Jer 8:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | These three verses still belong to the previous chapter. That chapter ends with a picture of dead bodies not being buried. Thereby the nadir of humiliation is not yet reached. Something even more terrifying follows, if possible, and that is the digging up of already buried bodies, that is, their bones, in order to desecrate them ( ). Again, the constant repetition of words, in this case “the bones of”, makes the message all the more poignant (cf. ). “At that time” means the time of the national disasters that will come upon them because of their unfaithfulness and unrighteousness described above. The enemy, the army of the Babylonians, will come and commit desecration of the graves. The reason they may have for this is to see if, especially in the graves of the kings and princes, there are any valuables to be found. But the LORD is allowing this to happen in order to add to the deep reproach that the whole people, from the highest to the lowest among them, including the religious class, have brought upon themselves. The enemy will spread the bones “out to the sun, the moon and to all the host of heaven” ( ). These heavenly bodies have been objects of worship to all of those to whom these bones belong when they lived ( ). Their worship of them is detailed. They have 1. loved, 2. served, 3. gone after, 4. sought and 5. worshiped these idols. It shows their great zeal and commitment to their idols. The worthlessness of the idols and the uselessness of their worship are also evident from this, that the idols do not prevent the great disgrace that now comes upon their bones. The disgrace finds its nadir when the exhumed bones are not reburied, but will be as dung on the face of the ground (cf. ). An expression of even deeper contempt for these idolaters is not possible. The LORD will know how to find those who belong to this wicked generation and who are still alive after the invasion of the enemy, wherever they are driven out by Him ( ). In the places where they are, they will be so unhappy that they will wish they had perished like the others ( ; ). The bitter fate will deprive the exiles of all vitality.

‏ Jeremiah 8:1-2

Desecration of the Graves

These three verses still belong to the previous chapter. That chapter ends with a picture of dead bodies not being buried. Thereby the nadir of humiliation is not yet reached. Something even more terrifying follows, if possible, and that is the digging up of already buried bodies, that is, their bones, in order to desecrate them (Jer 8:1). Again, the constant repetition of words, in this case “the bones of”, makes the message all the more poignant (cf. Jer 7:34).

“At that time” means the time of the national disasters that will come upon them because of their unfaithfulness and unrighteousness described above. The enemy, the army of the Babylonians, will come and commit desecration of the graves. The reason they may have for this is to see if, especially in the graves of the kings and princes, there are any valuables to be found. But the LORD is allowing this to happen in order to add to the deep reproach that the whole people, from the highest to the lowest among them, including the religious class, have brought upon themselves.

The enemy will spread the bones “out to the sun, the moon and to all the host of heaven” (Jer 8:2). These heavenly bodies have been objects of worship to all of those to whom these bones belong when they lived (2Kgs 21:3 ; 5 ; 2Kgs 23:4 ; 11). Their worship of them is detailed. They have

1. loved,

2. served,

3. gone after,

4. sought and

5. worshiped

these idols.

It shows their great zeal and commitment to their idols. The worthlessness of the idols and the uselessness of their worship are also evident from this, that the idols do not prevent the great disgrace that now comes upon their bones. The disgrace finds its nadir when the exhumed bones are not reburied, but will be as dung on the face of the ground (cf. Jer 25:33). An expression of even deeper contempt for these idolaters is not possible.

The LORD will know how to find those who belong to this wicked generation and who are still alive after the invasion of the enemy, wherever they are driven out by Him (Jer 8:3). In the places where they are, they will be so unhappy that they will wish they had perished like the others (Lev 26:36-39; Deu 28:65-67). The bitter fate will deprive the exiles of all vitality.