Jeremiah 23:1-5
Summary for Jer 23:1-8: 23:1-8 a The Lord rebuked the three kings (ch 22 b) and contrasted them with the righteous leader he would place over his people after the Exile. 23:1 c Kings in the ancient Near East were often referred to as shepherds. Good shepherds would protect and care for their people, but Judah’s kings scattered their people instead.23:3 d As a good shepherd, the Lord would gather the exiles and place them in their own sheepfold, the land of Judah. There, they would be fruitful and increase in number (cp. Gen 1:28 e; 17:6-8 f).
23:4 g Once the people were back in Judah (23:3 h), the Lord would appoint responsible shepherds. As good leaders, they would care for the people.
23:5 i A righteous descendant of King David’s line, whose ruling power had temporarily come to an end, would be a King. In stark contrast to the three kings the Lord had just rebuked (ch 22 j), this King would have wisdom and act in a way that is just and right (33:15 k; Isa 11:1-5 l; 53:2 m; Zech 3:8 n; Luke 1:32-33 o).
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