X��b��1-4. Hananiah. ����c��5-9. Jeremiah. ���b��10,11. Hananiah. ����c��12-17. Jeremiah.
485 B.C.
28) 1: And it came to pass the same year (as 27:12, when Jeremiah spoke to Zedekiah; not 27:1, when he recieved the mesage which was to be delivered. The same year in which Jeremiah had conselled Zedekiah not to listen to the false prophets, 27:14), in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah (= gift of God. He was a false prohet. Cp. 27:12,14) the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon (a city of priests, Josh.21:17. Hananiah was therefore probably a priest as Jeremiah was. Now el Jib, north of Jerusalem), spake to me in the house of Yahaveh, in the presence of the priests and of all the People, saying,
�2: �Thus speaks Yahaveh Sabaioth, the Elohim of Israel, saying, �I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. (this was proved to be a false promise)
�3: Within two full years (Heb. 2 years in days [measured in] days: i.e. complete years. Not years of day, a year for a day) will I bring again into this place all the vessels of Yahaveh's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: (see 27:6)
�4: And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, [is] Yehovah's oracle: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.� �
�5: Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests (spelt here, and in this chapter only, except 27:1. Ezra 1:1 Dan.9:2., in an abbreviated form, "Yirmeyah", instead of "Yirmey�hu", as elsewhere. This may be to bring the true prophet into stronger contrast with the false "Hananeyah"), and in the presence of all the People that stood in the house of Yahaveh,
�6: Even the prophet Jeremiah said, �Amen (interpreted in the words that follow): Yahaveh do so: Yahaveh perform the words which you have prophesied, to bring again the vessels of Yahaveh's house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.
�7: Nevertheless hear you now this word that I speak in your ears, and in the ears of all the people;
�8: The prophets that have been before me and before you of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of calamity (some codices read "famine". Cp. 27:8, and 29:17), and of pestilence.
�9: The prophet which prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass (according to the test laid down in Deut.18:21,22), then shall the prophet be known, that Yahaveh has truly sent him.�
�10: Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke (made of wood, see v.13. See 27:2) from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck (so that Jeremiah was still wearing it), and broke it.
�11: And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the People, saying, �Thus says Yahaveh; �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. (having no further word from Yahaveh)
W��O��1-7. Letter of Jeremiah to the Captivity. ����P��d���8,9. Dehortation. False prophets. ��������e���10-14. Prophecy to captives. Good. �������d���15. Dehortation. False prophets. ��������e���16-19. Prophecy to residue. Evil. �������d���20-29. Dehortation. False prophets. ���O��30-32. Message of Yahaveh to the Captivity.
489-488 B.C.
29) 1: Now these are the words of the writing (i.e prophecies, as in 25:1; 26:1; 27:1; 30:1, &c.) that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the elders which were carried away captives (cp. Ezek.8:1; 14:1; 20:1), and to the priests, and to the prophets (i.e. Ezekiel, 1:1; Daniel, 1:6), and to all the People whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;
�2: (After that Jeconiah the king (i.e. Jehoiachin = whom Yahaveh has appointed), and the queen-mother (Nehushta, the wife of Jehoiakim. Cp. 13:18. See 2 Kings 24:12,15), and the chamberlains, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the artificers (cp. 24:1), and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;B>)
�3: By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan (see 2 Kings 22:3. Cp. 26:4), and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah (as in 2 Kings 22:4), (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying, (cp. 51:59)
�4: �Thus says Yahaveh Sabaioth, the Elohim of Israel, to all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
�5: �Build you all houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
�6: Take you all wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that you all may be increased there, and not diminished.
�7: And seek the welfare of the city (cp. Ezra 6:10) to which place I have caused you to be carried away captives (for 63 years. From Jehoiachin's captivity to Cyrus, 489-426 = 63), and pray to Yehovah for it: for in the peace thereof shall you all have peace.�
�8: For thus says Yahaveh Sabaioth, Elohim of Israel; �Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither listen to your dreams which you all cause to be dreamed.
�9: For they prophesy falsely to you in My name: I have not sent them, [is] Yahaveh's oracle.�
�10: For thus says Yahaveh, �That after 70 years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you (cp. 25:12), and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
�11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, [is] Yahaveh's oracle, thoughts of peace, and not of calamity, to give you an expected end. (Heb. "an end and an expectation" = an end, yes, an end which I have caused you to hope for: i.e. a hope-for end)
�12: Then shall you all call upon Me, and you all shall go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
�13: And you all shall seek Me (see Deut.4:29; 30:2), and find Me, when you all shall search for Me with all your heart.
�14: And I will be found of you, [is] Yahaveh's oracle: and I will turn back your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places wherever I have driven you, says Yahaveh; and I will bring you again into the place wherever I caused you to be carried away captive.
�15: Because you all have said, �Yehovah has raised us up prophets in Babylon;�
�16: Know that thus says Yahaveh concerning the king that sits upon the throne of David, and of all the People that dwell in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;
�17: Thus says Yahaveh Sabaioth; �Behold, I will send upon them the sword, and the famine, and the pestilence (see Lev.26:25,26. Deut.28:21-24), and will make them like worthless figs (see 24:2, &c.), that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
�18: 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 the kingdoms of the earth (see Deut.28:25. Cp. 24:9), to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations wherever I have driven them:
�19: Because they have not listened to My words, [is] Yahaveh's oracle, which I sent to them by My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (see 7:13); but you al would not hear, [is] Yahaveh's oracle.�
�20: Hear you all therefore the word of Yahaveh, all you of the captivity, whom I have sent (some codices read "caused to be carried away captive) from Jerusalem to Babylon:
�21: Thus says Yahaveh Sabaioth, the Elohim of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah (these were false prophets who Nebuchadnezzar treated as stated in v.22), which prophesy a lie to you in My name; �Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;
�22: And of them shall be taken up a curse formula by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, �Yahaveh make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;�
�23: Because they have vileness in Israel (i.e. worshipped idols. See first occ. in Gen.34:7), and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in My name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, [is] Yahaveh's oracle.�
�24: Thus shall you also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite (or, dreamer), saying,
�25: �Thus speaks Yahaveh Sabaioth, the Elohim of Israel, saying, �Because you have sent letters in your name to all the People that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,
�26: �Yahaveh has made you priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that you all should be officers in the house of Yahaveh, for every man that is mad (cp. John 2:20; 10:20,39), and makes himself a prophet (cp. Matt.21:11. John 8:53), that you should put him in prison, and in the stocks.
�27: Now therefore why have you not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which makes himself a prophet to you?
�28: For therefore he sent to us in Babylon, saying, �This captivity is long: build you all houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.� � � � �
�29: And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.
�30: Then came the word of Yahaveh to Jeremiah, saying,
�31: �Send to all them of the captivity, saying, �Thus says Yehovah concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; �Because that Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to confide in a lie:
�32: Therefore thus says Yahaveh; 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, [is] ehovah's oracle; because he has taught rebellion against Yahaveh.� � � (see Deut.13:5)
V��Q��30:1-17. Book. ����R��S��30:18. City. Rebuilding. ��������T��30:19 - 31:1. People. Restoration. ���Q��31:2-26. Vision. ����R���T��31:27-37. People. Restoration. �������S��31:38-40. City. Rebuilding.
Q��U��1,2. Words. ����V��3. Restoration. General. ���U��4. Words. ����V��5-17. Restoration. Particular.
30) 1: The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahaveh, saying,
�2: �Thus speaks Yahaveh Elohim of Israel, saying, �Write you all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. (for abiding comfort and hope in the coming times of trouble. Written before the deportaion. Cp.30:5-11, 12-24. A dark foreground is shown in 31:37)
�3: For, lo, the days come, [is] Yahaveh's oracle, that I will bring again the captivity of My People Israel and Judah, [is] Yahaveh's oracle: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.� �
�4: And these are the words that Yahaveh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. (this is the introduction to the 2 Chapters)
V��f��5-7-. Tribulation. ����g��-7-10. Restoration. �����h��11. Jehovah the Saviour. ���f��12-15. Tribulation. ����g��16. Retaliation. �����h��17. Yehovah the Healer.
�5: For thus says Yahaveh; �We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
�6: Ask ye now, and see whether a male does travail with child? wherefore do I see every strong man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
�7: Alas! for that day is great (the interpretation here is of the day of Babylon's overthrow. The application is of the yet future Great Tribulation of Matt.24. This is in contrast with the day of Restoration. Great, &c = too great to have another like it), so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; (Not Israel's, for it is the natural seed that is here in question, not the spiritual. See Gen.32:28; 43:6; 45:26,28)
but he shall be saved out of it.
�8: For it shall come to pass in that day, says Yahaveh Sabaioth, that I will break his yoke from off your neck (reminding us of 28:10,11), and will burst your bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
�9: But they shall serve Yahaveh their Elohim, and David their king (this is yet future. Cp. Ezekiel, Jeremiah's contempory, Ezek.34:23,24; 37:24,25. Isa.55:3. Hos.3:5, for 7 years, 484-477 B.C.), whom I will raise up to them.
�10: Therefore fear you not (taking up Isa.41:10,18; 43:5; 44:2), O my servant Jacob, [is] Yahaveh's oracle; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be [again] in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
�11: For I am with you, [is] Yahaveh's oracle, to save you: though I make a full end of all nations to which place I have scattered you, yet will I not make a full end of you: but I will correct you in full measure, and will not leave you altogether guiltless. (see Ex.20:7; 34:7. Num.14:18)
�12: For thus says Yahaveh, �your bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.
�13: There is none to plead your cause, for binding you up: you have no healing medicines.
�14: All your lovers have forgotten you; they seek you not; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquity; because your sins were increased.
�15: Why do you cry for your affliction? your sorrow is incurable for the multitude of your iniquity: because your sins were increased, I have done these things to you.
�16: Therefore all they that devour you shall be devoured (see Ex.23:22); and all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil you shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon you will I give for a prey.
�17: For I will restore health to thee, and I will heal you of your wounds, [is] Yahaveh's oracle; because they called you an Outcast, saying, �This is Zion, whom no man seeks after.� �
�18: Thus says Yahaveh; �Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own ruins (this cannot be a spiritual application; still less interpretation. It is literally Zion. This was written in the book, before the siege, which already had been foretold, Chs. 7; 19; 21:10; 34:2; 37:10), and the fortress shall remain after the manner thereof (or, upon its own site).
T��i��30:19-21. Blessings. ����k��30:22. People accepted. ���i��30:23,24. Judgment. ����k��31:1. People accepted.
�19: And out of them (i.e. the restored cities and fortesses) 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 [in number].
�20: Their sons also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before Me, and I will punish all that oppress them. (First used by God Himself, Ex.3:9)
�21: And their nobles (Heb. his Prince, i.e. Jacob's) shall be of themselves, and their governor (Heb. his Ruler, i.e. Jacob's) shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near (see Num.16:5), and he shall approach to Me: for who is this that pledges his heart to approch to Me? [is] Yahaveh's oracle. (cp. Isa.63:1, in judgment. att. 21:10, in grace)
�22: And you all shall be My People, and I will be your Elohim.
�23: Behold, the whirlwind of Yahaveh goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind (= a tempest rolling itself upward: i.e. a roaring tempest): it shall fall with pain upon the head of the lawless ones.
�24: The fierce anger of Yahaveh shall not return, until He have done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart: in the end of the days you all shall understand it. (see Gen.49:1. Cp. 23:20)
31)�1: At the same time (i.e. in the last days), [is] Yahaveh's oracle, will I be the Elohim to all the families of Israel (not Judah alone), and they shall be My People.� (see Lev.26:12. Cp. 30:22; 32:38, &c.)
Q��l���2-7. Joy. ����m���8. Restoration. �����n���9. Sorrow ended. ���l���10-14. Joy. ����m���15-17. Restoration. �����n���18-22. Sorrow ended. ���l���23. Blessing. ����m���24. Restoration. �����n���25,26. Sorrow ended.
�2: Thus says Yahaveh, �The People which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.� � (see Ex.3. Num.10:33. Deut.1:33)
�3: Yahaveh has appeared of old to me, saying, �Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love (see Isa.44:7): therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you.
�4: Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel: you shall again be adorned with your tabrets, and shall go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
�5: You shalt yet plant vineyards upon the mountains (a special rwading called the Sevir reads "cities") of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. (see Lev.19:23-25. Deut.20:6; 28:30. Cp. Isa.62:9)
�6: For there is a day, that the watchmen upon the hill country of Ephraim shall cry, �Arise you all, and let us go up to Zion to Yahaveh our Elohim.�
�7: For thus says Yahaveh; �Sing with gladness for Jacob (notice the frequent use of "Jacob" in these chapters, referring to the natural seed), and shout among the chief of the nations: publish you all, praise you all, and say, �O Yahaveh, save Your people (Heb. Hosannah. See Ps.118:25, and Matt.21:9), the remnant of Israel.�
�8: Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them out from the extremities of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travails with child together: an organized community shall return to this place.
�9: They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the streams of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.� � (see Ex.4:22. "My firstborn" occ. nowhere else. Cp. Ps.89:29. Ephraim put for the the 10 Northern tribes)
�10: Hear the word of Yahaveh, O all you nations, and declare it in the maritime-countries afar off, and say, �He that scattered Israel will gather him (see Deut.30:3), and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
�11: For Yahaveh has redeemed [with power] Jacob (see Ex.13:13), and redeemed [by blood] and avenged him (see Ex.6:6) from the hand of him that was stronger than he. (see Ps.35:10)
�12: Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of Yahaveh, 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.
�13: 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.
�14: And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and My People shall be satisfied with My goodness, [is] Yahaveh's oracle.�
�15: Thus says Yahaveh; �A voice was heard on a high place (Evidently a "high place" near Bethlehem. A common name in Palastine.), lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel (the mother of Joseph and Benjamin [i.e. Ephraim]; thus uniting the 2 kingdoms and the 2 peoples. Cp. v.9) weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. (now, another weeping, and other comfort given. Cp. vv.9,16. See Gen.42:36. Quoted in Matt.2:18. See Gen.35:19)
�16: Thus says Yahaveh; �Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears: for your work there exists a reward, [is] Yahaveh's oracle; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. (i.e. in resurrectiom)
�17: And there exists hope in your end, [is] Yahaveh's oracle, that your sons shall come again to their own border.
�18: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; �You did chastise me, and I have been chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: You cause me to return, and I shall be turned; for you are Yahaveh my Elohim.
�19: Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yes, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.�
�20: Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant young child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore My bowels are troubled for him (see Deut.32:36. Cp. Luke 15:20); I will surely have mercy upon him, [is] Yahaveh's oracle.
�21: Erect waymarks, set up high heaps (i.e. finger posts): set your heart toward the highway, even the way which you went: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these your cities.
�22: How long will you go about (i.e. in order to elude by withdrawing. Elsewhere only in Song 5:6), O you backsliding daughter? for Yahaveh has created a new thing (the interpretation must satisfy this condition) in the land (this is another condition), A spouse (i.e. Israel shall turn and cleave to the Mighty One. See Gen.1:27; 5:2; 6:19; 7:3,9,16. Lev.3:1,6; 4:28; 5:6, &c. Here, the virgin of Israel) shall turn about [so as to return to seek the favour of] a mighty one. (A "new thing" for a woman to become the suitor. See 31:14 and Deut.24:4. Hos.2:19, &c. Heb. sabab, to turn about, used in Ps.26:6, "so will I compass Your altar", not go around it, but keep close to it. Cp. Ps.7:7. [Jonah 2:5, "closed me round"]. Instead of "going about", wandering [first line], the virgin of Israel will seek, and cleave close to the Mighty One, even Yahaveh, as a girdle cleaves to a man)
�23: Thus says Yahaveh Sabaioth, the Elohim 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 (this cannot be spiritualized); �Yahaveh bless you, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.�
�24: And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
�25: For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.� �
�26: Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet to me.