Jer 2:14-22 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Jer 2:14-22: 2:14-22 This historical review of Israel’s sin further emphasizes the folly, violence, arrogance, and despair of turning away from the true God to worship false pagan gods. 2:14 The Israelites had been rescued from slavery in Egypt, but they became slaves again in Jeremiah’s time through their covenants with Egypt and Assyria (2:18 ).

Summary for Jer 2:14-22: 2:14-22 ^a This historical review of Israel’s sin further emphasizes the folly, violence, arrogance, and despair of turning away from the true God to worship false pagan gods. 2:14 ^b The Israelites had been rescued from slavery in Egypt, but they became slaves again in Jeremiah’s time through their covenants with Egypt and Assyria (2:18 ^c).
2:15 ^d Jeremiah portrays the Assyrians who destroyed the northern kingdom (2 Kgs 17:5-23 ^e; Nah 2:11-12 ^f) as lions.
2:16 ^g Another enemy, the Egyptians, invaded from the south to pick up the pieces (50:17 ^h; 2 Kgs 23:29-37 ⁱ).

• Memphis and Tahpanhes, Egypt’s major cities near the mouth of the Nile, were famous for their wealth.
2:18 ^j Israel’s alliances with Egypt and covenants with Assyria (2 Kgs 15:19–19:37 ^k) provided no benefits, only sorrow. Neither the Nile in Egypt nor the Euphrates in Assyria ever helped Israel (Isa 30:1-3 ^l; Hos 5:13 ^m).
2:19 ⁿ The decision to abandon the Lord brought further punishment and shame on Israel’s people (Isa 3:9 ^o; Hos 5:5 ^p).
Summary for Jer 2:20-21: 2:20-21 ^q Long ago: Lessons from Israel’s history concerning the Israelites’ rescue from slavery in Egypt had little effect, and the people of Israel defiantly refused to serve God (Exod 19:8 ^r; 34:15 ^s; Lev 26:13 ^t; Deut 12:2 ^u; Josh 24:16 ^v; Judg 10:16 ^w; Isa 57:5 ^x, 7 ^y).

• you have prostituted yourselves: This metaphor was especially apt regarding the Israelites’ bowing down to idols. The Israelites backed their defiant words with rebellious behavior. They repeatedly worshiped fertility deities in hopes of good crops and green pastures. Their rituals were useless because the Lord is the one who had planted the Israelites in Canaan, and he creates life and fertility.
2:22 ^z The metaphor changes from a planted vine to a dirty cloth that soap or lye cannot wash clean. However hard the Israelites scrubbed, their guilt was still apparent (cp. Isa 1:18 ^aa).