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.”