LORD. Jeremiah had warned Zedekiah that he could not escape, and that if he would surrender to the Babylonians, not only would his life be spared, but so would the city of Jerusalem . Instead, he tried to slip away to escape, but he was caught, just as the word of the LORD had said. In addition, he was forced to watch while all his sons were put to death; then all the nobles of Judah were killed, and his eyes were put out. And finally he was put into chains, and carried captive to Babylon . The LORD had declared that he would be carried to Babylon whether he voluntarily surrendered to the Chaldeans or not. But He had also told Zedekiah that he would be treated more gently, and the city would be spared from being burned, if he did cooperate with the Babylonians. Disobedience cost him great sorrow, and caused him to be blind for the remainder of his life.

(Verses 8 through 10) And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem . Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away to him, with the rest of the people that remained. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah , and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

What Nebuzaradan did was not at all unusual in such a situation as existed in the land of Judah at that time. A conqueror was not afraid of any insurrection being fomented by the poor people of the land. His fears were that if any of the ruling class, or the rich were left free, they would revolt against him. So he took all the people whom he considered as potentially dangerous, and carried them captive to Babylon , where he could better keep them under watch, and left some of the poor of the land, and even gave them fields and vineyards, something they had not had before. Thus they would likely favor their conquerors more that the ones who had been their rulers. This was usually a wise move, politically, and made the job of keeping the new territory under subjection much easier.

(Verses 11 through 14) Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee. So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s princes; even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.

Nothing is said about Nebuchadrezzar’s having any knowledge of the prophecy of Jeremiah. So we do not know whether it was because of such knowledge, or just because he found Jeremiah in prison when he took the city. But, for some reason, the king of Babylon showed kindness to Jeremiah. He not only left him in the area, as he did some others, but he gave strict orders to the captain of the guard that he was to do for Jeremiah whatever he might desire. So the princes of the king of Babylon sent Jeremiah home by the hand of one, “Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan.” This must have been a different Gedaliah from the one mentioned in Chapter 38, verse 1, for he was “the son of Pashur.”

(Verses 15 through 18) Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in Me, saith the LORD.

Here again we see that the LORD does not forget those that serve Him. No doubt He could just as easily have delivered Ebedmelech without telling him beforehand that He would. But, by the same token, assuredly it gave Ebedmelech great comfort to know that the LORD remembered him, and promised in advance that he would deliver him. We also can see, from this, that Ebedmelech did not deliver Jeremiah from the pit for the sake of reward, nor to get the LORD to bless him. He did it because his trust was in the LORD, and he felt that that was what the LORD would have him do. Nevertheless, the LORD sent him the message that he would be delivered, and his life would be spared because he trusted in the LORD. Another principle shown in this is that even though “faith without works is dead,” the faith is the moving cause of the works, and therefore it is because of the faith that we receive the blessing.

(Verses 1 through 6) The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive to Babylon. And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as He hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thy hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon , come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon , forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah , and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go. Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam at Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

After the fighting was over at Jerusalem, upon the orders of Nebuchadrezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took the chains off from Jeremiah, and gave him permission to go wherever he might desire to live. If he should choose to go with the captain to Babylon , he would be well treated: and if he did not want to do that, he was free to go anywhere he pleased. So he went to Mizpah, where Gedaliah was, whom Nebuchadrezzar had appointed provincial governor over the cities of Judah . There he dwelt among the people who had been left in the land.

(Verses 7 through 12) Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon; then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon , and it shall be well with you. As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken. Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan; even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

Since the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the provincial governor of Judah, and had left only a few of the poor of the land to live there, the other Jews who had been scattered, and driven into various countries in the area, heard of Gedaliah’s appointment, and came to him as he dwelt at Mizpah. Jeremiah gives the names of several of their leaders; but only one of them is of any great importance to us, and that is because of his subsequent activities. He was Ishmael the son of Nethaniah. Gedaliah invited all of them to come, and gather all the summer fruits, and make all the wine they wished, inasmuch as there were not enough people to use all that was available. And they could dwell in whatever cities they had taken. He promised them that, if they would serve the Chaldeans all would be well with them. So that is what they all agreed to do.

(Verses 13 through 16) Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, and said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not. Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely against Ishmael.

Gedaliah was, as are many, far too trusting for his own good. Although all the captains of the forces in the field that had come to Gedaliah told him that this Ishmael had been sent by Baalis the king of the Ammonites for the very purpose of killing him, and thus causing all the Jews to be scattered again, he would not believe them. Johanan even volunteered to go, if Gedaliah would only give his permission, and kill Ishmael, with no one being the wiser. But Gedaliah would not allow it. He even accused Johanan of speaking falsely against Ishmael.

Chapter 41

(Verses 1 through 10) Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there did eat bread together in Mizpah. Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war. And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it, that there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD. And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. And it was so, that when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him. But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren. Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel : and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain. Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.

So far as the narrative of this event is concerned, it needs no explanation. It is in clear enough detail for all to understand. It does show us a few things that we might do well to consider. As Gedaliah learned, albeit too late for his good, everyone is not to be trusted. When there is as much testimony against a person as there was against Ishmael, one should be on guard against such. Perhaps the great reason for Gedaliah’s failure to believe the reports he had received was that he had had no experience in the governing of any group of people. He was chosen by the king of Babylon as governor of Judah , possibly, because he had had no such experience, and would therefore be less likely to understand the intrigues necessary in developing a rebellion against Babylon . But that inexperience also left him open for a revolt against himself, as is shown by this incident, which cost him his life, as well as his position of governor. On the other hand, Ishmael was a descendant of the ruling family, “of the seed royal.” In addition, he was the commander of a group of Jews who had defected to the Ammonites during the siege of Jerusalem and the surrounding cities. No doubt, he felt that he should have been made governor instead of Gedaliah. After killing all the fighting men of Mizpah, he took the remainder of the people as his own captives, and attempted to take them back with him to the land of the Ammonites, no doubt, thinking that this would exalt him in the eyes of the king of the Ammonites. His entire purpose in this matter was for his own advancement, not the improvement of the condition of the people. He cared nothing for them.

(Verses 11 through 18) But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon. Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad. So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah. But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites. Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon: and they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt, because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor of the land.

Although Johanan and his company caught up with Ishmael’s group, and overcame them, Ishmael and eight of his men got away, and went to the Ammonites. Then Johanan took all the remnant of the people, and instead of going back to Mizpah, he took them all to a place near Bethlehem , where it would be easier to go into Egypt . For he was afraid that the Chaldeans would come against him if he stayed in the land of Judah . All the people feared that because Ishmael had slain Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had made governor of Judah , the Chaldeans would come, and, perhaps, take them to Babylon . They preferred going to Egypt . So they positioned themselves so that they might more quickly get there if the Chaldeans did come against them.

Chapter 42

(Verses 1 through 6) Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, and said to Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) that the LORD thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you: I will keep nothing back from you. Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

While all the people were camped near Bethlehem , they all, from the least to the greatest, came to Jeremiah asking him to pray unto the LORD for them, that He would direct their way. Everyone promised that whatever the LORD should direct them to do, they would obey. When this is done in sincerity and truth, it is a wonderful thing to do. We should at all times, and not just when we are afraid of an enemy who is near, strive to do exactly as these Jews said they would do. So Jeremiah promised that he would pray for them just as they had asked him to do. And whatever the LORD replied is exactly what he would tell them. He would hold back nothing of the LORD’S answer. Notice should be given to the fact that these Jews called upon the LORD to be witness that they would do exactly what He would tell them. And we must remember that He is always a witness to whatever we say, and be governed thereby.

(Verses 7 through 12) And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah. Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto Whom ye sent me to present your supplication before Him; If ye will abide in this land, then will I build you up, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I repent Me of the evil that I have done unto you. Be not afraid of the king of Babylon , of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.

After ten days Jeremiah received answer from the LORD concerning his prayer for the Jews, and He called them together, so that he might give all of them the answer at the same time.. The LORD’S answer was in three parts. The first part was what He would do for them if they obeyed His voice, and did what they had promised to do; the second, what He would do to them if they failed to obey; and the third was His declaration that they would not do according to His commandments, and would therefore receive the penalty He had pronounced upon them. In the present text we are concerned with what He would do for them if they obeyed. The LORD said unto them, “If ye will abide in this land, I will build you up, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up.” Thus, if they only continued on where they were, His blessings would be upon them, so that none could hurt them. The easiest path to follow was the best of all. This is often the case with His children even today. We often should “stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,” as Moses said to the children of Israel on the banks of the Red Sea . In addition to telling these Jews to remain in the land in which they were, He told them to not fear the king of Babylon . He even told them that in His showing mercy to them, He would cause the king of Babylon also to be merciful to them, and cause them to return to their own land. That is, they would be permitted to return to the very places where they had lived before they were uprooted by the war.

(Verses 13 through 18) But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God, saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger for bread, and there will we dwell: and now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there; then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt, and there ye shall die. So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As Mine anger and fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall My fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.

This is the LORD’S declaration of what they can expect if they disobey Him, and go into Egypt . When we examine the history of the relation s between Israel and Egypt , all the way from the days of the Egyptian bondage, we wonder “How could the Jews have any desire to return to Egypt ?” But we find, even today, that there seems to be an attraction for Israel in Egypt . According to their agreement, Egypt was supposed to help the Jews against the Chaldeans. But this help never materialized. Yet these who have been left in the land after the fall of Jerusalem, seem to have a great desire to go into Egypt, thinking that they will be thus free from war and hardship. But the LORD tells them that if they do go into Egypt , His fury will be turned loose upon them, and all these things, which they think they are escaping, will come upon them, and they will never again return to this land, and there will be no escape from those things they fear.

(Verses 19 through 22) The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah ; Go ye not into Egypt : know certainly that I have admonished you this day. For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according to all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor anything for the which He hath sent me unto you. Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

Thus Jeremiah delivers unto these Jews the third part of the message of the LORD to them. Inasmuch as the LORD knows all things, He knew, when they were asking Jeremiah to pray for them, that they were already determined to go into Egypt, and that they had no intention to obey His word. Such is often the situation with people who ask us to pray for them. They already have their minds made up; and what they have already decided is all they will try to do, with no regard to what the LORD says about the matter. It is not my intention to give the impression that we go to the LORD for Him to reveal to us what He would have someone else to do, as did Jeremiah; but that His instructions for us, and them, are already given in His written word; and many will come for our prayers and advice. But when we tell them what the LORD has set forth in His written word, they will not obey it. They think they have a better answer. And those who will not obey His word, whether as Jeremiah gave it to them, or as written in the Bible, will certainly fail in their endeavors. In this case, the LORD declared that they would die by the very things from which they fled; and they would never again see their home.

Chapter 43

(Verses 1 through 7) And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words, then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there: but Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon. So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah . But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah; even men, and women, and children, and the king’s daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. So they came into the land of Egypt : for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.

This text conclusively proves that the LORD knew exactly what the situation was, when He said, in the preceding chapter, that the people were only deceiving Jeremiah when they promised to do whatever the LORD would command them. They already had their minds made up to go into Egypt , before they even asked Jeremiah to pray for them. Now as Jeremiah finished speaking to them, they accused him of speaking falsely. They said that the LORD had never told him the things he was telling them. They even tried to claim that Baruch was the one behind the whole matter; and that he was trying to deliver them into the hand of the Chaldeans that they might destroy them, or take them captive to Babylon . So it often is with some today. When they hear what the LORD says about a matter, they immediately brand it as the word of someone else, and not the LORD. That is the cry we hear on every side today. Many have arisen, who declare that the Bible is only a collection of fables, myths, and legends, and cannot possibly be the word of the LORD. No doubt this will grow worse as time goes on. But, in the end, The LORD will prove His word true in all things. Not only did these Jews try to brand Jeremiah as a liar, but they made the entire company, over which they had usurped rule, to go with them into Egypt contrary to the command of the LORD.

(Verses 8 through 13) Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; and say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, My servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt , and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword. And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt ; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt , as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace. He shall break also the images of Beth-shemesh, that is in the land of Egypt ; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.

Chapter 44

(Verses 1 through 10) The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwelt in the land of Egypt, which dwelt at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein, because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke Me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers. Howbeit I sent unto you all My servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods. Wherefore My fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah , and in the streets of Jerusalem ; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day. Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain; in that ye provoke Me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah , and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah , and in the streets of Jerusalem ? They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in My law, nor in My statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.

Now the LORD reminds all the Jews who have come into the land of Egypt that, because of the wickedness of both them and their forefathers, He has brought all the desolation they have witnessed upon Judah and Jerusalem . He had repeatedly warned them by His prophets that he would do this; and now it has come to pass. Yet they are ready to rebel against His word, just as did their fathers, and even they themselves. So He asks them, “Why will they do this?” seeing that it will only bring more destruction upon them, so that they will be “a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth.” He knows that they have not been humbled by the terrible things they have experienced, and seen. Neither heretofore, nor now, have they feared Him, or walked in His law or His statutes. He long ago set His law and His statutes before their fathers; and they are still before these to whom He now speaks. But they will not give heed to them. This is a terrible condition for anyone to be in. Yet it seems to be a common ailment of many today who profess to be the servants of the LORD. What then can be expected as the result of such a condition?

(Verses 11 through 14) Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set My face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah . And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their face to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach. For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: so that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.

Thus the LORD declares that all who attempt to stay in Egypt to “ride out the storm” will be destroyed. They will be killed by the very things they seek to escape, the sword, the famine, and the pestilence. All of these, the LORD will send upon them in Egypt , as he did in Jerusalem and Judah . The only ones who shall ever return to Judah are those who “escape.” That is, just a few of them that He will permit to escape as witnesses of the truth of His word.

(Verses 15 through 19) Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

  When Jeremiah had reported to the people what the LORD had said concerning what they should do, they answered him very much as people often do concerning the Bible, the written word of God. They declared that they had no intention of following the LORD’S commands, but would, instead, do whatsoever they pleased. Without realizing it, they used even the mercy of the LORD as an excuse to disobey Him. The LORD had, for a long time, been telling them that He would send upon them this great desolation; but in His mercy, he had given them much time for repentance. And during this time He had been giving them His blessings in spite of their sins. Until the time of His sending this great calamity upon them, He had blessed them with prosperity. They had plenty to eat, and their health was good, and there was no great war to bring its misery upon them. But when trouble began to come upon them, and their prosperity began to diminish, since the prophets had told them that this was coming upon them because of their sins, they may have left off some of their idolatrous practices. But they did it for fear of punishment, and not from repentance. So this did not divert the punishment. But, as they now look back upon the situation, their evil minds cause them to think that their prosperity was greater when they were engaging in all their idolatrous practices, than now. So they are determined to return to all their evils, such as worshipping the queen of heaven, as well as all the other idols they had been serving. They took the philosophy of the materialist: “We tried to serve the LORD, and it did nothing for us. So we will go back to doing as we please.”

(Verses 20 through 23) Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him this answer, saying, The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into His mind? So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in His law, nor in His statutes, nor in His testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.

Here Jeremiah sets the people straight about why all this evil has come upon them. It is not because they have quit burning incense and pouring drink offerings to the queen of heaven; but because they kept on doing those things after the LORD had warned them to repent and turn away from them. They had continued these things so long that the patience of the LORD had come to an end, and He could “no longer bear” the evils they were doing. That is the real reason that their land had been made desolate, and all its inhabitants were taken away. It was not brought about by the anger of the idol gods they had, by necessity, partially quit serving, but by the wrath of the LORD, Whom they had so long refused to obey. They had kept none of His laws, statutes, or testimonies. Therefore they have the result they now see.

(Verses 24 through 28) Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows. Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt ; Behold, I have sworn by My great name, saith the LORD, that My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt , saying, The Lord GOD liveth. Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, Mine, or theirs.

In addition to telling them why things were as bad with them as they saw them at that time, Jeremiah continued his speech to all the people, telling them what lay ahead for them. Since the people had declared that they would do only what they wanted to, and nothing the LORD commanded them, the LORD tells them that they shall, indeed, keep their vows to the queen of heaven. And, since He had also made a vow, swearing by His own great name, He would keep that vow. The result of that would be that no Jew in the land of Egypt would anymore be permitted to use the oath that all Israelites had used since first they became a nation: “The Lord GOD liveth.” It was His determination to bring such evil upon all the Jews in the land of Egypt that they would be destroyed “by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.” Yet, in His mercy, He would let a few of them escape, and return to the land of Judah , that they “shall know whose words shall stand, Mine, or theirs.” When this judgment is finished, there will be no room for doubt as to whose word shall stand.

(Verses 29 and 30) And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that My words shall surely stand against you for evil: Thus saith the LORD; I will give Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

The LORD now gives the Jews a sure sign that His word against them shall stand. That sign is that just as He had delivered Zedekiah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar, so would the king of Egypt be delivered into the hand of his enemies.

Chapter 45

(Verses 1 through 5) The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch; Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest. Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land. And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

Chapter 46

(Verses 1 through 12) The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles; against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh-necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah. Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle. Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand with your helmets, furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines. Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD. Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates . Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers? Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof. Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow. For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that He may avenge Him of His adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. Go up into Gilead, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt : in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured. The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen together.

The address of the word of the LORD is no longer to the Jewish remnant in the land of Egypt , but against Egypt herself. The first segment of it concerns, not what is facing Egypt and the Jews who have sought safety in the land of Egypt, but what took place in the fourth year of Jehoiakim king of Judah. And, inasmuch as it is a call to arms for Egypt that she may go into this battle, it may have been delivered to her before the battle. This call to Egypt is for the purpose of causing Egypt to go up to the river Euphrates against Nebuchadrezzar and his army, that the Egyptians might be overcome by him, and be driven back to their own land. And that is exactly what took place. Since that is what the LORD had told them would take place, and it was fulfilled, why should the Jews now expect help from the Egyptians? There is no help for Egypt ; and neither can Egypt be of help to anyone else. All their mighty men have stumbled against one another in the battle at the Euphrates . Why should anything different be expected now.

(Verses 13 through 26) The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt . Declare ye in Egypt , and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee: for the sword shall devour round about thee. Why are the valiant men swept away? They stood not, because the LORD did drive them. He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword. They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed. As I live, saith the King, Whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come. O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt , furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste without an inhabitant. Egypt is like a fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north. Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation. The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood. They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than grasshoppers, and are innumerable. The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north. The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh and all them that trust in him: and I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.

Having, in the previous text, reminded the people of how the LORD had fulfilled His word to the Egyptians concerning their battle with Nebuchadrezzar at the Euphrates, Jeremiah now gives them His warning concerning the battle that is to be fought in Egypt. The result of this battle will be devastating to Egypt . They will be completely overcome. They are simply as fatted bullocks awaiting the time of their slaughter. Although their forest may be so great that no man can search it out, there will be such a multitude of the Chaldeans that they will completely cut it down. This may be a reference, not to the literal forest of Egypt , so much as to the vast army they have. They think it so great that none can search it out, or count it. But there will be so many more of the Chaldeans that they will have no trouble in subduing it. This is the time the LORD has appointed for the punishment of Egypt . And nothing they can do will avert it. He will deliver them into the hand of their enemies. Nevertheless, after this is all finished to the satisfaction of the LORD, the land will again be inhabited , as in the days of old.

(Verses 27 and 28) But fear not thou, O My servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel : for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be at rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. Fear not thou, O Jacob, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

As always, after the LORD has delivered to Israel a warning of His great judgments that He will bring upon them, He gives to them an affirmation of His promise that he will not completely destroy them. They are never to fear that He will wholly cast them away. He will, indeed correct them in measure. That is, he will bring upon them the full measure of chastisement that He deems needed to bring them to repentance. But they will never be completely destroyed. That promise has been kept even to this day. And it will be kept forever. He has promised that as long as the ordinances of day and night continue, Israel shall still have a remnant before Him. Do not ever be taken in by this modern doctrine that God has forever cast away Israel , and given all the promises He made to her, to the gospel Church . That doctrine is what the Nazis followed in their “Final Solution.” And it was their downfall.

Chapter 47

(Verses 1 through 7) The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza . Thus saith the LORD; behold, waters shall rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overthrow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl. And the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands; because of the day that cometh to spoil all of the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. Baldness is come upon Gaza ; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest and be still. How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon , and against the sea shore? There hath He appointed it.

From the time the LORD brought the Israelites into the land of Canaan , down to the time of this writing, the Philistines had been enemies of Israel . Here the LORD declares that a day is coming in which the land of the Philistines shall be made a complete desolation. Since this word was sent to Jeremiah before Pharaoh and his army overran the land of the Philistines, it must be a warning of that great battle. It was to be as if a great flood overflowed the land, leaving nothing behind it but destruction. Several cities of the Philistines are mentioned by name. But not they only, but the whole land was to suffer. The fear of the people would be so great that fathers would flee, and not even look back at their children, because they had no strength with which to help them. In that day every helper would be cut off. He then asks a question, “O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet?” Then he tells it to replace itself in the scabbard. But the answer is, “How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon , and against the sea shore? There hath He appointed it.” Gaza is a strip of land along the sea shore, and Ashkelon was one of its principal cities. So since the LORD has given His sword a charge against Ashkelon and the sea shore, there is no stopping it until its work has been finished.

Chapter 48

(Verses 1 through 6) Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Moab is confounded and dismayed. There shall be no more praise of Moab : in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee. A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction. Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard. For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction. Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.

Now the message is against Moab . The Moabites were descendants of Lot the nephew of Abraham. In spite of their near kinship to the Jews, they were not always on the friendliest of terms with them, as one would think they should be. Some times they would be on very friendly terms, and at others they were enemies. One should read Isaiah, chapters 15 and 16 along with this chapter. Jeremiah declares that there shall be great affliction in the land of Moab . He names several of the cities that shall suffer, to indicate that the whole land shall be destroyed and spoiled. Then he warns the Moabites to flee for their lives, and dwell in the wilderness for their protection.

(Verses 7 through 13) For thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together. And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken. Give wings unto Moab , that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein. Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles. And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Beth-el their confidence.

One of the meanings of “Chemosh” is, “the sun.” So, no doubt, the Moabites were worshippers of the sun, as well as many other idols. They trusted in the works of their hands, that is in the idols and graven images they had made. Even the priests and princes of their sun worship will go into captivity. When the spoiler comes upon them, no city shall be spared, and both the valley and the plain shall be destroyed. He seems to show some compassion for Moab , as he says, “Give wings unto Moab that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.” Then,  He declares a curse upon those who show any slackness about executing the judgment of the LORD against Moab . He says that Moab has too long been left at ease. And because of this the LORD will send among the Moabites wanderers who will cause them to wander, “and empty his vessels, and break their bottles.” That is, He will send upon them their enemies, who shall completely spoil them. Just as Israel has been made ashamed of Beth-el, a center of their idol worship, so shall Moab be ashamed of Chemosh, their sun worship. They will find that it will not support nor protect them.

(Verses 14 through 25) How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war? Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, Whose name is the LORD of hosts. The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast. All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod! Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds. O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, What is done? Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled, and judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath, and upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth-diblathaim, and upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth-gamul, and upon Beth- meon, and upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of Moab, far or near. The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD.

The Lord asks the question of the Moabites, “How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?” Since Moab is completely spoiled, what right have the Moabites to claim to be so mighty and strong for the war. They will be slaughtered by the army that is coming against them. That calamity is almost upon them. And when it does come, it will come upon every city of the land, and there shall be no escape from it. He names many of the cities of Moab , and adds, “and upon all the cities of Moab , far or near.” So, none will escape. “The horn” is the symbol of power, as is also “the arm.” So, with the horn cut off, and the arm broken, there is no ability left for them to protect themselves. This is sure to come, for the LORD has spoken it.

(Verses 26 through 34) Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he shall be in derision. For was mot Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou speakest of him, thou skippedst for joy. O ye that dwell in Moab , leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole’s mouth. We have heard the pride of Moab , (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart. I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it. Therefore will I howl for Moab , and I will cry out for all Moab ; My heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres. O vine of Sibma, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer : the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage. And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab ; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting. From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate.

The LORD gives a command that Moab (the people of Moab ) be made drunken because he has magnified himself against the LORD. he shall be so drunk that he will wallow in his own vomit, thus becoming a derision to all that see him. The reason for this is that he has derided Israel , and when he speaks of Israel , that is, of the calamity that has befallen Israel , he skips with joy. He is very pleased at Israel ’s downfall. So, such evil is determined against Moab , that all the inhabitants of the cities are warned to flee from these cities, and hide in the caves of the mountains, as doves that make their nests in the sides of the entrances of the caves. He then mentions the great pride and arrogance of the Moabites, which seems to have been well known. But that will all fade away before the terrible calamity that is to come upon them. The LORD declares that their calamity will be so great that even He will mourn for them. They have become so great that they are even reaching across the sea. That is, they are selling their goods across the sea. But all this is about to change. “The spoiler is fallen upon their summer fruits and upon their vintage,” so that there is no more joy and gladness in their fields that have been so fruitful. The gathering and pressing of their grapes has always been a time of much merriment, with shouting and singing. But that is to be no more. Throughout the land there will only be cries of sorrow. They will be made utterly desolate.

(Verses 35 through 46) Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab , saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods. Therefore Mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and Mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished. For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth. There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab , and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD. They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him. For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab . Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men’s hearts in that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs. And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD. Fear and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab , saith the LORD. He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab , the year of visitation, saith the LORD. They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab , and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones. Woe be unto thee, O Moab! The people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.

The LORD continues His declaration against Moab . All those in Moab who make offerings to other gods and burn incense to them will surely perish. Here the LORD uses a somewhat strange expression, “Therefore Mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and Mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he had gotten are perished.” Since it is the LORD Who is bringing this desolation upon Moab , one wonders if this is a show of sympathy for Moab , or rejoicing that His anger against Moab is now to be satisfied. It was a custom among many of the ancients to shave their heads, and clip off all their beards to show that they were suffering great affliction. And That is to be the status of all the men of Moab . Wherever the people gather, whether on their housetops, or in the streets, there will be much lamentation. They will howl and cry because of the destruction of Moab . The LORD declares that this calamity shall “fly as an eagle, and spread his wings over Moab . The men of Moab , who had been known for their bravery, will be as women in childbirth, weak and frightened. So far as being a nation is concerned, Moab will cease to exist. The LORD declares that three things shall lay hold of Moab , the fear, the pit, and the snare. Those who flee from the fear shall be taken in the pit and the snare. The LORD declares that it is He Who will bring all this upon Moab . He calls it the Year of their visitation. “Heshbon,” although it means “reason,” is also the name of a mountain in the area. Those who flee will stand in the shadow thereof, but a fire will come forth from it and destroy them, especially those of them that are violent. The LORD declares a woe unto Chemosh, the sun god they have worshipped, because all their children, both sons and daughters are to be taken away captive.

(Verse 47) Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab .

This is God’s promise to Moab . Notice that He does not go into detail concerning the restoration of Moab as He does that of Israel , in the places where He gives the promise of their restoration. But He does declare that He will “bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days.” Then He declares that this is the extent of the judgment of Moab . We make no further inquiry.

Chapter 49

(Verses 1 through 6) Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? Hath he no heir? Why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities? Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause the alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD. Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together. Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, the flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me? Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee: and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth. And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.

The Ammonites are the other branch of the descendants of Lot . So they too are related to the Israelites. When Israel was carried away captive, they moved in and took some of the territory that had belonged to Israel . This is what gives rise to the questions the LORD asked them at the beginning of this text. They were acting as if they thought the LORD had forever cast away Israel , just as many think today. However this did not please the LORD. So He declares that he will bring upon them great desolation, and drive them into captivity also. He makes abundantly clear what is in store for the Ammonites. Yet He also declares that afterward He will “bring again “ their captivity. That is, He will bring them back from their captivity. He gives no more details of this than He does of the restoration of the Moabites.

(Verses 7 through 22) Concerning Edom , thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? Is counsel perished from the prudent? Is their wisdom vanished? Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him. If grapegatherers came unto thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? If thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough. But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbors, and he is not. Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? Thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it. For I have sworn by Myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes. I have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, gather ye together, and come against her, and rise to the battle. For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men. Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD. Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it. Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? For who is like Me? and who will appoint me the time? And who is that shepherd that will stand before Me? Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that He hath taken against Edom ; and His purposes, that He hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely He shall make their habitations desolate with them. The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red Sea . Behold, he shall come up and fly like an eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

Edom is another name of Esau, and is also applied to the territory in which the descendants of Esau lived, as well as to the people themselves. It will be remembered that Esau was the brother of Jacob. So the Israelites were also related to the people of Edom . Nevertheless Israel and Edom have never been on the friendliest of terms with each other. And even today they are not close friends. The territory of Edom is primarily in what is today called Saudi Arabia . In this text, the LORD declares that He will punish Edom . Teman was one of the cities of Edom , and, apparently, it was considered as a center of great wisdom. Now the LORD asks, “Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?” Thus He signifies that He will cut off their wisdom. He calls for the inhabitants of Dedan, another city of Edom , to flee, and hide themselves, (“dwell deep”) for He will bring upon Esau a terrible calamity. He, by a question, says that if grape gatherers came upon the people of Edom , they would leave gleaning grapes, that is, they would not completely strip the vines. And neither would thieves steal any more than they wanted. But what He will send upon them will leave them completely bare. It will completely destroy them, leaving none but the widows and fatherless children. In chapter 25 Jeremiah was commanded to take the cup of the LORD’S fury to all nations, and cause them to drink of it. And if any refused to drink of it, he was to say to those who refused, “Thus saith the LORD of Hosts; ‘Ye shall certainly drink.’” Now concerning Edom , He says, “Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.” He has determined to send upon them such destruction that Bozrah, one of their major cities, will become “a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.” He will call the heathen together against Edom , and make Edom small and despised among men. Edom has been deceived by the thoughts of her own importance. But no matter how high she may build her nest, the LORD will bring her down. He will make her as desolate as Sodom and Gomorrah . “No man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell there.” Not a single inhabitant shall be left. Verse 19 seems a little strange, by reason of the manner in which it is worded. “Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make       him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like Me? and who will appoint Me the time? And who is that shepherd that shall stand before Me?” Since the LORD is indeed “the Strong,” or mighty one, and His temple was considered His habitation,  this seems to be telling us that Edom will come against Jerusalem . But when he does, the LORD will “suddenly make him run away from her. Then He asks, “Who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like Me?” Evidently, this looks forward to the day when all nations shall be gathered against Jerusalem , and the Lord will descend and stand on the mount of Olives, and He will fight Jerusalem ’s battle for her. In that day the Lord Jesus will be the King in Jerusalem . Since He and the Father are One, He is the One Who is like the Father, and is therefore “A chosen Man,” Whom the father can appoint over her. He then asks another question, “Who will appoint Me the time?” That is “who can tell Me when this shall be?” And this is something none can do; for Jesus has told us that none knows the time of his coming, neither the angels of heaven, nor even the Son , but the Father only. And finally, “Who is that shepherd that will stand before Me?” This might be interpreted either of two ways. In one view, it might seem that the LORD is asking “Who is worthy to be chosen as the shepherd to stand before Him?” and, of course, the answer is the same as that of the first two questions. On the other hand, it may simply amount to a challenge, “Who is able to stand before (or against) Me?” And none can do that. The remaining three verses of this text simply tell us that the LORD has determined to make the whole land of Edom desolate. And the fall of Edom will be so great that the earth itself will be moved by it, and their cry will be heard even to the Red Sea . This calamity shall come upon them as swiftly as the eagle, and the hearts of all the mighty men of Edom shall be gripped with fear, as a woman in childbirth. Notice that there is absolutely nothing said about any possible restoration of Edom . And since the desolation here described has not yet come upon Edom , we must conclude that it is still to come. For the LORD will fulfill His word.

(Verses 23 through 27) Concerning Damascus , Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! Therefore her young men shall fall in the streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus , and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad.

This is the declaration of great punishment for Damascus . Previous to Jeremiah’s day Damascus had been a kingdom in the area of what is now called Syria . When the Assyrians overcame Israel and the other kingdoms in the region, it was reduced to a province. But now we primarily hear of it as a city in Syria . They will be in great confusion, and the fear is so great that all hands are enfeebled so that they cannot successfully defend themselves. Their young men and all of their soldiers will be cut off, either killed or taken captive, and the wall and the palaces of Damascus will be burned. Still the destruction and desolation here seems to not be so great as has been pronounced for some other nations that have been mentioned.

(Verses 28 through 33) Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east. Their tents and their flocks shall they take away, they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side. Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you. Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars , which dwell alone. And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD. And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.

There were some cities in the Middle East that considered themselves as kingdoms. And Hazor was one of these. But the LORD declares that Nebuchadrezzar will put an end to it. It will be utterly destroyed. Nebuchadrezzar will take all their wealth and cattle, and destroy it so that it will no longer be inhabited by man. According to geological reports, that must be exactly what was done.

(Verses 34 through 39) The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah , saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam , the chief of their might. And upon Elam will I bring the four winds  from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even My fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: and I will set My throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam , saith the LORD.

In the early days of the reign of Zedekiah, the LORD spoke again to Jeremiah, giving him a message for the people of Elam . The affliction He will bring upon them is such that He likens it to a great storm coming from all four directions at once. The outcome of the matter will be that the inhabitants of Elam will be scattered into every nation of the earth. The LORD will set His throne in Elam , that is, His throne of judgment. For He will send upon them His fierce anger until their king and their princes are consumed, and all the people are scattered over the whole world. Yet He will not completely annihilate them. In the latter days he will bring them back from their captivity.

Chapter 50

(Verses 1 through 3) The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet. Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.

At the time of this writing, Babylon had not even taken Judah and Jerusalem captive. The siege against Jerusalem was still in progress. Still the LORD looks forward to the time when He will punish Babylon for her sins against His chosen people, Judah and Israel . There are many who, for lack of understanding the way of the LORD, tell us that He is unfair in His treatment of individuals and nations. This we emphatically deny. However, He did, and still does, work all things after the counsel of His own will, and not according to the rules we, or others might like to place upon Him. Isaiah tells us that it was the LORD Who sent the Assyrians against Israel , and the One Who also punished the Assyrians for what they did. Now Jeremiah tells us that the LORD will punish Babylon for what she is going to do to Judah . The punishment He will send upon her will be so great that her land shall be made desolate, with neither man nor beast to dwell therein. This destruction shall come upon her from the north country.

(Verses 4 through 8) In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. My people hath been lost sheep; their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, and have forgotten their restingplace. All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers. Remove out of the midst of Babylon , and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the goats before the flocks.

When the LORD shall bring upon Babylon and the Chaldeans this great punishment, He will also call forth the children of Judah and the remnant of the children of Israel, who were carried with them to Babylon, to go back to their own land. And they will go, weeping as they go, and seeking the LORD their God. As they go to Zion , they will also say, “Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.” He says concerning them, “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray.” As we look back at the warnings the LORD has given His people from time to time, we find that most often it has been the leaders of the people that have caused them to go astray. In Numbers, chapter 12, we find that even Aaron and Miriam attempted to lead them astray because of Moses’ wife. And ever since, leaders were rising up, and leading them astray. At the time He spoke to Jeremiah, the situation had become so bad, and it continued so bad, even during their captivity, that He says, “They have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.” That is, they have become so confused by all this false leadership that they no longer even know where their place of rest is. Surely the LORD has always been the place of their rest, but they have forgotten this. Although verse 7 does indeed fit their condition during the Babylonian captivity, it is even their description since the dispersion in 70 AD, and continues today. “All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.” This is the very thought that fueled the Germans in their “Final Solution” against them, as it does today every anti Semitic organization in the world. What is still worse, even many who claim to believe the word of God will echo the same sentiment, declaring that the LORD has forever cast them off, in spite of His many declarations that He will yet restore them. He tells them, in verse 8, “Remove out of the midst of Babylon , and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the goats before the flocks.” Since goats are usually more aggressive than sheep, it was, and in some places still is, customary to keep a few goats among a flock of sheep. They will lead the way, and the sheep will follow. So, when the children of Judah are released from the Babylonian captivity, they are to go forth aggressively as leaders, and not be timid as sheep.

(Verses 9 through 16) For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD. Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of Mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD. Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD upon her; as she hath done, do unto her. Cut off the sower from Babylon , and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.

It seems that the reference to the assembly of nations from the north country that the LORD would raise up against Babylon looks beyond the overthrow of the Babylonians by the Medes and Persians to the conquest of Alexander the great, and the coalition that was with him. Certainly the Jews were delivered from the Babylonian captivity before the time of Alexander. But He is the one who destroyed Babylon . The LORD declares that when He shall bring these destroyers against Babylon she shall be made completely desolate. Just as He has said about other kingdoms against whom He has pronounced judgment. The reason for this terrible desolation is that the Babylonians had rejoiced so greatly at the calamity they had inflicted upon Judah and Jerusalem . Great manly virtue and ferocity in battle had long been considered points of character for which to be very proud. But, when this battle comes upon Babylon , the mothers of all these hitherto such mighty warriors will be confused and ashamed of them. For they will be shown up as cowards. And Babylon shall become as desert, having no inhabitants. It will be an astonishment to all who pass by it. The LORD calls for all that bend the bow to shoot at Babylon : “for she hath sinned against the LORD.” She shall have her walls and her foundations destroyed by the vengeance of the LORD. He will cut off both the sower and the reaper, and they shall all flee away.

(Verses 17 through 20) Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria . And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead . In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah , and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

The LORD declares that, despite the ravages of the king of Assyria and Nebuchadrezzar against Israel and Judah , He will bring them back to their homeland, and pardon all their sins and transgressions. He will also punish the king of Babylon , just as He already has the king of Assyria . Carmel and Bashan were considered the finest of pasture for sheep. And, metaphorically, since He has referred to Israel as sheep, He says that is where they shall feed. Notice the last expression of verse 20, “For I will pardon them whom I reserve.” This shows clearly that He is sovereign in His choice of men . He did not say that he would pardon those who fulfilled some condition He set before them. But those whom He reserved. The selection is altogether His.

(Verses 21 through 32) Go up against the land of Merathaim , even against it, and the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee. A sound of battle is in the land, and great destruction. How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD. The LORD hath opened His armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of His indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left. Slay her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation. The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of His temple. Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel. Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD. Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.

The LORD gives a command for the nations to go up against Babylon to waste and utterly destroy her and her inhabitants. Then He calls attention to what great destruction is coming upon her. He uses a name for Babylon that is very fitting, since she has destroyed so many nations, and brought them into subjugation to her king. He calls her, “the hammer of the whole earth,” because she has beaten down so many nations. But she is no match for the LORD. He has laid a snare for her; and she is caught and taken before she is even aware of what is being done. He calls for utter destruction upon her, both upon her people and her cattle. None are to escape except those that shall “declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of His temple.” She has been very proud against the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. And He is against her because of this. And the day has come for Him to visit upon her His judgments. He says, “And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.”

(Verses 33 and 34) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is His name: He will throughly plead their cause, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon .

This is just a reminder that any who abuse the LORD’S chosen people, Israel and Judah, are treading on dangerous ground. All who have held them captive, have held them tightly, and refused to let them go. But their Redeemer is strong. He is the LORD of Hosts; and He will fully take care of them. And when He does, He will disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon . And this also goes for anyone else who tries to abuse His people. If men only had a little knowledge of the greatness of the Lord God, how much more careful they would be to try to please Him instead of defying Him! He will always avenge His own.

(Verses 35 through 40) A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon , and upon her princes, and upon her wise men. A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed. A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed. A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

Perhaps, it may be well to refresh our memories with a definition of one word used in this text, in the event someone might have forgotten just what it means. He says concerning those against whom He shall send the sword, “And they shall dote.” According to the dictionary, “dote,” means, “To have the intellect impaired by age, so that the mind wanders, or wavers; to be in a state of senile silliness.” The LORD declares that there shall be a sword upon, or against, the Chaldeans, the inhabitants of Babylon , her princes, her wise men, and the liars. And all of these shall dote. And the sword against her mighty men will cause them to be as weak and fearful as women. So there will be none to defend her. Her treasures shall be robbed, and her waters dried up. This judgment upon her is because of her addiction to graven images and other idols. For this, she shall be left desolate, with no inhabitants, except the wild beasts. She shall be as desolate as Sodom and Gomorrah , not just for a little while, but forever.

(Verses 41 through 46) Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not show mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon. The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail. Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like Me? and who will appoint Me the time? And who is that shepherd that will stand before Me? Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that He hath taken against Babylon ; and His purposes, that He hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely He shall make their habitation desolate with them. At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.

Verses 44 through 46 are almost exactly the same as Chapter 49, verses 19 through 21. But when taken in its context, with verses 41 through 43, it seems to definitely look forward to the coming of the campaign of Alexander the great. As we noted earlier, though the Babylonian kingdom was overcome and taken by the Medes and Persians, the city of Babylon was not at that time destroyed. That was the work of Alexander and his army. Also Alexander came against Jerusalem , but left without taking the city. Thus the prevailing evidence is that this points to Alexander’s campaign instead of that of the Medes and Persians. Otherwise the interpretation of this passage should be the same as that of Chapter 49, verses 19 through 21.