Jeremiah 2:11-13
2:11 a No pagan nation traded its gods for those of another nation. Although the pagan nations generally worshiped the same nature deities (by different names), each nation essentially remained loyal to its own gods. Israel’s disloyalty is thus highlighted.2:12 b The heavens and the earth are often portrayed as witnesses to events among humans (see 51:48 c; Deut 32:1 d, 43 e; 1 Chr 16:31 f; Ps 96:11 g; Isa 1:2 h; 44:23 i; 49:13 j).
2:13 k The Israelites foolishly did two evil things: They abandoned the Lord, their true source of life, and they began to worship false gods that could not help them.
• A fountain of living [i.e., running] water that flows throughout the year, even in drought, is a rare treasure (Ps 36:9 l; John 4:14 m).
• The cisterns the Israelites dug after they entered Canaan were holes in the ground that were lined with plaster. These crude tanks collected water that drained from roofs in wet weather and provided water through the dry summers. The water could become putrid and dangerous to drink, and the plaster often cracked, letting the water drain out.
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