Jeremiah 2:23-37
Summary for Jer 2:23-3:5: 2:23–3:5 a Instead of acting like a faithful wife, Israel behaved like a wild animal in heat (2:23-25 b), a thief (2:26-30 c), and a prostitute (2:31–3:5 d). 2:23 e The people protested that it was not true that they were Baal worshipers (cp. 2:25 f). Archaeologists have found small plaques showing an Asherah (female goddess) and a male god resembling Baal, but their inscriptions bear the name of the Lord (Yahweh). Baal worship was apparently sometimes disguised as worship of Israel’s God.2:25 g The Israelites confessed to the Baal worship that they had earlier denied (2:23 h), thus revealing the true state of their hearts.
2:26 i Israel’s leaders felt no shame for the evil they did; any contrition they expressed in the face of God’s punishment stemmed from selfishness, not repentance (Ps 78:34-37 j).
2:27 k These idols of a father and mother probably represented Baal and Asherah.
• in times of trouble they cry out: See, e.g., Judg 10:10 l; Isa 26:16 m; Hos 5:15 n.
2:28 o The Israelites were foolishly devoted to many gods (11:13 p; Deut 32:37 q; Judg 10:14 r; 2 Kgs 17:30-31 s), who were all powerless to help them.
• Jeremiah addressed the individual tribe of Judah, the people standing before him.
2:30 t killed your prophets: See 26:20-23 u.
2:31 v The Lord’s anger turned to an appeal. He questioned why the Israelites considered life in obedience to him a desert of death and deprivation (Num 21:5 w), full of the evil and terror of darkness (Job 24:17 x; 1 Jn 1:5-6 y).
2:32 z For centuries, the Israelites had forgotten the Lord, their husband (13:25 aa; Ps 106:21 ab; Hos 8:14 ac).
Summary for Jer 2:33-34: 2:33-34 ad The Israelites would plot and scheme with their lovers, their neighbors with powerful armies, by making treaties to gain the protection that the Lord had already promised them. God considered this an act of prostitution that left a stain of blood on Israel’s character. Like their pagan neighbors, Israel now crushed its own innocent and poor (7:6 ae; 2 Kgs 21:16 af; 24:4 ag).
2:35 ah Israel’s sinful condition was evident in the people’s arrogant retort. They claimed that they were innocent, and that God was needlesslyhad needless angry with them. God responded to the people’s denial of guilt by decreeing that he would be severe in his punishment and that he would not tolerate their denial of wrongdoing (Prov 23:13 ai; Mal 2:17 aj; 3:8 ak; 1 Jn 1:8 al, 10 am).
2:36 an Judah, in its unfaithfulness to the Lord, chose unreliable and unfaithful allies. The leaders sought political help from neighbors such as Egypt—as false a friend as Assyria had been a century before.
Jeremiah 3:1-5
Summary for Jer 3:1-5: 3:1-5 ao Adultery was solid grounds for divorce (Deut 24:1-2 ap; Hos 2:1-5 aq; 9:1 ar). Judah committed spiritual adultery, smugly assuming that God would have no objections (Ezek 16:26 as; Zech 1:3 at). 3:1 au The law prohibited a man from marrying a woman he had previously divorced who had then married another man (Deut 24:1-4 av). A woman who had many lovers was even less likely to be received back.3:2 aw As the Lord’s bride (see 2:2 ax), Israel was not supposed to commit adultery with other gods.
3:3 ay The Lord did not condone the shameless behavior of the people. He had already brought on a drought, and their sexual rituals had no effect against it (14:3-6 az; Lev 26:19 ba; Zeph 3:5 bb).
Summary for Jer 3:4-5: 3:4-5 bc Instead of confessing their sins, the people tried to cover them over with sweet talk. However, God saw through their deception. They were inadvertently correct that he would not be angry forever (Ps 103:9 bd; Isa 57:16 be; Mal 1:6 bf), though he promised to vent his wrath (Jer 4:7 bg).
Copyright information for
TNotes