The Prophets:
Jeremiah 24
1 The LORD (JESUS) showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the Temple of GOD (Elohim-The family of God). This was after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem into exile in Babylon, along with the leaders of Judah, the craftsmen, and the skilled laborers. In one basket the figs were of the finest quality, ripe and ready to eat.
2 One basket had very good figs, like figs that ripen first. In the other basket the figs were rotten, so rotten they couldn't be eaten.
3 Then the LORD (JESUS) asked me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I replied, "Figs, some very good and some very bad"
4 The LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to me:
5 This is what the LORD (JESUS), the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: The good figs represent the exiles I sent from Judah to the land of the Babylonians.
6 I will watch over them for their own good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down. I will plant them and not uproot them.
7 I will give them the desire to know that I am the LORD (JESUS) and that they will be my people, and I will be their GOD (Elohim-The family of God), because they will wholeheartedly come back to me.
8 But this is what the LORD (JESUS) says about the bad figs that are so bad that they can't be eaten. The LORD (JESUS) says, 'Like these bad figs, I will abandon King Zedekiah of Judah, his princes, the remaining few in Jerusalem who stayed behind in this land, and those who are living in Egypt.
9 I will make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth. They will be a disgrace and an example. They will become something ridiculed and cursed wherever I scatter them.
10 I will send wars, famines, and plagues until they disappear from the land that I gave to them and their ancestors.'
Good and bad figs represent the Jews in captivity, and those who remain in their own land. - The prophet saw two baskets of figs set before the temple, as offerings of first-fruits. The figs in one basket were very good, those in the other basket very bad.The good figs represents the pious captives. We cannot determine as to God's love or hatred by what is before us. Early suffering sometimes proves for the best. The sooner the child is corrected, the better effect the correction is likely to have. Even this captivity was for their good; and God's intentions never are in vain. By afflictions they were convinced of sin, humbled under the hand of God, weaned from the world, taught to pray, and turned from sins, particularly from idolatry. God promises that he will own them in captivity. The Lord will own those who are his, in all conditions. God assures them of his protection in trouble, and a glorious deliverance in due time. When our troubles are sanctified to us, we may be sure that they will end well.
Jeremiah 25
1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon),
fourth year of Jehoiakim--called the third year in Daniel 1:1 .But probably Jehoiakim was set on the throne by Pharaoh-necho on his return from Carchemish about July, whereas Nebuchadnezzar mounted the throne January 21, 604 B.C,; so that Nebuchadnezzar's first year was partly the third, partly the fourth, of Jehoiakim's. Here first Jeremiah gives specific dates. Nebuchadnezzar had previously entered Judea in the reign of his father Nabopolassar. (Jamieson)
2 which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the citizens of Jerusalem, saying:
3 “From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, this is the twenty-third year in which the word of the LORD (JESUS) has come to me; and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you have not listened.
4 Again and again, the LORD (JESUS) has sent you his prophets, but you have not listened or even tried to hear.
5 Each time the message was this: 'Turn from the evil road you are traveling and from the evil things you are doing. Only then will I let you live in this land that the LORD (JESUS) gave to you and your ancestors forever.
6 Don't follow other gods(elohim/theos) to serve and worship them. Don't make Me furious about the idols your hands have shaped. Then I won't harm you.
7 But you haven't listened to me, declares the LORD (JESUS). You have made me furious provoking Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
8 Therefore thi is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts says: Because you have not heard My words,
9 I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as My deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the other nations near you, says the LORD (JESUS). I will completely destroy you and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever.
10 I will take away your happy singing and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard. Your businesses will fail, and all your homes will stand silent and dark.
70 YEARS PROPHECY:
11 This whole land will be ruined and become a wasteland. These nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years.
seventy years--( Jeremiah 27:7 ). The exact number of years of Sabbaths in four hundred ninety years, the period from Saul to the Babylonian captivity; righteous retribution for their violation of the Sabbath ( Leviticus 26:34 Leviticus 26:35 , 2 Chronicles 36:21 ). The seventy years probably begin from the fourth year of Jehoiakim, when Jerusalem was first captured, and many captives, as well as the treasures of the temple, were carried away; they end with the first year of Cyrus, who, on taking Babylon, issued an edict for the restoration of the Jews ( Ezra 1:1 ). Daniel's seventy prophetic weeks are based on the seventy years of the captivity (compare Daniel 9:2 Daniel 9:24 ). (Jamieson)
12 When the 70 years are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation for their crimes, declares the LORD (JESUS). I will turn Babylon into a permanent wasteland.
13 I will bring on that land all the disasters I threatened to do to it, everything that Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations, everything written in this book.
It follows from this, that the prophecies against foreign nations (forty-sixth through fifty-first chapters) must have been already written. Hence the Septuagint inserts here those prophecies. But if they had followed immediately ( Jeremiah 25:13 ), there would have been no propriety in the observation in the verse. The very wording of the reference shows that they existed in some other part of the book, and not in the immediate context. It was in this very year, the fourth of Jehoiakim ( Jeremiah 36:1 Jeremiah 36:2 ), that Jeremiah was directed to write in a regular book for the first time all that he had prophesied against Judah and foreign "nations" from the beginning of his ministry. Probably, at a subsequent time, when he completed the whole work, including the forty-sixth through fifty-first chapters, Jeremiah himself inserted the clause, "all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations." The prophecies in question may have been repeated, as others in Jeremiah, more than once; so in the original smaller collection they may have stood in an earlier position; and, in the fuller subsequent collection, in their later and present position. (Jamieson)
14 Many nations and great kings will make slaves of the people of Babylon, and I will pay them back for what they have done.
15 This is what the LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel said to me: Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my fury, and make all the nations to whom I'm sending you drink from it.
The evil and the good events of life are often represented in Scripture as cups.
16 When they drink from it, they will stagger and go insane because of the wars that I'm going to send them.
17 So I took the cup from the LORD (JESUS)'s hand. I made all the nations drink, to whom the LORD (JESUS) had sent me:
18 Jerusalem and the cities of Judah as well as its kings and officials. When they drank from it, they became wastelands and ruins, something ridiculed and cursed, until today.
19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes, and all his people;
20 and all the foreign people living among them; all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of Philistia, those from the cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron, and the people left in Ashdod;
21 Edom, Moab, and the people of Ammon;
22 all the kings of Tyre and Sidon, and the kings on the coastlands;
coastlands-mainly England and the USA.
23 Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who shave the hair on their foreheads;
24 all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the foreign people living in the desert;
25 all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of Media;
26 all the kings of the north, near and far, one after another--all the kingdoms of the earth. Last of all, the king of Sheshach will drink from the cup.
27 Therefore you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel: "Drink, be drunk, and vomit! Fall and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.” '
28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink from it, say to them, 'This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts says: You must drink from it!
29 I am going to bring disaster on the city that is named after me. Do you think you'll go unpunished? You will not go unpunished! I'm declaring war on all those who live on earth, declares the LORD (JESUS) of hosts.'
30 That is why you will prophesy all these things to them and say, 'The LORD (JESUS) roars from above. He thunders from his holy dwelling place. He roars against his land. He shouts like those who stomp grapes. He shouts against all those who live on earth.
31 The sound is echoing to the ends of the earth because the LORD (JESUS) has brought charges against the nations. He will judge all humans. He will kill the wicked, declares the LORD (JESUS).'
32 Thus says the LORD (JESUS) of hosts: "Look! Disaster will fall upon nation after nation! A great whirlwind of fury is rising from the most distant corners of the earth!
33 On that day those killed by the LORD (JESUS) will stretch from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, taken away, or buried. They will become like manure on the ground.
34 Mourn, you shepherds, and cry. Roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. The time has come for you to be slaughtered. The time has come for you to be scattered, and you will break like fine pottery.
35 There will be no place for the shepherds to flee, no escape for the leaders of the flock.
36 The shepherds are crying and the leaders of the flock are mourning because the LORD (JESUS) is stripping their pasture.
37 The peaceful pastures are destroyed by the LORD (JESUS)'s burning anger.
38 He has left his lair like a lion. Their land has been ruined because of the heat of the oppressor, because of the fury of his anger.
Jeremiah 26
1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD (JESUS), saying,
2 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD (JESUS)'s house [Temple], and speak to all the people who come from the cities of Judah to worship in the LORD (JESUS)'s house. Give them my entire message; include every word
3 Perhaps everyone will listen, and they'll turn from their evil ways. Then I'll change my plan about the disaster I intend to bring on them because of the evil they have done.
4 And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD (JESUS): "If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you,
5 and if you will not listen to my servants, the prophets – for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not listen to them.
6 Then I will do to this [temple] what I did to Shiloh. I will turn this city into something that will be cursed by all the nations on earth.'
7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these things in the house of the LORD (JESUS).
8 But as soon as Jeremiah finished saying everything that the LORD (JESUS) had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets, and all the people grabbed him and said, "You must die!
9 Why do you prophesy in the LORD (JESUS)'s name that this temple will be like Shiloh and this city will become a pile of rubble with no one living here?" Then all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the LORD (JESUS)'s house [temple].
10 When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they went from the king's palace to the LORD (JESUS)'s temple. They sat at the entrance of New Gate to the LORD (JESUS)'s [temple].
11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, "This man is condemned to die because he prophesied against this city as you yourselves have heard."
12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, "The LORD (JESUS) sent me to prophesy everything that you have heard me say against this temple and against this city.
13 Now, change your ways and what you are doing, and listen to the LORD (JESUS) your GOD (Elohim-The family of God). Then the LORD (JESUS) will change his plan about the disaster that he intends to bring on you.
14 "My life is in your hands. Do with me whatever you think is good and right.
15 But know for certain that if you kill me, you, this city, and the people living in it will be guilty of killing an innocent person. The LORD (JESUS) has certainly sent me to speak all these things to you."
16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and prophets, "This man should not be condemned to die. He has spoken to us in the name of the LORD (JESUS) our GOD (Elohim-The family of God)."
17 Then some of the leaders in the land got up and said to the entire crowd,
18 "Micah from Moresheth prophesied at the time of Judah's King Hezekiah and said to all the people of Judah, 'This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts(angels) says: Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a pile of rubble, and the temple mountain will become a worship site covered with trees.'
19 Did Judah's King Hezekiah and all the people of Judah put Micah to death? No! Hezekiah feared the LORD (JESUS) and sought the LORD (JESUS)'s favor. So the LORD (JESUS) changed his plan about the disaster he intended to bring on them. But we are about to bring a bigger disaster on ourselves."
20 There was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD (JESUS). His name was Uriah, son of Shemaiah, from Kiriath Jearim. He prophesied against this city and this land as Jeremiah did.
21 When King Jehoiakim and all his personal troops and officials heard what Uriah said, the king wanted to put him to death. But Uriah heard about it and fled in fear to Egypt.
22 King Jehoiakim sent soldiers to Egypt: Elnathan (son of Achbor) and other soldiers along with him.
23 They brought Uriah from Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim. The king executed Uriah and threw his body into the burial ground for the common people.
24 Ahikam, son of Shaphan, supported Jeremiah. So Jeremiah was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
Jeremiah 27
1 In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, the LORD (JESUS) spoke His word to Jeremiah.
Hebrew Version: Jehoiakim--The prophecy that follows was according to this reading given in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, fifteen years before it was published in the reign of Zedekiah to whom it refers; it was thus long deposited in the prophet's bosom, in order that by it he might be supported under trials in his prophetic career in the interim [CALVIN].
2 This is what the LORD (JESUS) said to me: Make a yoke, and fasten it on your neck with leather thongs.
3 Then send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through their ambassadors to King Zedekiah in Jerusalem.
4 Give them an order for their masters: "This is what the LORD (JESUS) of angels(hosts), the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: Say this to your masters,
5 'I used my great strength and my powerful arm to make the earth along with the people and the animals on it. I give it to anyone I please.
6 Now I have handed all these countries over to my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made wild animals serve him.
7 All the world will serve him, his son, and his grandson until Babylon is defeated. Then many nations and great kings will make him their slave.
8 So you must submit to Babylon's king and serve him; put your neck under Babylon's yoke! I will punish any nation that refuses to be his slave, says the LORD (JESUS). I will send war, famine, and disease upon that nation until Babylon has conquered it.
9 Do not listen to your [false] prophets, fortune-tellers, interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers who say, "The king of Babylon will not conquer you."
10 They are prophesying lies to you. They will cause you to be taken far from your lands. I'll scatter you, and you will die.
11 But the people of any nation that submits to the king of Babylon will be allowed to stay in their own country to farm the land as usual. I, the LORD (JESUS), have spoken!'
12 I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah, "Surrender to the king of Babylon, serve him and his people, and you will stay alive.
13 Why should you and your people die in wars, famines, and plagues? The LORD (JESUS) has threatened the nations that don't serve the king of Babylon.
14 Don't listen to the prophets who tell you that you'll never serve the king of Babylon. They are prophesying lies to you.
15 I didn't send them, declares the LORD (JESUS). They prophesy lies in my name. So I will scatter you, and you and the prophets will die.
in my name--The devil often makes God's name the plea for lies ( Matthew 4:6 , Matthew 7:22 Matthew 7:23 , Jeremiah 27:15-20 , the test whereby to know false prophets).
16 Then I spoke to the priests and the people and said, "This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: Do not listen to your prophets who claim that soon the gold utensils taken from my Temple will be returned from Babylon. It is all a lie!
17 Don't listen to them. Instead, serve the king of Babylon, and live. Why should this city be turned into rubble?
18 If they are prophets and the LORD (JESUS) is speaking to them, they should beg the LORD (JESUS) of angels not to allow the utensils that are left in the LORD (JESUS)'s temple, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem to be taken away to Babylon.
19 For this is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts says concerning the pillars, concerning the Sea, concerning the carts, and concerning the remainder of the vessels that remain in this city,
20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem--
21 yes, the LORD (JESUS) of hosts says , the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD (JESUS), and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem:
22 They will be taken to Babylon and stay there until I come for them, declares the LORD (JESUS). I will take them from there and bring them back to this place."
Jeremiah is Zedekiah's FATHER-IN-LAW!
Jeremiah 28
THE FALSE PROPHET:
1 In that same year, early in the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the fifth month (August) of his fourth year as king, the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD (JESUS) in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
The fifth month in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign occurred within the months of August 593 b.c. Also see note on 1:3.
2 "This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts(angels), the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
These words are not in RED because they are not from God!
3 Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the house of the LORD (JESUS), that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.
4 I will also bring Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the other captives that were taken to Babylon. I will surely break the yoke that the king of Babylon has put on your necks. I, the LORD (JESUS), have spoken!"
Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant spelling of Jehoiachin.
5 The prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah in front of the priests and all the people the house of the LORD (JESUS).
6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! May the LORD (JESUS) do so; May the LORD (JESUS) perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the LORD (JESUS)'s house[Temple] and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place.
7 But now listen to this message that I am speaking to you and to all the people:
8 Long ago, the prophets who preceded you and me prophesied wars, disasters, and plagues against many countries and great kingdoms.
9 But the prophet who prophesied peace was recognized as a prophet that the LORD (JESUS) sent only if the message of the prophet came true."
10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it.
11 Hananiah said in front of all the people, "This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: In the same way, I will break the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years." Then the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.
12 After the prophet Hananiah broke the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said:
13 Go and Tell Hananiah, 'This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: You have broken the wooden yoke, but I will replace it with an iron yoke.
14 This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations so that they will serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. They will serve him! I will even make wild animals serve him.'
15 Then Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, "Now listen, Hananiah, the LORD (JESUS) hasn't sent you. You have made these people believe a lie.
16 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: I'm going to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have encouraged rebellion against the LORD (JESUS)."
17 So the prophet Hananiah died in the seventh month of that year.
Hebrew In the seventh month of that same year.
Those who do not declare the alarming as well as the encouraging parts of God's word, and call men to repentance, and faith, and holiness, tread in the steps of the false prophets. The gospel of Christ encourages men to do works meet for repentance, but gives no encouragement to continue in sin.Hananiah is sentenced to die, and Jeremiah, when he has received direction from God, boldly tells him so; but not before he received that commission. Those have much to answer for, who tell sinners that they shall have peace, though they harden their hearts in contempt of God's word. The servant of God must be gentle to all men. He must give up even his right, and leave the Lord to plead his cause. Every attempt of ungodly men to make vain the purposes of God, will add to their miseries.-Matthew Henry
Jeremiah 29
1 Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.
2 This was after King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, the court officials, the leaders of Judah, and all the craftsmen had been deported from Jerusalem.
3 He sent the letter with Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, when they went to Babylon as King Zedekiah's ambassadors to Nebuchadnezzar. This is what the letter said:
4 This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says to all those who were taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 Build homes, and live in them. Plant gardens, and eat the food.
6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; Find wives for your sons, and let your daughters get married so that they can have sons and daughters. Grow in number there; don't decrease.
7 Work for the good of the city[Babylon] where I've taken you as captives, and pray to the LORD (JESUS) for that city. When it prospers, you will also prosper.
8 This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst, in Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams
There is here a foretaste of gospel love towards enemies ( Matthew 5:44 ).
This proves that the seventy years date from Jeconiah's captivity, not from the last captivity. The specification of time was to curb the impatience of the Jews lest they should hasten before God's time.The Latin adage says, "The people wish to be deceived, so let them be deceived." Not mere credulity misleads men, but their own perverse "love of darkness rather than light." It was not priests who originated priestcraft, but the people's own morbid appetite to be deceived
9 because they prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, says the LORD (JESUS).
10 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: After 70 years are over, I will come to you. I will keep my promise to you and bring you back to this place.
11 I know the plans that I have for you. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope, declares the LORD (JESUS).
12 Then you will call to Me and pray, and I will hear you.
13 When you wholeheartedly seek Me, you will find me.
For them 70 years, for us “Seek Christ” and Ye shall find!
14 I will be found by you, says the LORD (JESUS). I will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I've scattered you, declares the LORD (JESUS). I will bring you back from the place where you are being held captive.
15 You may claim that the LORD (JESUS) has raised up prophets for you in Babylon.
16 But this is what the LORD (JESUS) says about the king who sits on David's throne and about all the people who live in this city, the people who are your relatives and who weren't taken away as captives:
17 The LORD (JESUS) of hosts says: I'm going to send them wars, famines, and plagues. These people are like rotten figs to me, figs that are so bad that they can't be eaten.
18 I will chase them with wars, famines, and plagues. I will make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms on the earth. They will become something cursed, ridiculed, and hissed at, and they will be a disgrace among all the nations where I scatter them.
19 They didn't listen to me, says the LORD (JESUS). I sent them my servants the prophets again and again, but they refused to listen, declares the LORD (JESUS).
20 So listen to the word of the LORD (JESUS), all you captives who were sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.
21 This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says about Kolaiah's son Ahab and about Maaseiah's son Zedekiah, who prophesy lies to you in my name: I'm going to hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will kill them as you watch.
22 Because of them, all the captives from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: 'May the LORD (JESUS) curse you as he cursed Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned to death.'
23 They have done shameful things in Israel. They committed adultery with their neighbors' wives and spoke lies in my name. I didn't command them to do this. I know what they have done. I'm a witness, declares the LORD (JESUS).
24 You shall also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying:
25 'This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests. These letters said:
26 The LORD (JESUS) made you priest instead of Jehoiada so that there would be officials for the LORD (JESUS)'s temple. You should put any lunatic who acts like a prophet in prison and in shackles.
27 Now, why haven't you arrested Jeremiah from Anathoth? After all, he acts like a prophet among you.
28 That's why Jeremiah sent this message to us in Babylon: You will be captives a long time. Build houses, and live in them. Plant gardens, and eat what they produce.'"
29 The priest Zephaniah read this letter to the prophet Jeremiah.
30 Then the LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said:
31 Send this message to all the captives: 'This is what the LORD (JESUS) says about Shemaiah from Nehelam: Shemaiah prophesied to you, but I didn't send him. He has made you believe a lie.
32 The LORD (JESUS) says: I will punish Shemaiah from Nehelam. I will also punish his descendants. No one from his family will be left alive. He will not see the blessings that I'm going to send my people, declares the LORD (JESUS), because he has encouraged rebellion against the LORD (JESUS).'"
LORD OF HOSTS- really means: THE LORD (JESUS) of the Armies of angels from Heaven
Jeremiah 30
THE PROMISE OF THE MILLENNIUM AFTER TRIBULATION:
1 The LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said:
2 This is what the LORD (JESUS), the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: Write down for the record everything I have said to you, Jeremiah.
3 The days are coming," declares the LORD (JESUS), when I will bring My people Israel and Judah back from captivity. I will bring them back to the land that I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it.
The two nations will be one again—under david their King, and Jesus their God!
the restoration not merely of the Jews (treated of in this thirtieth chapter), but also of the ten tribes ("Israel"; treated in the thirty-first chapter), together forming the whole nation ( Jeremiah 30:18 , Jeremiah 32:44 , Ezekiel 39:25 , Amos 9:14 Amos 9:15 ). "Israel" is mentioned first because its exile was longer than that of Judah. Some captives of the Israelite ten tribes returned with those of Judah ( Luke 2:36 ; "Aser" is mentioned). But these are only a pledge of the full restoration hereafter ( Romans 11:26 , "All Israel"). Compare Jeremiah 16:15 . This third verse is a brief statement of the subject before the prophecy itself is given. (Jamieson)
4 This is the message that the LORD (JESUS) spoke about Israel and Judah:
5 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: We hear cries of fear, cries of panic, not cries of peace.
6 Ask now, and see: Can a man give birth to a child? Why, then, do I see every strong man holding his stomach in pain like a woman giving birth to a child? Why has every face turned pale?
7 How terrible that day will be! There will be no other day like it. And it is the time of Jacob's trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.
A time of trouble for The USA and Great Britain! But we will be saved!
8 For it shall come to pass in that day, Says the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, that I will break the yokes off your necks and tear off your ropes. Foreigners{aliens} will no longer make you serve them.
America will have been ruled by non-Israelites right before the Millennium
9 You will serve the LORD (JESUS) your GOD (Elohim-The family of God) and David your king. I will raise him up for you.
Raise him up: David id not in heaven (Acts 2:34). He is to be resurrected!
10 So do not be afraid, Jacob, My servant; do not be dismayed, O Israel, says the LORD (JESUS). For behold I will bring you home again from distant lands, and your children will return from their exile. Jacob [Israel] will return and will have peace and quiet in their own land, and no one will make them afraid.
11 For I am with you, says the LORD (JESUS), to save you! I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will correct you with justice. I won't let you go entirely unpunished.
12 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: Your wound is incurable. Your injury is beyond healing.
13 There is no one to help you or bind up your injury. You are beyond the help of any medicine.
14 All your lovers[allies] have forgotten you, and they don't want you anymore. I've punished you as an enemy would. I've corrected you as a cruel person would. You are very wicked, and you have many sins.
15 Why do you cry about your wounds, your injury[sin] that can't be cured? I've done this to you. You are very wicked, and you have many sins.
16 But in that coming day, all who destroy you will be destroyed, and all your enemies will be sent into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered, and those who attack you will be attacked.
17 I will give you back your health and heal your wounds, says the LORD (JESUS). Now you are called an outcast – the Church(Zion) for whom nobody cares.'
Our gracious Lord pardons the sins of the believer, and breaks off the yoke of sin and Satan, that he may serve God without fear, in righteousness and true holiness before him all the remainder of his days, as the redeemed subject of Christ our King.
18 But the LORD (JESUS) says this: When I bring you home again from the captivity of Jacob and have mercy on your homes. The city [Jerusalem] will be rebuilt on her ruins. The palace will be reconstructed as it was before.
19 There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply My people and make of them a great and honored nation.
thanksgiving--The Hebrew word includes confession as well as praise; for, in the case of God, the highest praises we can bestow are only confessing what God really is [BENGEL]
20 Their children will prosper as they did long ago. I will establish them as a nation before Me, and I will punish anyone who hurts them.
21 Their leaders will be from their own people. Their ruler will come from among them. I'll bring him near, and he will come close to Me. Who would dare to come near Me? asks the LORD (JESUS).
22 You will be my people, and I will be your GOD (Elohim-The family of God).
23 The storm of the LORD (JESUS) will come with his anger. Like a tornado, it will swirl down on the heads of the wicked.
24 The LORD (JESUS)'s burning anger will not turn back until he has done everything he intends to do. In the last days you will understand this clearly.
The proper work and office of Christ, as Mediator, is to draw near unto God, for us, as the High Priest of our profession. His own undertaking, in compliance with his Father's will, and in compassion to fallen man, engaged him. Jesus Christ was, in all this, truly wonderful. They shall be taken again into covenant with the Lord, according to the covenant made with their fathers. I will be your God: it is his good-will to us, which is the summary of that part of the covenant.
Jeremiah 31
CONTINUATION OF THE PROPHECY: THE COMING NEW TESTAMENT
really should be the same chapter as 30. Jacob-Israel = USA and the British peoples
1 In the latter days{end times}, declares the LORD (JESUS), I will be the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people.
God assures his people that he will again take them into covenant relation to himself. When brought very low, and difficulties appear, it is good to remember that it has been so with the church formerly. But it is hard under present frowns to take comfort from former smiles; yet it is the happiness of those who, through grace, are interested in the love of God, that it is an everlasting love, from everlasting in the counsels, to everlasting in the continuance. Those whom God loves with this love, he will draw to himself. When the Lord calls, we must not plead that we cannot come; for he that calls us, will help us, will strengthen us. The goodness of God shall lead them to repentance. And they shall weep for sin with more bitterness, and more tenderness, when delivered out of their captivity, than when groaning under it. If we take God for our Father, and join the church of the first-born, we shall want nothing that is good for us. These predictions doubtless refer also to a future gathering of the Israelites from all quarters of the globe. And they figuratively describe the conversion of sinners to Christ, and the plain and safe way in which they are led.(Matthew Henry)
2 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: The people who survived the wars have found favor in the desert. Israel went to find its rest.
3 The LORD (JESUS) appeared to me in and said, I love you with an everlasting love. So I will continue to show you My kindness.
4 Once again I will rebuild you, My virgin Israel. You will again be happy and dance merrily with tambourines.
5 You will [again] plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria [land of Israel]. Those who plant them will enjoy the fruit.
6 There will be a day when watchmen on the mountains of Ephraim will call out this message: 'Arise! Let's go to Church(Zion), to the LORD (JESUS) our GOD (Elohim-The family of God).'
Arise - This was fulfilled under the gospel; for both Galilee and Samaria received the gospel.
7 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: Sing a happy song about Jacob. Sing joyfully for the leader of the nations. Shout, sing praise, and say, "O LORD (JESUS), rescue your people, the remaining few from Israel."
8 For I will bring them from the north and from the distant corners of the earth. I will not forget the blind and lame, the expectant mothers and women about to give birth. A great company will return!
America, Australia and the English people are located “in the farthest corners of the earth! Just as predicted here! Alaska is as north as one can get! See also verse 10.
9 Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. I am the Father to Israel, and Ephraim will be My elect(firstborn).
So the elect Church (2Co 6:18; Jas 1:18).
10 Hear the word of the LORD (JESUS), O nations, And declare it in the isles far away, and say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.'
11 For the LORD (JESUS) has redeemed Jacob, And paid off the price to those stronger nations {that enslved the people.}
Jesus has paid the price for us all – with His blood!
12 They will come and shout for joy on top of Mount Zion. They will stream to it to enjoy the LORD (JESUS)'s blessings: fresh grain, new wine, and olive oil, lambs and calves. Their lives will be like well-watered gardens, and they will never suffer again.
13 The young virgin women will dance for joy, and the men – old and young – will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.
14 I will satisfy the priests with rich food. My people will be filled with my blessings," declares the LORD (JESUS).
15 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: A sound is heard in Ramah; A cry of anguish is heard in Ramah – mourning and weeping unrestrained. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted – for her children are dead Matthew 2:18
Rachel is here brought in, having been buried near that place, as if she were risen up from the grave, and lamented the Jewish nation which came out of her loins (for so Benjamin did, which was one of the two tribes that made the kingdom of Judah.) Were not - Because her children either were not absolutely, being slain by the pestilence, the famine, and the sword of the king of Babylon, or were no longer her children, being transplanted into Babylon. And there was a lamentation like this, when Herod caused the infants of two years old to be slain in Bethlehem, and in the coasts round about Bethlehem, of which Ramah was one. Rachel, who all her life had pined for children (Ge 30:1), and who died with "sorrow" in giving birth to Benjamin (Ge 35:18, 19, Margin; 1Sa 10:2), and was buried at Ramah, near Beth-lehem, is represented as raising her head from the tomb, and as breaking forth into "weeping" at seeing the whole land depopulated of her sons, the Ephraimites. Ramah was the place where Nebuzara-dan collected all the Jews in chains, previous to their removal to Babylon (Jer 40:1). God therefore consoles her with the promise of their restoration. Mt 2:17, 18 quotes this as fulfilled in the massacre of the innocents under Herod. "A lesser and a greater event, of different times, may answer to the single sense of one passage of Scripture, until the prophecy is exhausted" [Bengel]. Besides the temporary reference to the exiles in Babylon, the Holy Spirit foreshadowed ultimately Messiah's exile in Egypt, and the desolation caused in the neighborhood of Rachel's tomb by Herod's massacre of the children, whose mothers had "sons of sorrow" (Ben-oni), just as Rachel had. The return of Messiah (the representative of Israel) from Egypt, and the future restoration of Israel, both the literal and the spiritual (including the innocents), at the Lord's second advent, are antitypical of the restoration of Israel from Babylon, which is the ground of consolation held out here by Jeremiah. The clause, "They were not," that is, were dead (Ge 42:13), does not apply so strictly to the exiles in Babylon as it does to the history of Messiah and His people-past, present, and future. So the words, "There is hope in thine end," are to be fulfilled ultimately, when Rachel shall meet her murdered children at the resurrection, at the same time that literal Israel is to be restored. "They were not," in Hebrew, is singular; each was not: each mother at the Beth-lehem massacre had but one child to lament, as the limitation of age in Herod's order, "two years and under," implies; this use of the singular distributively (the mothers weeping severally, each for her own child), is a coincidence between the prophecy of the Beth-lehem massacre and the event, the more remarkable as not being obvious: the singular, too, is appropriate as to Messiah in His Egyptian exile, who was to be a leading object of Rachel's lamentation. (JAMIESON)
16 But now the LORD (JESUS) says, Do not weep any longer, for I will reward you. Your children will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy.
Thine affliction in the loss of thy children, murdered for Christ's sake, shall not be fruitless to thee, as was the case in thy giving birth to the "child of thy sorrow," Benjamin. Primarily, also, thy grief shall not be perpetual: the exiles shall return, and the land be inhabited again [Calvin].
17 There is hope for your future, says the LORD (JESUS). Your children will come again to their own land.
18 I have heard Ephraim saying, 'You disciplined me severely, but I deserved it. I was like a calf that needed to be trained for the yoke and plow. Turn me again to you and restore me, for you alone are the LORD (JESUS) my GOD (Elohim-The family of God).
But why does Ephraim pray for conversion, seeing that he is already converted? Because we are converted by progressive steps, and need the same power of God to carry forward, as to originate, our conversion (Joh 6:44, 65; compare with Isa 27:3; 1Pe 1:5; Php 1:6). Ephraim (the ten tribes) is weeping for sin. He is angry at himself for his sin, and folly, and frowardness. He finds he cannot, by his own power, keep himself close with God, much less bring himself back when he is revolted. Therefore he prays, Turn thou me, and I shall be turned. His will was bowed to the will of God. When the teaching of God's Spirit went with the corrections of his providence, then the work was done. This is our comfort in affliction, that the Lord thinks upon us. God has mercy in store, rich mercy, sure mercy, suitable mercy, for all who seek him in sincerity.
19 After I was turned around, I changed the way I thought and acted. After I was taught a lesson, I hung my head in shame. I was so ashamed and humiliated, because of all the stupid things I have done ever since I was young.'
20 Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? Even though I have often spoken against him, I still think fondly of him. That is why my heart longs for him, and I will certainly have compassion on him, declares the LORD (JESUS).
21 Set up landmarks! Put up highway signs! Mark well the path by which you came. Come back again, My virgin Israel; return to your cities here.
Dan always puts up highway signs, naming areas after their father Dan Gen 49:17
22 How long will you wander around, you unfaithful people? The LORD (JESUS) will create something new on earth: A woman will protect a man.
VIRGIN MARYThe word "created" implies a divine power put forth in the creation of a body in the Virgin's womb by the Holy Spirit for the second Adam, such as was exerted in creating the first Adam. The phrase, "a new thing," something unprecedented; a man whose like had never existed before, at once God and man; a mother out of the ordinary course of nature, at once mother and virgin. An extraordinary mode of generation; one conceived by the Holy Ghost without man. he specification "in the land" (not "earth," as English Version), namely, of Judah, where probably Christ was conceived, in Hebron (compare Lu 1:39, 42, 44, with Jos 21:11) or else in Nazareth, "in the territory" of Israel, to whom Jer 31:5, 6, 15, 18, 21 refer; His birth was at Beth-lehem (Mic 5:2; Mt 2:5, 6). As the place of His nativity, and of His being reared (Mt 2:23), and of His preaching (Hag 2:7; Mal 3:1), are specified, so it is likely the Holy Spirit designated the place of His being conceived. The Hebrew for "woman" implies an individual, as the Virgin Mary, rather than a collection of persons. The restoration of Israel is grounded on God's covenant in Christ, to whom, therefore, allusion is naturally made as the foundation of Israel's hope (compare Isa 7:14). The Virgin Mary's conception of Messiah in the womb answers to the "Virgin of Israel" (therefore so called, Jer 31:21), that is, Israel and her sons at their final restoration, receiving Jesus as Messiah (Zec 12:10). The reference to the conception of the child Messiah accords with the mention of the massacre of "children" referred to in Jer 31:15 (compare Mt 2:17). The Hebrew for "man" is properly "mighty man," a term applied to God (De 10:17); and to Christ (Zec 13:7; compare Ps 45:3; Isa 9:6) [Calovius].
23 This says the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel: When I have brought them back from captivity, they will once again use this saying in Judah and in its cities: "The LORD (JESUS) will bless you, home of righteousness, holy mountain.
24 Judah and all its cities will live there together. Farmers and shepherds will also live there.
25 I will give those who are weary all they need. I will refresh everyone who is filled with sorrow."
26 At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been sweet.
27 The time will come, says the LORD (JESUS), when I will greatly increase the population and multiply the number of cattle here in Israel and Judah.
28 In the past I uprooted and tore down this nation. I overthrew it, destroyed it, and brought disaster upon it. But in the future I will plant it and build it up, says the LORD (JESUS).
29 When those days come, people will no longer say, 'Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children's teeth are set on edge.'
30 All people will die for their own sins – those who eat the sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths will pucker.
THE NEW TESTAMENT:
31 The day will come, says the LORD (JESUS), when I will make a new testament(covenant) with the people of Israel and Judah.
32 It will not be like the promise that I made to their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of Egypt. They rejected that covenant, although I was their husband, declares the LORD (JESUS).
33 But this is the new testament (covenant) I will make with the people of Israel on that day, declares the LORD (JESUS): I will put My Law(Torah) in their minds, and I will write them [the Law or Torah] on their hearts. I will be their GOD (Elohim-The family of God), and they will be My people.
Christ didn't come to abolish the Law, but to MAGNIFY IT and give meaning to the Law! In the coming world, the Law is not abolished, but now written in our hearts and not on STONE! The Law will be living in us all.
34 No longer will each person teach his neighbors or his relatives by saying, 'Know the LORD (JESUS).' All of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me, declares the LORD (JESUS), because I will forgive their sins and I remember them no more!
The Lord will, by his grace, make his people willing people in the day of his power. All shall know the Lord; all shall be welcome to the knowledge of God, and shall have the means of that knowledge. There shall be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, at the time the gospel is published. No man shall finally perish, but for his own sins; none, who is willing to accept of Christ's salvation.
35 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night. It is he who stirs the sea into roaring waves? (The LORD (JESUS) of hosts is His name):
36 Only if the laws cease to be, declares the LORD (JESUS), will Israel's descendants stop being a nation in My presence. Matthew 5:18
37 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: Only if the heavens could be measured or the foundations of the earth could be searched, would I ever reject all of Israel's descendants because of everything that they have done, declares the LORD (JESUS).
38 The days are coming, declares the LORD (JESUS), when the city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to Corner Gate.
39 A measuring line will stretch from there straight to the Hill of Gareb, and then it will turn to Goah.
40 And the entire area – including the graveyard and ash dump in the valley, and all the fields out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the Horse Gate – will be holy to the LORD (JESUS). The city will never again be captured or destroyed.
Jeremiah 32
1 The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD (JESUS) in the tenth year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah. This was also the eighteenth year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar.
2 At that time the army of the king of Babylon was blockading Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah was locked up in the courtyard of the prison. This prison was in the palace of the king of Judah.
3 King Zedekiah had put him there because he continued to give this prophecy: "This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon.
4 King Zedekiah will be captured by the Babylonians and taken to the king of Babylon to be judged and sentenced.
5 Nebuchadnezzar will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and Zedekiah will stay there until I deal with him, declares the LORD (JESUS). When you fight the Babylonians, you won't win.'
6 Jeremiah said, "The LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to me. He said:
7 Your cousin Hanamel son of Shallum will come and say to you, 'Buy my field at Anathoth. By law you have the right to buy it before it is offered to anyone else.'
8 Then, just as the LORD (JESUS) had said he would, Hanamel came and visited me in the prison. He said, "Buy my field at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. By law you have the right to buy it before it is offered to anyone else, so buy it for yourself." Then I knew for sure that the message I had heard was from the LORD (JESUS).
9 So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and gave him the money. The field cost seven ounces of silver.
10 I signed the deed, sealed it, had people witness the signing of the deed, and paid out the silver.
11 Then I took the sealed deed and an unsealed copy of the deed, which contained the terms and conditions of the purchase,
12 and I handed them to Baruch son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. I did all this in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, the witnesses who had signed the deed, and all the men of Judah who were there.
13 Then I gave Baruch these orders:
14 The LORD (JESUS) Almighty, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: Take both this sealed deed and the unsealed copy, and put them into a pottery jar to preserve them for a long time.
15 For the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: Someday people will again own property here in this land and will buy and sell houses and vineyards and fields.
16 Then after I had given the papers to Baruch, I prayed to the LORD (JESUS):
17 'Almighty LORD (JESUS), you made heaven and earth by your great strength and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
18 You show mercy to thousands of generations. However, you punish children for the wickedness of their parents. You, GOD (Elohim-The family of God), are great and mighty. Your name is the LORD (JESUS) of hosts.
19 You make wise plans and do mighty things. You see everything the descendants of Adam do. You reward them for the way they live and for what they do.
20 You performed miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt. To this day you are still doing them in Israel. You made a name for yourself that continues to this day.
21 You brought your people from Egypt with miraculous signs and amazing things, with a mighty hand and a powerful arm, and with great terror.
22 You gave them the land that you swore with an oath to give their ancestors, the land flowing with milk and honey.
23 They entered and took possession of it. However, they refused to obey you or to follow your teachings. They didn't do anything you commanded them to do, so you brought all this disaster on them.
24 See how the siege ramps have been built against the city walls! Because of wars, famines, and plagues, the city will be handed over to the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you have threatened to do has happened, as you can see.
25 Yet you, O LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God), told me to buy a field with money and get witnesses to confirm it, although the city was handed over to the Babylonians.'"
26 The LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said:
27 I am the LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of all humanity. Is there anything too hard for Me?
28 Therefore the LORD (JESUS) says: I'm going to hand this city over to the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. They will capture it.
29 The Babylonians outside the walls will come in and set fire to the city. They will burn down all these houses, where the people caused my fury to rise by offering incense to Baal on the rooftops and by pouring out drink offerings to other gods(elohim/theos).
30 Ever since they were young, the people of Israel and Judah have done what I consider evil. The people of Israel have made me furious by what they've done, declares the LORD (JESUS).
31 From the time this city was built until now, it has done nothing but anger me, so I am determined to get rid of it.
32 The people of Israel and Judah have made Me furious because they are evil. The people, their kings and officials, their priests and prophets, and the Judeans and those who live in Jerusalem
33 have turned their backs, not their faces to Me. I taught them again and again, but they refused to listen and learn.
34 They have set their abominations in the house[Temple] which is called by My name, to defile it.
35 They have built pagan shrines to Baal in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and there they sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing. What an incredible evil, causing Judah to sin.
36 Now I want to say something more about this city. You have been saying, 'It will fall to the king of Babylon through war, famine, and disease.' But this is what the LORD (JESUS), the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says:
37 I am going to gather the people from all the lands where I scattered them in my anger, fury, and terrifying wrath. I will bring them back to this place and make them live here securely.
38 They will be my people, and I will be their GOD (Elohim-The family of God).
39 I will give them the same attitude and the same purpose so that they will fear me as long as they live. This will be for their own good and for the good of their children.
40 I will make an eternal promise to them that I will never stop blessing them. I will make them fear me so that they will never turn away from me.
41 I will enjoy blessing them. With all my heart and soul I will faithfully plant them in this land.
42 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: As I brought all these disasters on these people, so I will bring on them all these blessings that I have promised them.
43 You have said that this land is a wasteland, without people or animals living in it. You have also said that it has been handed over to the Babylonians. But people will once again buy fields in this land.
44 They will buy fields for money, sign deeds, seal them, and have people witness the signing of the deeds. This will happen in the territory of Benjamin, in the region of Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities on the mountains, in the hill country, and in the Negev because I will bring them back from their captivity, declares the LORD (JESUS).
Jeremiah 33
1 The word of the LORD (JESUS) came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the courtyard of the prison, saying:
2 The LORD (JESUS), the Maker of the heavens and earth – the LORD (JESUS) is His name – says this:
3 Call to Me, and I will answer you. I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here.
4 For this is what the LORD (JESUS), the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: Though you have torn down the houses of this city and even the king's palace to get materials to strengthen the walls against the siege weapons of the enemy,
5 the Babylonians will still enter. The men of this city are already as good as dead, for I have determined to destroy them in My terrible anger. I have abandoned them because of all their wickedness.
6 Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem's damage and give her prosperity and peace.
7 I will restore Judah and Israel and rebuild them as they were before.
8 I will cleanse them from all the sins that they have committed against Me. I will forgive them for all the sins that they have committed against Me and for rebelling against Me.
9 Then this city will bring Me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see the good I do for My people and will tremble with awe!
10 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: You have said that this place is ruined and that no people or animals live in it. It's true! The cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are deserted. No people or animals live there. But once again you will hear
11 the sounds of joy and happiness and the sounds of brides and grooms. You will hear those who bring thanksgiving offerings to the LORD (JESUS)'s house [temple] say, 'Give thanks to the LORD (JESUS) of hosts because the LORD (JESUS) is good, because his mercy endures forever.' I will restore the fortunes of the land to what they were before," says the LORD (JESUS).
12 Thus says the LORD (JESUS) of hosts: In this place which is desolate, without man and without beast, and in all its cities, there shall again be a dwelling place of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
13 In the cities on the mountains, in the foothills, in the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the area around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shepherds will once again count their sheep, says the LORD (JESUS).
14 Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD (JESUS), that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah:
15 In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous branch to spring up for David. He will do what is fair and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live securely. Jerusalem will be called The LORD (JESUS) Our Righteousness.
Jerusalem--In Jeremiah 23:6 , instead of this, it is "Israel." "The name" in the Hebrew has here to be supplied from that passage; and for "he" (Messiah, the antitypical "Israel"), the antecedent there ( Isaiah 49:3 ), we have "she" here, that is, Jerusalem. She is called by the same name as Messiah, "The LORD (JESUS) Our Righteousness," by virtue of the mystical oneness between her (as the literal representative of the spiritual Church) and her LORD (JESUS) and Husband. Thus, whatever belongs to the Head belongs also to the members ( Ephesians 5:30 Ephesians 5:32 ). Hence, the Church is called "Christ" ( Romans 16:7 , 1 Corinthians 12:12 ). The Church hereby professes to draw all her righteousness from Christ ( Isaiah 45:24 Isaiah 45:25 ). It is for the sake of Jerusalem, literal and spiritual, that God the Father gives this name (Jehovah, Tsidkenu, "The LORD (JESUS) our Righteousness") to Christ. (Jamieson)
17 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel.
18 And there will always be Levitical priests to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings and sacrifices to me.
Levitical Priesthood to return! In the Millennium.
19 The LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said:
20 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: Suppose you could break My arrangement with day and night so that they wouldn't come at their proper time.
21 only then will my covenant with David, My servant, be broken. Only then will he no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. The same is true for My covenant with the Levitical priests who minister before Me.
This may answer the question from an earlier chapter where it seemed that the promise to David may be conditional; here God says it is not! It could also be stated that this is a promise AFTER the Millennium.
22 And as the stars cannot be counted and the sand on the seashores cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David, My servant, and the Levites who minister before Me.
23 Then the LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said:
24 Have you heard what people are saying? – 'The LORD (JESUS) chose Judah and Israel and then abandoned them!' They are sneering and saying that Israel is not worthy to be counted as a nation.
25 This what what the LORD (JESUS) says: I would no more reject My people than I would change My Laws of night and day, of earth and sky.
26 I will never abandon the descendants of Jacob or David, my servant, or change the plan that David’s descendants will rule the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, I will restore them to their land and have mercy on them.
Jeremiah 34
CAPTIVITY OF ZEDEKIAH:
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD (JESUS), when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army, all the kingdoms of the earth under his rule, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem and all its cities, saying,
2 This is what the LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel says: Go to King Zedekiah of Judah, and tell him, 'This is what the LORD (JESUS), the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it.
3 You will not escape his grasp but will be taken into captivity. You will stand before the king of Babylon to be judged and sentenced. Then you will be exiled to Babylon.'
4 But listen to this promise from the LORD (JESUS), O Zedekiah, king of Judah. This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: 'You will not be killed in war
5 You will die peacefully among your people. They will burn incense in your memory, just as they did for your ancestors. They will weep for you and say, "Alas, our king is dead!" This I have decreed, says the LORD (JESUS).'
6 The prophet Jeremiah told all these things to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem.
7 He did this when the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities of Judah that were left.
8 The LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah after King Zedekiah and all the people in Jerusalem promised to free their slaves.
By the law a Hebrew, after having been a bond-servant for six years, on the seventh was to be let go free ( Exodus 21:22 , Deuteronomy 15:12 ).
9 Everyone was supposed to free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female. No one was supposed to keep another Jew as a slave.
10 All the officials and all the people agreed and promised to free their male and female slaves and not to keep them as slaves anymore. So they set them free.
11 But afterwards, they changed their minds and took back the men and women they had freed and made them their slaves again.
12 The LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said:
13 This is what the LORD (JESUS), the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your ancestors long ago when I rescued them from their slavery in Egypt.
The last year of Zedekiah was the sabbatical year. How just the retribution, that they who, against GOD (Elohim-The family of God)'s law and their own covenant, enslaved their brethren, should be doomed to bondage themselves: and that the bond-servants should enjoy the sabbatical freedom at the hands of the foe ( Jeremiah 52:16 ) which their own countrymen denied them!
14 I told them that every Hebrew slave must be freed after serving six years. But this was never done.
At the end of seven years--that is, not on the eighth year, but within the limit of the seventh year, not later than the end of the seventh year ( Exodus 21:2 , 23:10 , Deuteronomy 15:12 ). So "at the end of three years" ( Deuteronomy 14:28 , 2 Kings 18:10 ), and "after three days, I will rise again" ( Matthew 27:63 ), that is, on the third day (compare Matthew 27:64 ).
15 Recently, you changed and did what I consider right. You agreed to free your neighbors, and you made a promise in My presence, in the house [Temple] that is called by My name.
16 Now you have changed again and dishonored Me. You brought back the male and female slaves that you had set free to live their own lives. You have forced them to be your male and female slaves again.
17 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: You didn't obey Me. You haven't freed your relatives and neighbors. Now I am going to free you," declares the LORD (JESUS). "I will free you to die in wars, plagues, and famines. I will make all the kingdoms of the world horrified at the thought of you.
18 I will hand over the people who have rejected My promise. They have not kept the terms of the promise which they made in my presence when they cut a calf in two and passed between its pieces.
19 I will hand over the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the palace officials, the priests, and all the common people who passed between the pieces of the calf.
20 I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them, and their corpses will be food for birds and wild animals.
21 I will hand King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials over to their enemies who want to kill them and to the army of the king of Babylon, the army that has withdrawn from you.
22 I am going to give a command," declares the LORD (JESUS). "I will bring that army back to this city to attack it, capture it, and burn it down. I will destroy the cities of Judah so that no one will live there.
Jeremiah 35
1 The Word that the LORD (JESUS) gave Jeremiah when Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah:
2 Go to the family of Rechab and talk to them. Take them into one of the side rooms in the LORD (JESUS)'s Temple(house), and offer them a drink of wine.
3 I took Jaazaniah, who was the son of Jeremiah and the grandson of Habazziniah, and I took Jaazaniah's brothers and all his sons--the whole family of Rechab.
4 I brought them into the LORD (JESUS)'s Temple(house), into the side room of the sons of Hanan. (He was Igdaliah's son, a man of GOD (Elohim-The family of God)(Elohim/Theos).) It was next to the room of the officials and above the side room of Maaseiah, Shallum's son, the doorkeeper.
5 Then I set cups and pitchers filled with wine in front of the family of Rechab. I said to them, "Drink some wine."
6 They answered, "We don't drink wine, because our ancestor Jonadab, Rechab's son, gave us this order: 'You and your descendants must never drink wine.
7 Never build any houses or plant any fields or vineyards. You must never have any of these things. You must always live in tents so that you may live for a long time in the land where you are staying.'
8 We, along with our wives, sons, and daughters, have obeyed our ancestor Jonadab, Rechab's son, in everything he ordered us to do. We have never drunk wine,
9 built houses to live in, or owned vineyards, pastures, or grainfields.
10 We live in tents, and we have obeyed everything our ancestor Jonadab ordered us to do.
11 But when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon arrived in this country, we were afraid of the Babylonian and Aramean armies. So we decided to move to Jerusalem. That is why we are here."
12 Then the LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said:
13 This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God)(Elohim/Theos) of Israel: Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 'Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?' says the LORD (JESUS).
14 'Jonadab, Rechab's son, ordered his descendants not to drink wine. This order has been carried out. His descendants have not drunk any wine to this day, because they have obeyed their ancestor's order. I have spoken to you again and again, but you have refused to listen to me.
By the obedience of the Rechabites to their father, Jeremiah condemns the disobedience of the Jews to GOD (Elohim-The family of God)(Elohim/Theos) their Father. The Holy Spirit has arranged Jeremiah's prophecies by the moral rather than the chronological connection. From the history of an event fifteen years before, the Jews, who had brought back their manumitted servants into bondage, are taught how much GOD (Elohim-The family of God)(Elohim/Theos) loves and rewards obedience, and hates and punishes disobedience.
15 I have sent all my servants the prophets to you again and again. They said, "Turn from your evil ways, do what is right, and don't follow other gods(elohim/theos) in order to serve them. Then you will live in the land that I gave you and your ancestors. However, you refused to listen to me or obey me.
16 The descendants of Jonadab, Rechab's son, have carried out the orders of their ancestor, but you refuse to listen to me.'
17 Therefore, the LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God)(Elohim/Theos) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God)(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, says: 'Because you refuse to listen or answer when I call, I will send upon Judah and Jerusalem all the disasters I have threatened.'
18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of Rechab, this is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God)(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, says: You obeyed the order of your ancestor Jonadab, followed all his instructions, and did exactly what he told you to do.
19 So this is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God)(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, says: A descendant of Jonadab, Rechab's son, will always serve me.
Jeremiah 36
THE SCROLL:
1 In the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah, the LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah:
2 Get a scroll, and write down all my messages against Israel, Judah, and the other nations. Begin with the first message back in the days of Josiah, and write down every message you have given, right up to the present time.
Literally, roll of a book--a book formed of prepared skins made into a roll. Compare "volume of the book," that is, the Pentateuch ( Psalms 40:7 ). It does not follow that his prophecies were not before committed to writing; what is implied is, they were now written together in one volume, so as to be read continuously to the Jews in the temple.
3 Maybe the people of Judah will hear about all the disasters that I plan to bring on them, and they will turn from their wicked ways. Then I will forgive their wickedness and their sins.
4 So Jeremiah sent for Baruch, son of Neriah. Jeremiah dictated everything that the LORD (JESUS) had told him, and Baruch wrote all the words down on a scroll..
5 Jeremiah told Baruch, "I'm no longer allowed to go to the house (Temple) of the LORD (JESUS).
6 You go, therefore, and read from the scroll which you have written at my direction, all of the words of the LORD (JESUS), in front of the people in the LORD (JESUS)'s house on the next day of fasting. On that day people will be there from all over Judah.
7 Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the LORD (JESUS)'s forgiveness before it is too late. For the LORD (JESUS)'s terrible anger has been pronounced against them.
8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did as Jeremiah told him and read these messages from the LORD (JESUS) LORD (JESUS) in the LORD (JESUS)'s house.
9 In November (the ninth month) of the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah, a time for fasting was called. It was a time for all the people in Jerusalem and for everyone who was coming from any city in Judah to Jerusalem to fast in the LORD (JESUS)'s presence.
fasting day--(See Jeremiah 36:9 ). An extraordinary fast, in the ninth month (whereas the fast on the great day of atonement was on the tenth day of the seventh month, Leviticus 16:29 , 23:27-32 ), appointed to avert the impending calamity, when it was feared Nebuchadnezzar, having in the year before (that is, the fourth of Jehoiakim), smitten Pharaoh-necho at Carchemish, would attack Judea, as the ally of Egypt ( 2 Kings 23:34 2 Kings 23:35 ). The fast was likely to be an occasion on which Jeremiah would find the Jews more softened, as well as a larger number of them met together.
10 Then Baruch read the book containing the words of Jeremiah in the house(Temple) of the LORD (JESUS), in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD (JESUS)'s house, in the hearing of all the people.
11 When Micaiah son of Gemariah and grandson of Shaphan heard the messages from the LORD (JESUS),
12 he went down to the secretary's room in the palace where the administrative officials were meeting. Elishama the secretary was there, along with Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Acbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the others with official responsibilities.
13 Micaiah told them everything he heard Baruch read from the book publicly.
14 Then all the officials sent Jehudi, who was the son of Nethaniah, the grandson of Shelemiah, and the great-grandson of Cushi, to Baruch. Jehudi said to Baruch, "Bring the scroll that you read publicly, and come with me." Baruch, son of Neriah, took the scroll and went with him to see the officers.
15 "Sit down and read the scroll to us," the officials said, and Baruch did as they requested.
16 When they heard everything, they turned to each other in terror. They said to Baruch, "We must tell the king everything."
17 Then they asked Baruch, "Please tell us how you wrote all this. Did Jeremiah dictate it to you?"
18 Baruch answered, "He dictated everything to me, and I wrote it on the scroll in ink."
19 The officials said to Baruch, "You and Jeremiah must hide. Don't let anyone know where you are."
20 After they put the book of the scroll in the side room of the scribe Elishama, they went to the king in the courtyard and told him everything.
21 Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. He took the scroll from the side room of the scribe Elishama. Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials standing by the king.
22 It was the ninth month, and the king was in his winter house sitting in front of the fire in the fireplace.
Early December and it's cold in Jerusalem.
23 As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a scribe's knife and throw them into the fire in the fireplace. He did this until the whole scroll was burned up.
Like Watergate! Trying to destroy the words they didn't want to hear!
24 The king and all his attendants didn't show any fear or tear their clothes in fear when they heard everything being read.
25 Even when Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the book, he refused to listen to them.
26 Then the king commanded his son Jerahmeel, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch and Jeremiah. But the LORD (JESUS) had hidden them.
27 After the king had burned Jeremiah's book(a scroll), the LORD (JESUS) gave Jeremiah another message. He said:
28 Get another scroll, and write everything again just as you did on the scroll King Jehoiakim burned.
29 Then say to the king, 'This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: 'You burned the scroll because it said the king of Babylon would destroy this land and everything in it.'
30 Now this is what the LORD (JESUS) says about King Jehoiakim of Judah: He will have no one to sit on David's throne, and his own corpse will be thrown out and exposed to the heat of day and the cold of night.
This Royal Line Of David is REMOVED! So the royalty in England must be from another branch
31 I will punish him and his family and his officials because of their sins. I will pour out on them and on all the people of Judah and Jerusalem all the disasters I have promised, for they would not listen to My warnings.
32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and dictated again to his secretary Baruch. He wrote everything that had been on the scroll King Jehoiakim had burned in the fire. Only this time, he added much more!
The writing of the Scriptures was by Divine appointment. The Divine wisdom directed to this as a proper means; if it failed, the house of Judah would be the more without excuse. The Lord declares to sinners the evil he purposes to do against them, that they may hear, and fear, and return from their evil ways; and whenever any one makes this use of GOD (Elohim-The family of God)'s warnings, in dependence on his promised mercy, he will find the Lord ready to forgive his sins. All others will be left without excuse; and the consideration that great is the anger GOD (Elohim-The family of God) has pronounced against us for sin, should quicken both our prayers and our endeavours.Those who despise the word of GOD (Elohim-The family of God), will soon show, as this king did, that they hate it; and, like him, they would wish it destroyed. See what enmity there is against GOD (Elohim-The family of God) in the carnal mind, and wonder at his patience. The princes showed some concern, till they saw how light the king made of it. Beware of making light of GOD (Elohim-The family of God)'s word! (Matthew Henry)
Jeremiah 37
1 Now King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Zedekiah, son of Josiah, to be king of Judah. Zedekiah succeeded Jehoiakin, son of Jehoiakim.
2 But Zedekiah, his administrators, and people didn't listen to what the LORD (JESUS) had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah.
3 Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, to ask Jeremiah, "Please pray to the LORD (JESUS) our GOD (Elohim-The family of God) for us."
4 Jeremiah was still free to come and go among the people. The people of Jerusalem hadn't put him in prison yet.
5 At this time the army of Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt appeared at the southern border of Judah. When the Babylonian army heard about it, they withdrew from their siege of Jerusalem.
7 This is what the LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel says: Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to get advice from Me: 'Pharaoh's army has come out to help you. But it will go back to Egypt, its own land.
9 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: Don't deceive yourselves by thinking that the Babylonians will leave you. They will not leave you.
10 Even if you would defeat the entire Babylonian army so that they had only a few badly wounded men left in their tents, they would get up and burn down this city.'
12 Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem on his way to the land of Benjamin, to see the property he had bought.
13 But as he was walking through the Benjamin Gate, a sentry, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah and grandson of Hananiah, arrested him and said, "You are defecting to the Babylonians!"
14 Jeremiah answered, "That's a lie! I'm not deserting to the Babylonians." But Irijah wouldn't listen to him. Irijah arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials.
15 The officials were so angry with Jeremiah that they beat him and put him in prison in the scribe Jonathan's house, which had been turned into a prison.
17 Then Jeremiah asked the king, "What crime have I committed? What have I done against you, your officials, or the people that I should be imprisoned like this?
20 Listen, O my Lord(adonay - “sir”) the king, I beg you. Don't send me back to the dungeon in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for I will die there."
21 King Zedekiah gave the command to have Jeremiah put in the courtyard of the prison. He gave him a loaf of bread every day from the bakers' street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.
Jeremiah 38
1 Shephatiah (son of Mattan), Gedaliah (son of Pashhur), Jucal (son of Shelemiah), and Pashhur (son of Malchiah) heard that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people.
2 They heard Jeremiah say, "This is what the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) says: Those who stay in this city will die in wars, famines, or plagues. But those who surrender to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives.
3 "This is what the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) says: This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, and it will capture the city."
4 Then the officials said to the king, "Have this man put to death. He discourages the soldiers who are left in this city and all the people by telling them such things. This man is not trying to help these people; he's trying to hurt them."
5 King Zedekiah answered, "He's in your hands. I won't do anything to stop you."
6 So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son. It was in the courtyard of the prison. They used ropes to lower Jeremiah into the cistern. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
7 So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon[a cistern] of Malchiah the king's son, which was in the court of the prison, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into it.
8 Ebed-Melech went out of the king's house and spoke to the king, saying:
9 "My LORD (JESUS)(adonay) the king," he said, "these men have done a very evil thing in putting Jeremiah the prophet into the cistern. He will soon die of hunger, for almost all the bread in the city is gone."
adony is translated LORD (JESUS) in lower case but really means a master, or “sir”.
10 So the king told Ebed-melech, "Take along thirty of my men, and pull Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies."
11 Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to a room in the palace beneath the treasury, where he found some old rags and discarded clothing. He carried these to the cistern and lowered them to Jeremiah on a rope.
12 Ebed-melech called down to Jeremiah, "Put these rags under your armpits to protect you from the ropes." Then when Jeremiah was ready,
13 They used the ropes to pull Jeremiah up and lift him out of the cistern. Then Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.
14 King Zedekiah sent for the prophet Jeremiah and brought him to the third entrance in the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh)'s temple. "I'm going to ask you a question," the king said to Jeremiah. "Don't hide anything from me."
15 Jeremiah answered Zedekiah, "If I answer you, you'll kill me. If I give you advice, you won't listen to me."
16 So King Zedekiah secretly swore an oath to Jeremiah, "The LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) gave us life. As the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) lives, I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who want to kill you."
17 Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "This is what the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) God(Elohim/Theos) of Armies, the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, says: If you surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, you will live, and this city will not be burned. You and your household will live.
18 But if you don't surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be handed over to the Babylonians. They will burn it down, and you will not escape from them.
19 King Zedekiah answered Jeremiah, "I'm afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Babylonians. The Babylonians may hand me over to them, and they will torture me."
20 Jeremiah said, "You will not be handed over to them. Obey the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) by doing what I'm telling you. Then everything will go well for you, and you will live.
21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) has shown me.
22 All the women who are left in the palace of Judah's king will be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon. These women will say: 'Your trusted friends have misled you and used you. Your feet are stuck in the mud, and your friends have deserted you.'
23 All your wives and children will be brought to the Babylonians. You will not escape from them. You will be captured by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down."
24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Don't tell anyone you told me this, or you will die!
25 My officials may hear that I spoke to you. Then they may say to you, 'Tell us what you and the king were talking about. If you don't tell us, we will kill you.'
26 If they come to you, say to them, 'I asked the king not to send me back to Jonathan's house to die there.'"
27 All the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him. He told them exactly what the king had told him to say. So they stopped questioning him, because they hadn't heard his conversation with the king.
28 Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison until the day Jerusalem was captured.
Jeremiah 39
This chapter consists of two parts: the first describes the capture of Jerusalem, the removal of the people to Babylon, and the fate of Zedekiah, and that of Jeremiah. The second tells of the assurance of safety to Ebed-melech.
JERUSALEM TAKEN. ZEDEKIAH'S FATE. JEREMIAH CARED FOR:
1 In January, 588 B.C (tenth month) of Zedekiah's ninth year as king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with his entire army and blockaded it.
2 On June 27th, 586 ( the ninth day of the fourth month) of Zedekiah's eleventh year as king, they broke into the city.
3 Then all the officers of the king of Babylon came in and sat in Middle Gate: Nergal (the quartermaster), Samgar Nebo (the chief officer), Nergal (the quartermaster and the chief fortuneteller), and all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon.
4 When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls, and they took the road to the plain {of Jericho}.
5 But the Babylonians chased the king and caught him on the plains of Jericho. They took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who was at Riblah in the land of Hamath. There the king of Babylon pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah.
6 The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah's sons as Zedekiah watched at Riblah. He also slaughtered all the leaders of Judah.
7 Then he blinded Zedekiah, put him in bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.
8 Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the palace, and tore down the walls of the city.
9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, sent to Babylon the remnant of the population as well as those who had defected to him.
10 But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left some poor people who had nothing in the land of Judah. At that time he gave them vineyards and farms.
11 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gave Nebuzaradan an order concerning Jeremiah. He said,
12 "Take him, and look after him. Don't harm him in any way, but do for him whatever he asks."
13 So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, and Nebushazban, a chief officer, and Nergal-sharezer, the king's adviser, and the other officers of Babylon's king.
14 sent messengers to bring Jeremiah out of the prison. They put him under the care of Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who was to take him back to his home. So Jeremiah stayed in Judah among his own people.
15 While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the prison, the LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to him. The LORD (JESUS) said:
16 "Say to Ebed Melech from Sudan, 'This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, says: I'm going to carry out my threat against this city by bringing disaster on it instead of prosperity. At that time these things will happen as you watch.
17 But at that time I will rescue you, declares the LORD (JESUS). You will not be handed over to those you fear.
18 I will certainly rescue you. You will not die in war. You will escape with your life because you trusted me, declares the LORD (JESUS).'
Jerusalem was so strong, that the inhabitants believed the enemy could never enter it. But sin provoked God to withdraw his protection, and then it was as weak as other cities. Zedekiah had his eyes put out; so he was condemned to darkness who had shut his eyes against the clear light of God's word. Those who will not believe God's words, will be convinced by the event. Observe the wonderful changes of Providence, how uncertain are earthly possessions; and see the just dealings of Providence: but whether the Lord makes men poor or rich, nothing will profit them while they cleave to their sins. The servants of God alone are prepared for all events; and they are delivered and comforted, while the wicked suffer. They often meet with more kindness from the profane, than from hypocritical professors of godliness. The Lord will raise them up friends, do them good, and perform all his promises. - Matthew Henry
Jeremiah 40
JEREMIAH IS SET FREE
1 The LORD (JESUS) spoke His Word to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, let him go at Ramah. Nebuzaradan found Jeremiah in chains along with the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken to Babylon.
2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him, "The LORD (JESUS) your God(Elohim/Theos) has brought this disaster on this land,
The Babylonians must have been aware, through Jeremiah's prophecies ( Jeremiah 39:11 ), that they were the instruments of God(Elohim/Theos)'s wrath on His people.
3 just as He said he would. For these people have sinned against the LORD (JESUS) and disobeyed Him. That is why it happened.
4 Today I'm removing the chains from your hands. If you would like to come with me to Babylon, come, and I'll look after you. But if you don't want to come with me to Babylon, don't come. The whole land is yours. Go wherever you want.
5 If you decide to stay, then return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. He has been appointed governor of Judah by the king of Babylon. Stay there with the people he rules. But it's up to you; go wherever you like."Then Nebuzaradan gave Jeremiah some food and money and let him go.
6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, at Mizpah and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.
Mizpah--in Benjamin, northwest of Jerusalem ( Jeremiah 41:5 Jeremiah 41:6 Jeremiah 41:9 ). Not the Mizpah in Gilead, beyond Jordan ( Judges 10:17 ). Jeremiah showed his patriotism and piety in remaining in his country amidst afflictions and notwithstanding the ingratitude of the Jews, rather than go to enjoy honors and pleasures in a heathen court ( Hebrews 11:24-26 ). This vindicates his purity of motive in his withdrawal ( Jeremiah 37:12-14 ). (Jamieson)
The captain of the guard seems to glory that he had been God's instrument to fulfil, what Jeremiah had been God's messenger to foretell. Many can see God's justice and truth with regard to others, who are heedless and blind as to themselves and their own sins. But, sooner or later, all men shall be made sensible that their sin is the cause of all their miseries. Jeremiah has leave to dispose of himself; but is advised to go to Gedaliah, governor of the land under the king of Babylon. It is doubtful whether Jeremiah acted right in this decision. But those who desire the salvation of sinners, and the good of the church, are apt to expect better times from slight appearances, and they will prefer the hope of being useful, to the most secure situations without it. (Mathhew Henry)
7 The leaders of the Judean guerrilla bands in the countryside heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the poor people who were left behind in Judah, and that he hadn't exiled everyone to Babylon.
8 So they came to see Gedaliah at Mizpah. These are the names of the leaders who came: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan, sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, and all their men.
9 Gedaliah assured them that it would be safe for them to surrender to the Babylonians. "Stay here, and serve the king of Babylon," he said, "and all will go well for you.
10 As for me, I will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to meet with us. Settle in any town you wish, and live off the land. Harvest the grapes and summer fruits and olives, and store them away."
11 Now, all the Jews who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and in all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a few survivors in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, as their governor.
12 So all the Jews returned from all the places where they had been scattered. They came to Judah and to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They gathered a large harvest of grapes and summer fruit.
13 Soon after this, Johanan son of Kareah and the other guerrilla leaders came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.
14 They said to him, "Did you know that Baalis, king of Ammon, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to assassinate you?" But Gedaliah refused to believe them.
15 Then Johanan, Kareah's son, secretly asked Gedaliah at Mizpah, "Let me kill Ishmael, Nethaniah's son. No one will know about it. Why should he kill you? All the Jews who have gathered around you would scatter. What is left of Judah would disappear."
16 Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, told Johanan, Kareah's son, "Don't do that! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie."
Jeremiah 41
1 In the seventh month (Sept-Oct) Ishmael son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, arrived in Mizpah accompanied by ten men. Gedaliah invited them to dinner. While they were eating,
2 Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him got up, drew their swords, and killed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. So they killed the man whom the king of Babylon had appointed to governor.
3 Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah as well as the Babylonian soldiers that was there.
4 The next day, before anyone had heard that Gedaliah's was killed,
5 80 men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. Their beards were shaved off, their clothes were torn, and cuts were on their bodies. They brought grain offerings and incense to the LORD(Yahweh)'s house [Temple].
6 Ishmael left Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he reached them, he said, "Oh, come and see what has happened to Gedaliah!"
7 But as soon as they were all inside the town, Ishmael and his men killed all but ten of them and threw their bodies into a cistern.
8 But ten men were found among them who said to Ishmael, "Don't kill us! We have wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey hidden in the country." So he left them alone and didn't kill them along with the others.
9 The cistern where Ishmael dumped the bodies of the men he murdered was the large one made by King Asa when he fortified Mizpah to protect himself against King Baasha of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with corpses.
10 Then Ishmael took captive the rest of the people who were at Mizpah. He captured the king's daughters and all the other people who had been left at Mizpah. They were the people whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had put under the control of Gedaliah, son of Ahikam. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, took them captive and left for Ammon.
These are the daughter's of Zedekiah. His children were killed, but the daughters lived! Their grandfather? None other than Jeremiah himself! (see jer 52:1) He would later take these daughters and the STONE OF JACOB to Ireland, where David's line continued! See note at end of chapter.
11 When Kareah's son Johanan and all the army commanders who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, had done,
12 they took all their men and set out to stop him. They caught up with him at the pool near Gibeon.
13 When all the people who were with Ishmael saw Kareah's son Johanan and all the army commanders who were with him, they were glad.
14 Then all the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and ran to Kareah's son Johanan.
15 Ishmael and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to Ammon.
16 Then Kareah's son Johanan and all the army commanders who were with him brought back the rest of the people of Mizpah whom he had rescued from Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam. Johanan brought back men, women, children, soldiers, and commanders from Gibeon.
17 They took them all to the village of Geruth-kimham near Bethlehem, where they prepared to leave for Egypt.
18 They were afraid of the Babylonians because Ishmael had killed Gedaliah whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land.
Jeremiah and his commission and his granddaughters:
To sum up a great deal of prophecy, history, and tradition: the prophet Jeremiah was commissioned to "root up", then to "replant" "nations and kingdoms" (Jer. 1:10). This included the House of David, which was to be removed from Judah and replanted in "Israel" — that is, among the early colonists and later exiles of the Ten Tribes (cf. The Book of Ezekiel). After the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, Jeremiah had charge of "the king's daughters", the last survivors of the family of Zedekiah, last king of Judah. He and these princesses were kidnapped and later brought to Egypt by fleeing Jews. After these Jews (and Egypt) were taken captive by the Babylonians, nothing more is told (in Scripture) of Jeremiah or the princesses — though God had promised that Jeremiah and Baruch would always have their lives "as a prize of war" and that a few Jews would escape this second captivity.
What happened to Jeremiah, Baruch and the king's daughters? Apparently, according to Irish tradition, Jeremiah (aka "Ollam Fodhla", "a patriarch, a saint, a prophet") and his scribe Baruch ("Simon Brug, Brach, Breack, Barech, Berach")brought to Ireland an "eastern king's daughter" named "Tea-Tephi" 10 (itself a very Hebraic "pet name": "my dear little toddler" [?], a portable stone called the "Lia-Fail" ("Stone of Destiny", said to be the stone Jacob anointed at Bethel), an "ark" (the famous "lost ark" of the covenant — are you listening, Indiana Jones?) and a harp: none other than the "harp of David". Here is what Capt tells us (remember, the "Lia Fail" was later taken to Scotland, then England as the "Stone of Scone"):
In the "Chronicles of Eri", by Milner, we find Eochaidh, the husband of Tea Tephi, associated with the Stone Lia Fail. The account is titled, "The Story of Lia Fail", and states: "In the early days it was carried about by priests on the march in the wilderness (hence the much-worn rings still attached to it, one on each end). Later it was borne by the sea from East to West, 'to the extremity of the world of the sun's going' (an expression used by the Romans to describe Britain). Its bearers had resolved, at starting, to 'move on the face of the waters, in search of their brethren'. Shipwrecked on the coast of Ireland, they yet came safe with Lia Fail ...Eochaidh 'sent a car for Lia Fail, and he himself was placed thereon'."
The story of the Stone was then repeated by his order, "And Erimionn (Heremon) was seated on Lia Fail, and the crown was placed upon his head, and the mantle upon his shoulders, and all clapped and shouted." And the name of that place, from that day forward, was called "Tara" (spelled "Tamhra" in the Irish language). The fact that the story of the Stone was reeated by his...order suggests definitely that this Stone was of ancient origin and custom, quite possibly of the earliest Israelites.
Another version lists Tea Tephi as being the daughter and heir of King Zedekiah (Scota, her younger sister, having married in Spain), who accompanied Jeremiah to Ireland to meet and marry Eochaidh. In this version Tea was made Queen at her husband's coronation (by Jeremiah) on the Stone of Bethel. The name of the capital is said to have been changed from "Lothair" to "Tara" and the Harp of David became the national emblem.(11)
Granted, the Irish bards (revered only just less than their kings, just as were the priests, prophets and psalmists of Israel) were allowed to color their stories with invention (just as were the Jewish authors of extra-biblical literature). Yet the basic facts of the story had to remain unchanged (again, as among the Jews). It so happens that the "Stone of Scone" very closely matches (by chemical and mineralogical tests) samples of calcerous sandstone (12) found near the Dead Sea, (13)but not any type of stone found in the British Isles. (14) This is, of itself, presumptive proof of the veracity of the Irish traditions.(15)
Thus the "harp of David" (traditionally, buried with Tea Tephi at an unknown site) became a powerful symbol of Ireland, in the poetic, mystical, national and political senses. This "harp of Tara" — the inspiration for the harps on Irish flags and on the British royal arms, and directly or indirectly for the ancient and modern Celtic harps themselves — was originally not the khinnor (ten-stringed lyre) David usually played, but the nevel (twelve-stringed harp) which he also used (as did the Jerusalem Temple service).
Reasonably, the Irish had their own ancestral tradition of lyre- and harpmaking, brought in by themselves and no doubt by any ancient Phoenician traders that happened to come their way. (16) But the harp and lyre were no less sacred to the Israelites in Erets Yisrael than to their later "Celtic" (17) brethren; these instruments were called "instruments of the song of God" when used for psalm-singing under David's direction (1 Ch. 16:42, Hebrew). "David's harp", brought by Jeremiah, (18) was a natural symbol for the Irish (and later the English) royal houses and for Ireland itself.
There are interesting connections between early Celtic music (of the Celtic Church or even earlier) and various forms of music in the Middle East. What about a connection between ancient Irish music and that which David actually played? Or between Welsh, Scottish, English, Breton, Scandinavian, French, etc., music and that of ancient Israel — since all these peoples are largely descended from Israelite tribes with a syncretic national religion very similar to that of the later druids, for which fault (among others) northern Israel was exiled by the Assyrians?
We are handicapped by the lack of direct ancient sources for music in the British Isles and Israel (outside the Bible). However, we do have long-standing oral/aural traditions both in the Isles and among the Jews, a number of histories and historical relics of varying value, and now the "music of the Bible" deciphered by Haik-Vantoura's. This last art form gives us an interesting clue indeed: a modal system adapted to the tuning and playing techniques and instruments available to Celtic and Middle Eastern harpers and lyres. The biblical modal system combines the common diatomic and diatonic-chromatic "modes" of traditional Jewish and Celtic music into one coherent theoretical whole. Moreover, the harmonic structure of the Psalms' melodies is reminiscent of that of much later art and folk song in Europe, especially among the Northwest Europeans and North Italians. (19) Why is this? "Israel" (the Ten Tribes) and "Judah" (Judah, Benjamin, and most of Levi: the "Jews") were from early times distinct entities which increasingly went their separate ways, fulfilling separate destinies. It is only natural that Israel's sacred and secular music would take a different direction from Judah's. Even in biblical times, Israel seems to have preferred a more diatonic, "major" modality; Judah, a more chromatic, "minor" one.(20) All the same, there was, and would have remained, a relationship between the two peoples' music — one which seems to be borne out generally even today.
It is remarkable that those who write historical fiction based on the Celtic experience ignore the Israelite connection, so prominent in the traditions and early histories. (But then, Israel and Judah were continually condemned by the prophets for their syncretism, if not for being "more pagan than pagans" and happy to stay that way!) I plan (God willing) to correct that oversight one day, in a novel of my own (which will not neglect the role of "David's harp"). Watch this space!
http://cgca.net/coglinks/origin/oon1.4.htm
Jeremiah 42
DON'T GO TO EGYPT
1 Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah, and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah,and Hoshaiah's son Jezaniah and all the people, from the least important to the most important, came to the prophet Jeremiah.
2 And said to him, "Please accept our petition, and pray to the LORD (JESUS) your GOD (Elohim-The family of God) for all of us who are left here. As you can see, there are only a few of us left.
3 Beg the LORD (JESUS) your GOD (Elohim-The family of God) to show us where we should go and what we should do."
4 The prophet Jeremiah answered them, "I have listened to your request. I will pray to the LORD (JESUS) your GOD (Elohim-The family of God) as you have requested, and I will tell you everything the LORD (JESUS) says. I will hide nothing from you."
5 They said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD (JESUS) be a true and faithful witness against us if we don't do exactly what the LORD (JESUS) your GOD (Elohim-The family of God) tells us to do.
6 Whether we like it or not, we will obey the LORD (JESUS) our GOD (Elohim-The family of God) to whom we are sending you. Yes, we will obey the LORD (JESUS) our GOD (Elohim-The family of God) so that everything will go well for us."
7 After ten days the LORD (JESUS) spoke his word to Jeremiah.
8 So he called for Johanan son of Kareah and the army officers, and for all the people, from the least to the greatest.
9 He said to them, "You sent me to the LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel with your request, and this is his reply:
10 Stay here in this land. If you do, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you. For I am sorry for all the punishment I have had to bring upon you.
11 Don't be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Don't be afraid of him, declares the LORD (JESUS). I'm with you. I will save you and rescue you from his power.
12 I will be merciful to you by making him kind, so he will let you stay here in your land.
13 But suppose you say, 'We won't stay in this land,' and you disobey the LORD (JESUS) your GOD (Elohim-The family of God).
14 Then you say, 'We'll go to Egypt, where we won't have to see war, hear the sound of a ram's horn(shofar), or be hungry. We'll stay there.'
15 Listen to the word of the LORD (JESUS), you people who are left in Judah. This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: Suppose you're determined to go to Egypt, and you go and live there.
16 Then the wars you fear will catch up with you in Egypt. The famines you dread will follow you to Egypt, and you will die there.
17 So all the people who decide to go and live in Egypt will die in wars, famines, and plagues. No one will survive or escape the disasters I will bring on them.
18 This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts(angels), the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: As my anger and my fury were poured out on those who live in Jerusalem, so my fury will be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will become a curse word. You will become something ridiculed, cursed, and disgraced. You won't see this place again.
19 The LORD (JESUS) has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, Do not go to Egypt!' Know certainly that I have admonished you this day.
20 You only deceived yourselves when you sent me to the LORD (JESUS) your GOD (Elohim-The family of God) and said, 'Pray to the LORD (JESUS) our GOD (Elohim-The family of God) for us, and tell us everything that the LORD (JESUS) our GOD (Elohim-The family of God) says, and we'll do it.'
21 I have told you today, but you won't obey anything the LORD (JESUS) your GOD (Elohim-The family of God) sent me to tell you.
22 But now, you need to know that you will die in wars, famines, or plagues in the place where you want to go {to Egypt} and live."
Jeremiah 43
1 When Jeremiah had finished giving this message from the LORD (JESUS) their GOD (Elohim-The family of God); He told them everything the LORD (JESUS) their GOD (Elohim-The family of God) sent him to tell them.
2 Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the other proud men said to Jeremiah, "You're a liar! The LORD (JESUS) our GOD (Elohim-The family of God) hasn't forbidden us to go to Egypt!
3 But Baruch son of Neriah has convinced you to say this, so we will stay here and be killed by the Babylonians or be carried off into exile."
4 So Johanan and all the army officers and all the people refused to obey the LORD (JESUS)'s command to stay in Judah.
5 Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the army commanders took all the people who were left in Judah to Egypt. These were all the people who had come back to Judah from the places where they had been driven--
6 men, women, and children, the king's daughters, and all those whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had left with Gedaliah. Also included were the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch.
The girls are Jeremiah's grandcgildren- he takes them to Ireland!
7 They didn't listen to the LORD (JESUS), so they went to Egypt. They went as far as Tahpanhes.
8 Then the LORD (JESUS) spoke His word to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes. He said:
9 Take large stones in your hand, While the people of Judah are watching, in the clay in the brick courtyard which is at the entrance to Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes;
10 and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel: "Behold, I will send and bring Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden. And he will spread his royal pavilion over them.
11 And when he comes, he will destroy the land of Egypt. He will bring death to those destined for death; he will bring captivity to those destined for captivity; he will bring the sword against those destined for the sword.
12 He will set fire to the temples(houses) of Egypt's gods(elohim/theos). He will burn down the temples and take their gods captive. Nebuchadnezzar will put on Egypt as his coat as a shepherd puts on his coat. He will leave Egypt peacefully.
13 At Beth-Shemesh he will break the monuments in Egypt and burn down the temples of Egypt's gods(elohim/theos).'"
Beth-shemesh--that is, "the house of the sun," in Hebrew; called by the Greeks "Heliopolis"; by the Egyptians, "On" ( Genesis 41:45 )
Jeremiah 44
QUEEN OF HEAVEN (Mary worship) CONDEMNED:
1 This is the message Jeremiah received concerning the Judeans living in northern Egypt in the cities of Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis, and throughout southern Egypt as well:
2 Thus says the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel: 'You saw what I did to Jerusalem and to all the towns of Judah. They now lie in ruins, and no one lives in them.
3 It is of all their wickedness, my anger rose high against them. They burned incense and worshiped other gods(elohim/theos) – gods(elohim/theos) that neither they nor you nor any of your ancestors have ever known.
4 I have sent my servants the prophets to you again and again to tell you not to do these abominable things that I hate!
5 But my people would not listen or turn back from their wicked ways, and wouldn't stop burning incense as an offering to other gods(elohim/theos).
6 That is why My fury and anger boiled over and fell like fire on the towns of Judah and into the streets of Jerusalem, and now they are a desolate ruin.
7 The LORD (JESUS), the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel says: Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves, to cut off from you man and woman, child and infant, out of Judah, leaving none to remain,
8 Why do you make Me angry by burning incense to other gods in Egypt, where you have come to live. You will destroy yourselves and be cursed and ridiculed by all the nations on earth.
9 Have you forgotten the sins of your ancestors, the sins of the kings and queens of Judah, and the sins you and your wives committed in Judah and Jerusalem?
10 To this very hour you have shown no remorse or reverence. No one has chosen to follow My Law(Torah) and the decrees I gave to you and your ancestors.
11 Therefore the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel says: Behold, I have made up My mind to destroy every one of you!
12 I will take this remnant of Judah that insisted on coming here to Egypt, and I will consume them. They will fall here in Egypt, killed by war and famine. All will die, from the least to the greatest. They will become something cursed, ridiculed, and disgraced.
13 I will punish those living in Egypt as I punished Jerusalem with wars, famines, and plagues.
14 None of the people of Judah who went to live in Egypt will survive or return to Judah, where they long to return and live. Only a few who escape will return there.
15 Then all the women present and all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to idols(elohim/theos) – a great crowd of all the Judeans living in Pathros, the southern region of Egypt – answered Jeremiah,
16 "We won't listen to the message that you have spoken to us in the LORD (JESUS)'s name.
17 We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven {who is Easter} and sacrifice to her just as much as we like – just as we and our ancestors did before us, and as our kings and princes have always done in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For in those days we had plenty to eat, and we were well off and had no troubles!
18 But since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out wine offerings to her, we have had nothing but wars and famines."
19 "And," the women added, "do you suppose that we were worshiping the Queen of Heaven, pouring out drink offerings to her, and making cakes marked with her image, without our husbands knowing it and helping us? Of course not!"
Most Roman Catholic adherents cheerfully refer to the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven. She is in fact, the goddess Easter! A pagan female diety that the Godhead abhores! Queen of Heaven was a Pagan counterfeit of the Virgin Mary. She was a Divine Mother that had given birth to a Divine Child!
20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, to everyone who answered him,
21 "Do you think the LORD (JESUS) did not know that you and your ancestors, your kings and officials, and all the people were burning incense to idols in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
22 It was because The LORD (JESUS) could no longer bear the wicked and detestable things you did. That is why your land has become something ruined, destroyed, and cursed. No one lives in that land today.
23 You burned incense as offerings to other gods(elohim/theos), sinned against the LORD (JESUS), and wouldn't obey Him. You didn't live by His teachings, decrees, or written instructions. That is why you have met with this disaster as it is today."
24 Then Jeremiah said to them all, including the women, "Listen to the word of the LORD (JESUS), all you citizens of Judah who live in Egypt.
25 This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: The GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: You and your wives made promises, and you have kept them. You said, 'We will certainly do what we vow. We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and pour out wine offerings to her.' "So go ahead. Keep your vows, and do what you vow.
26 But listen to this message from the LORD (JESUS), all you Judeans now living in Egypt: I have sworn by My great name, says the LORD (JESUS), that My name will no longer be spoken by any of the Judeans in the land of Egypt. None of you may invoke My name or use this oath: '"The LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) lives."
27 Behold, I will watch over you to bring you disaster and not good. You will suffer war and famine until all of you are dead.
28 Yet, a small number will escape death and return to Judah from Egypt. Then all those who came to Egypt will find out whose words are true, Mine or theirs!
This is in the Millennium
29 I will give you a sign,' says the LORD (JESUS). 'I will punish you in this place so that you will know that my threats of disaster will happen to you.
30 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: I'm going to hand Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, over to his enemies and to those who want to kill him, just as I handed over King Zedekiah of Judah to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to those who wanted to kill him.'"
God reminds the Jews of the sins that brought desolations upon Judah. It becomes us to warn men of the danger of sin with all seriousness: Oh, do not do it! If you love God, do not, for it is provoking to him; if you love your own souls, do not, for it is destructive to them. Let conscience do this for us in the hour of temptation. The Jews whom God sent into the land of the Chaldeans, were there, by the power of God's grace, weaned from idolatry; but those who went by their own perverse will into the land of the Egyptians, were there more attached than ever to their idolatries. When we thrust ourselves without cause or call into places of temptation, it is just with God to leave us to ourselves. If we walk contrary to God, he will walk contrary to us. The most awful miseries to which men are exposed, are occasioned by the neglect of offered salvation.Whatever evil comes upon us, it is because we have sinned against the Lord; we should therefore stand in awe, and sin not. Since they were determined to persist in their idolatry, God would go on to punish them. What little remains of religion were among them, would be lost. The creature-comforts and confidences from which we promise ourselves most, may fail as soon as those from which we promise ourselves least; and all are what God makes them, not what we fancy them to be. Well-grounded hopes of our having a part in the Divine mercy, are always united with repentance and obedience. (Matthew Henry)
Jeremiah 45
JEREMIAH COMFORTS BARUCH
1 This is the message that the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch, son of Neriah. Baruch wrote these things on a scroll as Jeremiah dictated them during the fourth year that Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah. He said:
3 You said, 'I'm so overwhelmed and miserable! The LORD (JESUS) has added grief to my pain. I'm worn out from groaning. I can't find any rest.'
4 Say this to Baruch, This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: I will destroy [this nation] that I built. I will uproot what I planted.
5 Are you looking for great things for yourself? Don't look for them, because I'm going to bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD (JESUS). But wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.
An encouragement sent to Baruch. - Baruch was employed in writing Jeremiah's prophecies, and reading them, see ch. Jer 36, and was threatened for it by the king. Young beginners in religion are apt to be discouraged with little difficulties, which they commonly meet with at first in the service of God. These complaints and fears came from his corruptions. Baruch had raised his expectations too high in this world, and that made the distress and trouble he was in harder to be borne. The frowns of the world would not disquiet us, if we did not foolishly flatter ourselves with the hopes of its smiles, and court and covet them. What a folly is it then to seek great things for ourselves here, where every thing is little, and nothing certain! The LORD knows the real cause of our fretfulness and despondency better than we do, and we should beg of him to examine our hearts, and to repress every wrong desire in us. (Matthew Henry)
Jeremiah 46
PUNISHMENT WILL COME TO THE OTHER NATIONS OF THE WORLD:
1 The LORD (JESUS) spoke this message to the prophet Jeremiah about the {foreign} nations.
2 This is the message about Egypt, about the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated his army at Carchemish along the Euphrates River during the fourth year that Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah.
3 Get your shields ready; Buckle on your armor and advance into battle!
4 Harness your horses. Mount up, you horsemen. Take your positions, and put on your helmets. Polish your spears. Put on your armor.
5 What do I see in them? They are terrified. They are retreating. Their warriors are defeated. They flee without looking back. Terror is all around them, declares the LORD (JESUS).
6 The swiftest cannot flee; the mightiest warriors cannot escape. By the Euphrates River to the north they stumble and fall.
7 Who is this, rising like the Nile River, like streams that flow swiftly?
8 It is the Egyptian army, boasting that it will cover the earth like a flood, destroying every foe.
9 Go into battle, you horsemen. Drive wildly, you chariot drivers. March into battle, you warriors, you warriors from Sudan and Put who carry shields, you warriors from Lydia who use bows and arrows.
The Day of the LORD:
10 For this is the day of the LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries. The sword shall devour; It shall be satiated and made drunk with their blood; For the LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of hosts has a sacrifice In the north country by the Euphrates River.
11 Go up to Gilead to get ointment, O virgin daughter of Egypt! But your many medicines will bring you no healing.
12 The nations have heard of your shame; your cry fills the earth. One warrior will stumble over another, and both will fall together.
13 The LORD (JESUS) spoke this message to the prophet Jeremiah about the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who will defeat Egypt.
14 Shout it out in Egypt! Publish it in the cities of Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes! Mobilize for battle, for the sword of destruction will devour everyone around you.
15Why have your warriors fled in terror? They cannot stand because the LORD (JESUS) has driven them away.
16 They have repeatedly stumbled, and now they have fallen. They say to each other, 'Get up! Let's go back to our people, to the land where we were born, and escape our enemy's sword.'
17 There they will cry, 'Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is a big windbag. He has missed his chance.'
18 As I live, says the King, Whose name is the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, someone who is like Mount Tabor among the mountains will come. Someone who is like Mount Carmel by the sea will come.
19 Pack your bags, inhabitants of Egypt, because you will be taken away as captives. Memphis will become a dreary wasteland, a pile of rubble where no one lives.
20 Egypt is like a sleek young cow, but a gadfly from the north is on its way!
21 Egypt's hired soldiers are like fattened calves. They will turn and run away together. They won't stand their ground. The day of destruction is coming. At that time they will be punished.
22 Egypt will hiss like a snake as it slithers away. Its enemies will come with full force. They will attack it with axes like those who chop wood.
23 They will cut down the forest," declares the LORD (JESUS), since Egypt can't be found. They are more numerous than locusts; they can't be counted.
24 The people of Egypt will be put to shame. They will be handed over to the people from the north.
I.e: The King of the North in Daniel= EUROPE
25 The LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: Behold, I will bring punishment on Amon of No, and Pharaoh and Egypt, with their gods(elohim/theos) and their kings--Pharaoh and those who trust in him.
26 I'll hand them over to those who want to kill them, to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his officers. Afterward, they will live in peace as they did long ago," declares the LORD (JESUS).
27 But do not be afraid, Jacob {USA and England}, my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. For I will bring you home again from distant lands, and your children will return from their exile. Israel will return and will have peace and quiet, and nothing will make them afraid.
28 Fear not, Jacob, my servant, says the LORD, for I am with you. I will destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not destroy you. But I must discipline you; I cannot let you go unpunished.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
Jeremiah 47
PROPHECY AGAINST THE PHILISTINES{Palestinians}:
1 The LORD (JESUS) spoke this message to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistines before Pharaoh defeated Gaza.
2 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: A flood is coming from the north to overflow the land. It will destroy the land and everything in it – cities and people alike. People will scream in terror, and everyone in the land will weep.
3 Listen to the clatter of hooves and the rumble of wheels as the chariots rush by. Terrified fathers run madly, without a backward glance at their helpless children.
4 The time has come for all the Philistines to be destroyed, along with their allies from Tyre and Sidon. The LORD (JESUS) will destroy the Philistines and anyone who is left from the island of Crete.
5 Gaza will shave its head in mourning. Ashkelon will be destroyed. How long will you cut yourselves, you people left on the plains?
6 "Sword of the LORD (JESUS), how long will you keep on fighting? Go back into your scabbard. Stay there and rest!"
7 How can the sword of the LORD (JESUS) rest? The LORD (JESUS) has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast. I have put it there.
Jeremiah 48
PROPHECY AGAINST MOAB {Jordan}
1 The LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel says about Moab: How horrible it will be for Nebo; it will be destroyed. Kiriathaim will be put to shame; it will be captured. Its stronghold will be put to shame and torn down.
2 No one will ever brag about Moab again, for there is a plot against her life. In Heshbon plans have been completed to destroy her. 'Come,' they say, 'we will cut her off from being a nation.' The city of Madmen, too, will be silenced; the sword will follow you there.
3 People will cry out from Horonaim, "Plundering and great destruction!"
4 Moab will be broken. Its little ones will cry out.
5 People go up the pass of Luhith, crying bitterly as they go. On the road down to Horonaim they have heard the distressful cry of destruction.
6 Flee, save your lives! And hide in the wilderness.
7 Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill, you will be taken captive. {Your GOD (Elohim-The family of God)} Chemosh, with his priests and princes, will be exiled to distant lands!
8 All the towns will be destroyed, both on the plateaus and in the valleys, for the LORD (JESUS) has spoken.
9 Put salt on Moab. It will be destroyed. Its cities will become deserted ruins.
10 Cursed are those who neglect doing the LORD (JESUS)'s work. Cursed are those who keep their swords from killing.
11 Moab has been at ease from his youth; Its people are like wine left to settle in a jar. They aren't poured from one jar to another. They haven't gone into captivity. That is why its flavor has remained the same, and its aroma hasn't changed.
12 That is why the days are coming, declares the LORD (JESUS), when I will send people to pour Moab out of its jars and to smash its pitchers.
13 Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh as the nation of Israel was ashamed when it trusted Bethel.
14 How can you say, 'We are soldiers and warriors'?
15 The enemy will attack Moab and destroy its cities. Its finest young men will be slaughtered," says the King, Whose name is the LORD (JESUS) of hosts.
16 Calamity is coming fast to Moab; it threatens ominously.
17 Mourn over it, all of its neighbors and everyone who knows its fame. Say, 'Look at the strong staff, the beautiful rod, that is broken!'
18 Come down from your glory and sit in the dust, you people of Dibon, for those who destroy Moab will shatter Dibon, too. They will tear down all your towers.
19 Stand by the road in Aroer, and watch. Ask those who are fleeing and those who are escaping what is happening.
20 They will answer, 'Moab is disgraced; it is defeated. Shout loudly, and cry. Tell the news in Arnon that Moab is destroyed.'
21 Judgment has come to all the cities on the plain: to Holon, Jahzah, Mephaath,
22 Dibon, Nebo, Beth Diblathaim,
23 Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, Beth Meon,
24 Kerioth, Bozrah, and on all the cities of Moab, far and near.
25 The strength of Moab has ended. Her horns have been cut off, and her arms have been broken, says the LORD (JESUS).
26 Let the people of Moab get drunk; they have spoken against the LORD (JESUS). They will wallow in their own vomit, and people will laugh at them.
27 People of Moab, didn't you laugh at the people of Israel? Were they caught among thieves? Whenever you talk about them you shake your heads in contempt.
28 People of Moab, abandon your cities. Live among the cliffs. Be like doves that make their nests at the entrance of a cave.
29 We have heard about the arrogance of Moab's people. They are very arrogant. They are very arrogant, conceited, and boastful.
30 I know how arrogant they are, declares the LORD (JESUS), but it isn't right. They brag and don't do what they say.
31 That is why I will weep for Moab and cry for all of Moab. I will moan for the people of Kir Hareseth.
32 I will cry for you as Jazer cries. I will weep for you even more than I did for Jazer. Your spreading vines once reached as far as the Dead Sea, but the destroyer has stripped you bare! He has harvested your grapes and summer fruits.
33 Joy and gladness are gone from fruitful Moab. The presses yield no wine. No one treads the grapes with shouts of joy. There is shouting, yes, but not of joy.
34 Instead, their awful cries of terror can be heard from Heshbon clear across to Elealeh and Jahaz; from Zoar all the way to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah. Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up now.
35 I will stop those in Moab who come to worship sites, those who burns incense to their gods(elohim/theos), declares the LORD (JESUS).
36 My heart moans like a flute for Moab and Kir-hareseth, for all their wealth has disappeared.
37 They shave their heads and beards in mourning. They slash their hands and put on clothes made of sackcloth.
38 People in Moab will mourn on every rooftop and in every street. There will be mourning everywhere, because I will break Moab like a jar that no one wants, declares the LORD (JESUS).
39 Crying and sorrow will be in every Moabite home and on every street. For I have smashed Moab like an old, unwanted bottle.
40 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: The enemy will swoop down like eagles and spread their wings over Moab.
41 The cities will be taken, and the fortified places will be captured. On that day Moab's soldiers will be like women in childbirth.
42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation, because it spoke against the LORD (JESUS).
43 Disasters, pits, and traps are in store for those who live in Moab, says the LORD (JESUS).
44 Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap, and those who escape the trap will step into a snare. I will see to it that you do not get away, for the time of your judgment has come, says the LORD (JESUS).
45 The people flee as far as Heshbon but are unable to go on. For a fire comes from Heshbon, King Sihon's ancestral home, to devour the entire land with all its rebellious people.
46 Woe to you, O Moab! The people {who worship the GOD (Elohim-The family of God)} Chemosh perish; For your sons have been taken captive, And your daughters captive.
47 The LORD (JESUS) says: I will restore Moab in the last days. The judgment against Moab ends here.
Jeremiah 49
AGAINST THE AMMONITES:
1 This is what the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) says about the people of Ammon: Doesn't Israel have any children? Doesn't it have any heirs? Why, then, has the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) Milcom taken over the inheritance of Gad's descendants? Why do Milcom's people live in Gad's cities?
2 That is why the days are coming, declares the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh), when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah, where the people of Ammon live. It will become a pile of rubble. Its villages will be burned down. Then Israel will take possession of its inheritance, says the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh).
3 Cry loudly, Heshbon, because Ai is destroyed. Cry, people of Rabbah, put on your sackcloth, and mourn. Run back and forth between the walls. Milcom will be taken away into captivity with its priests and officials.
4 Why do you brag about your valleys, your fertile valleys, you unfaithful people? You trust your treasures. You think, "Who would attack me?"
5 I am going to bring terror on you from all around, Says the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of hosts. Everyone will be scattered. No one will gather the refugees.
6 But afterward, I will return the captives of Ammon, says the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh).
7 Against Edom. This is what the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) of hosts says: Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?
8 Turn and run. Hide in deep caves, you people of Dedan! For when I bring disaster on Edom(Esau), I will punish you, too!
9 If people come to pick your grapes, won't they leave a few grapes behind? If thieves come during the night, won't they steal only until they've had enough?
10 But I will strip bare the land of Edom. I will find their hiding places. They won't be able to hide. Their children and relatives will be destroyed. None of their neighbors will say,
11 But I will preserve the orphans who remain among you. Your widows, too, will be able to depend on me for help.
12 This is what the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) says: If those who don't deserve to drink from the cup still drink from it, why should you go unpunished? You won't go unpunished. You must drink from it.
13 For I have sworn by my own name, says the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh), that Bozrah will become a pile of rubble. It will become something horrifying, ridiculed, ruined, and cursed. All its cities will lie in ruins permanently.
14 I have heard a message from the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, "Form a coalition against Edom, and prepare for battle!"
15 For indeed, I will make you small among nations, Despised among men.
16 You have frightened other people. Your arrogance has deceived you. You live on rocky cliffs and occupy the highest places in the hills. Even though you build your nest as high as an eagle, I will bring you down from there," declares the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh).
17 Edom will be an object of horror. All who pass by will be appalled and will gasp at the destruction they see there.
18 Edom will be like Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighboring cities when they were destroyed. No one will live there. No human will stay there," says the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh).
19 I will come like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan, leaping on the sheep in the pasture. I will chase Edom from its land, and I will appoint the leader of my choice. For who is like me, and who can challenge me? What ruler can oppose my will?
20 Listen to the plans that the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) is making against Edom and the things He intends to do to those who live in Teman. He will surely drag away the little ones of the flock. He will surely destroy the pasture because of the people who live in Teman.
21 The earth will quake at the sound of their downfall. The sound of their crying will be heard at the Red Sea.
22 The enemy will swoop down like eagles and spread their wings over Bozrah. On that day Edom's soldiers will be like women in childbirth.
23 This message was given concerning Damascus.This is what the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) says: The towns of Hamath and Arpad are struck with fear, for they have heard the news of their destruction. Their hearts are troubled like a wild sea in a raging storm.
24 The people of Damascus are weak. They turn to flee, but panic grips them. Anguish and pain grip them like a woman in labor.
25 Why isn't that famous, happy city abandoned?
26 That is why its young men will die in the streets, and its soldiers will be silenced that day, says the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) of hosts.
27 I will set fire to the walls of Damascus and burn down Benhadad's palaces.
Saudi Arabia to be completely destroyed:
28 This is about the tribe of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated. This is what the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) says: Get ready, attack Kedar, and loot the people from the east.
29 Their tents and their flocks will be taken. Their tent curtains, utensils, and camels will be carried away. People will shout to them, "Terror is all around!”
30 Flee for your lives," says the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh). "Hide yourselves in deep caves, you people of Hazor, for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has plotted against you and is preparing to destroy you.
31 Get ready! Attack the nation living peacefully and securely, declares the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh). It is a nation with no gates or bars. Its people live alone.
32 Their camels will be taken as prizes. Their large herds will be taken as loot. I will scatter to the winds those who shave the hair on their foreheads. I will bring disaster on them from every side, declares the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh).
33 Hazor will be a place where only jackals live. It will become a permanent wasteland. No one will live there. No human will stay there.
34 Early in the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) spoke his word to the prophet Jeremiah about Elam.
35 This is what the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh) of hosts says: I will destroy the archers of Elam – the best of their marksmen.
36 I'll bring the four winds from the four corners of heaven against Elam and scatter its people in every direction. There won't be a nation where Elam's refugees won't go.
37 I'll defeat the people of Elam in the presence of their enemies, in the presence of those who want to kill them. I'll bring disaster with my burning anger, says the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh). I'll send armies after them until I put an end to them.
38 I'll set my throne in Elam and destroy its king and officials, says the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh).
39 But afterward, I'll return the captives of Elam, declares the LORD (JESUS)(Yahweh).
Jeremiah 50
BABYLON'S COMING DOWNFALL; ISRAEL'S REDEMPTION
1 The word that the LORD (JESUS) spoke against Babylon and the land of the Babylonians through the prophet Jeremiah.
2 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: Tell the whole world, and keep nothing back! Raise a signal flag so everyone will know that Babylon will fall! Her images and idols will be shattered. Bel and Marduk {their gods} will be utterly shamed.
Bel--the tutelary GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Babylon; the same idol as the Phoenician Baal, that is, LORD (JESUS), the sun
Marduk--another Babylonian idol; meaning in Syria "little LORD (JESUS)"; from which Merodach-baladan took his name.
3 For a nation will attack her from the north and bring such destruction that no one will live in her again. Everything will be gone; both people and animals will flee.
4 Then the people of Israel and Judah will join together," says the LORD (JESUS), "weeping and seeking the LORD (JESUS) their GOD (Elohim-The family of God).
5 They will ask which road goes to Zion and turn in that direction. They will go there to make a permanent agreement with the LORD (JESUS). It will not be forgotten.
6 My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray. They wander around on the mountains. They go from mountains to hills. They have forgotten their resting place.
7 Everyone who finds them eats them. Their enemies say, 'We're not guilty. They have sinned against the LORD (JESUS), their true pasture. They have sinned against the LORD (JESUS), the hope of their ancestors.'
8 But now, flee from Babylon! Leave the land of the Babylonians. Lead My people home again.
Revelation: 18:4
9 For look, I am raising up an army of great nations from the north. I will bring them against Babylon to attack her, and she will be captured. The enemies' arrows will go straight to the mark; they will not miss!
10 The Babylonians will become the prize. All who loot them will get everything they want, declares the LORD (JESUS).
11 You rejoice and are glad, you plunderers of my chosen people. You frisk about like a calf in a meadow and neigh like a stallion.
12 But your homeland will be overwhelmed with shame and disgrace. You will become the least of nations – a wilderness, a dry and desolate land.
13 Because of the LORD (JESUS)'s anger, Babylon will become a deserted wasteland. All who pass by will be horrified and will gasp at the destruction they see there.
14 Yes, prepare to attack Babylon, all you nations round about. Let your archers shoot at her. Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the LORD (JESUS).
15 Shout a war cry against them on every side. They'll surrender. Their towers will fall and their walls will be torn down. Since this is the LORD (JESUS)'s vengeance, take revenge against them. Do to them what they did to others.
16 Don't allow anyone in Babylon to plant or harvest. Everyone will turn to his own people and flee to his own homeland because of the enemies' swords.
17 The people of Israel are like scattered sheep that lions have chased. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria. The last to gnaw at their bones was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
18 Therefore, the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: I am going to punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria.
19 I will bring Israel home again to her own land. They will eat on Mount Carmel and Mount Bashan. They will eat until they are full on the mountains of Ephraim and Gilead.
20 In those days," says the LORD (JESUS), "no sin will be found in Israel or in Judah, for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.
21 Go up, my warriors, against the land of Merathaim and against the people of Pekod. Yes, march against Babylon, the land of rebels, a land that I will judge! Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them, as I have commanded you," says the LORD (JESUS).
22 Let the battle cry be heard in the land, a shout of great destruction.
23 Babylon, the mightiest hammer in all the earth, lies broken and shattered. Babylon is desolate among the nations!
24 Listen, Babylon, for I have set a trap for you. You are caught, for you have fought against the LORD (JESUS).
25 The LORD (JESUS) has opened His armory, And has brought out the weapons of His indignation; For this is the work of the LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of hosts has a job to do in the land of the Babylonians.
26 Attack them from a distance, open their storehouses, pile up their corpses like piles of grain, claim them for me by destroying them, and don't leave anyone behind.
27 Kill all their young bulls. Let them go to be slaughtered. How horrible it will be for them when their time has come, the time for them to be punished.
28 Listen! Fugitives and refugees from Babylon are coming to Zion to tell about the vengeance of the LORD (JESUS) our GOD (Elohim-The family of God), the vengeance for his Temple.
29 Send out a call for archers to come to Babylon. Surround the city so none can escape. Do to her as she has done to others, for she has defied the LORD (JESUS), the Holy One of Israel.
30 Her young men will fall in the streets and die. Her warriors will all be killed, says the LORD (JESUS).
31 Behold, I am against you, O most haughty one!" says the LORD (JESUS) GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of hosts; "For your day has come, The time that I will punish you.
32 Those arrogant people will stumble and fall, and there will be no one to help them get up. I will light a fire in their cities that will burn up everything around them.
33 This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts says: The children of Israel were oppressed, Along with the children of Judah; All who took them captive have held them fast; They have refused to let them go.
34 Their Redeemer is strong; The LORD (JESUS) of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, That He may give rest to the land, And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
Jesus is the Redeemer, YAHWEH ( Revelation 18:8 )plead . . . cause--as their advocate. Image from a court of justice; appropriate as God delivers His people not by mere might, but by righteousness. His plea against Satan and all their enemies is His own everlasting love, reconciling mercy and justice in the Redeemer's work and person ( Micah 7:9 Zechariah 3:1-5 1 John 2:1 ).
35 The sword of destruction will strike the Babylonians, says the LORD (JESUS). It will strike the people of Babylon – her princes and wise men, too.
36 A sword will kill the false prophets. They will become fools. A sword will kill their soldiers and defeat them.
37 A sword will kill their horses, their chariots, and all the foreigners within their ranks. They will become women. A sword will destroy their treasures, and they will be plundered.
38 A drought will diminish their water supply, and it will dry up. Babylon is a land of idols, statues that will go crazy with fear.
39 That is why desert animals will live with hyenas. Desert owls will also live there. It will no longer be inhabited or lived in for generations.
Compare as to spiritual Babylon, Revelation 18:2 .
40 Babylon will be like Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighboring cities when I, GOD (Elohim-The family of God), destroyed them. No one will live there. No human will stay there, says the LORD (JESUS).
41 Look! A great army is marching from the north! A great nation and many kings are rising against you from far-off lands.
42 They will take hold of bows and spears. They will be cruel and have no compassion. They will sound like the sea when it roars. They will ride horses. They are ready for war, ready to attack you, people of Babylon.
43 The king of Babylon has heard reports about them, and he loses courage. Anguish will grip him as pain grips a woman in labor.
44 I will suddenly chase them from their places like a lion coming out of the jungle along the Jordan River into pastureland. I will appoint over Babylon whomever I choose. Who is like me? Who can challenge me? Is there any leader who can stand up to me?
45 Listen to the plans that the LORD (JESUS) is making against Babylon and the things He intends to do to the land of the Babylonians. He will surely drag away the little ones of the flock. He will surely destroy the pasture because of the Babylonians.
46 The earth will quake at the news that Babylon has been captured. Its cry will be heard among the nations.
Jeremiah 51
PROPHECY AGAINST BABYLON and the CHRISTMAS LINK!
1 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: I will stir up a destructive wind against Babylon and against the people who live in Leb Kamai[Babylonia].
Wind: Ruach, the same Hebrew word that is also translated SPIRIT! GOD (Elohim-The family of God)'s Spirit is likened to the wind! See John 3:6-8
2 I will send people to winnow Babylon, to winnow it and strip its land bare. They will attack it from every direction on the day of trouble.
3 Don't let the archers put on their armor or draw their bows. No one will be spared! Young and old alike will be completely destroyed.
4 Babylon's soldiers will fall down badly wounded in their streets. They will lie dead in their own land.
5 Israel and Judah haven't been abandoned by their GOD (Elohim-The family of God), the LORD (JESUS) of hosts(angels), although their land is guilty of abandoning the Holy One of Israel.
6 Flee from Babylon! Save yourselves! Don't get trapped in her punishment! It is the LORD (JESUS)'s time for vengeance; he will fully repay her. Revelation 18:4
7 Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD (JESUS)'s hand. It made the whole world drunk. The nations drank its wine. That is why the nations have gone insane. Revelation 17:2-4
8 Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered. Cry for it. Bring medicine for its pain. Maybe it can be healed.
9 We wanted to heal Babylon, but it couldn't be healed. Let's abandon it and go to our own land. GOD (Elohim-The family of God) has judged Babylon. Its judgment is complete.
10 The LORD (JESUS) has brought about our victory. Let's announce in Zion[the Church] what the LORD (JESUS) our GOD (Elohim-The family of God) has done.
11 Sharpen the arrows; fill the quivers. The LORD (JESUS) will stir up the spirit of the kings of the Medes because his plan is to destroy Babylon. The LORD (JESUS) will avenge his temple.
12 Raise the battle flag against Babylon! Reinforce the guard and station the watchmen. Prepare an ambush, for the LORD (JESUS) will fulfill all his plans against Babylon.
13 You are a city rich with waters, a great center of commerce, but your end has come. The thread of your life is cut.
waters--( Jeremiah 51:32 Jeremiah 51:36 ; divided into many channels, formed islands. Compare as to spiritual Babylon "waters," that is, "many peoples," Revelation 17:1 Revelation 17:15 . A large lake also was near Babylon.
14 The LORD (JESUS) of hosts has sworn by Himself: "Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts, And they shall lift up a shout against you."
15 The LORD (JESUS) made the earth by his power. He set up the world by his wisdom. He stretched out heaven by his understanding.
16 He has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom, And stretched out the heaven by His understanding.
17 Compared to him, all people are foolish and have no knowledge at all! They make idols, but the idols will disgrace their makers, for they are frauds. They have no life or power in them.
19 Jacob's GOD (Elohim-The family of God) isn't like them. He made everything, and Israel is the tribe that belongs to him. His name is the LORD (JESUS) of hosts.
20 You are my battle-ax and sword, says the LORD (JESUS). With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms.
21 I will use you to crush horses and their riders. I will use you to crush chariots and their drivers.
22 I will use you to crush men and women. I will use you to crush the old and the young. I will use you to crush young men and women.
23 I will use you to crush shepherds and their flocks. I will use you to crush farmers and their oxen. I will use you to crush governors and officials.
24 In your presence I will pay back Babylon and all the people who live in Babylon for all the evil things that they did in Zion, says the LORD (JESUS).
25 Look, O burnt mountain, destroyer of the earth! I am your enemy, says the LORD (JESUS). I will raise my fist against you, to roll you down from the heights. When I am finished, you will be nothing but a heap of rubble.
burnt mountain--( Revelation 8:8 ). A volcano, which, after having spent itself in pouring its "destroying" lava on all the country around, falls into the vacuum and becomes extinct, the surrounding "rocks" alone marking where the crater had been. Such was the appearance of Babylon after its destruction, and as the pumice stones of the volcano are left in their place, being unfit for building, so Babylon should never rise from its ruins.
26 People won't find any stones in you to use as a cornerstone. They won't find any stones in you to use for a foundation. You will become permanent ruins," declares the LORD (JESUS).
27 Raise your banner throughout the world. Blow the ram's horn among the nations. Prepare nations to attack Babylon. Tell the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz to attack it. Appoint a commander to lead the attack. Bring up horses like a swarm of locusts.
Ashchenaz--a descendant of Japheth ( Genesis 10:3 ), who gave his name to the sea now called the Black Sea; the region bordering on it is probably here meant, namely, Asia Minor, including places named Ascania in Phrygia and Bithynia. Cyrus had subdued Asia Minor and the neighboring regions, and from these he drew levies in proceeding against Babylon.
28 Prepare nations to attack Babylon. Prepare the king of the Medes, their governors, all their deputies, and all the countries that they rule.
29 The earth trembles and writhes in pain. The LORD (JESUS) carries out his plans against Babylon to make Babylon a wasteland so that no one will live there.
30 The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting. They stay in their forts. Their strength has failed. They have become women. Their buildings are set on fire. The bars across their gates are broken.
31 Runners run to meet runners. Messengers follow messengers. They inform the king of Babylon that his entire city is captured.
32 The river crossings have been taken. The enemy has burned its marshes, and its soldiers are terrified.
33 This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts, the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Israel, says: Babylon is like wheat on a threshing floor, about to be trampled. In just a little while her harvest will begin.
34 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has devoured us. He has thrown us into confusion. He has turned us into empty jars. He has swallowed us like a monster. He has filled his belly with our delicacies. Then he spit us out.
35 The people who live in Zion say, "May the violence done to us be done to Babylon." Jerusalem says, "May the people of Babylon be held responsible for our deaths."
36 This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: I am going to take up your cause and get revenge for you. I will dry up Babylon's sea and make its springs dry.
37 Babylon will become piles of rubble. It will become a dwelling place for jackals, something horrible, and an object of contempt, where no one lives.
39 When they are excited, I will prepare a feast for them and make them drunk so that they will shout and laugh. They will fall into a deep sleep and never wake up again, declares the LORD (JESUS).
The final death, as sleep that nobody awakens from!
41 How Babylon(Sheshach) is fallen-{is fallen} – great Babylon, praised throughout the earth! The world can scarcely believe its eyes at her fall! Revelation 18:2
Sheshach--Babylon (compare Note, see Jeremiah 25:26 ); called so from the goddess Shach, to whom a five days' festival was kept, during which, as in the Roman Saturnalia, the most unbridled licentiousness was permitted; slaves ruled their masters, and in every house one called Zogan, arrayed in a royal garment, was chosen to rule all the rest. He calls Babylon "Sheshach," to imply that it was during this feast the city was taken [SCALIGER].
Christmas is Saturnalia! This is an important point because modern Babylon mentioned here is The Roman Catholic Church, who invented Christmas, the pagan holiday we are not to follow! On top of this, Revelation 11:10 IMPLIES that the Two Witnesses are murdered during CHRISTMAS (giving of presents).
42 What a horrifying sight Babylon will be to the nations! The sea will rise over Babylon, and its roaring waves will cover it.
Rome falls into the sea????
44 And I will punish Bel, [the GOD (Elohim-The family of God) of Babylon], and pull from his mouth what he has taken. The nations will no longer come and worship him. The wall of Babylon has fallen.
Revelation 18:4
46 Don't lose courage or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land. One rumor comes one year; another rumor comes the next year. Rumors of violence are in the land. Rumors that one ruler will fight against another are in the land.
47 For the time is surely coming when I will punish this great city called Babylon and all her idols. Her whole land will be disgraced, and her dead will lie in the streets..
48 Then heaven and earth and everything in them will rejoice over Babylon, because destroyers from the north will attack it," says the LORD (JESUS).
49 Just as Babylon killed the people of Israel and others throughout the world, so must her people be killed.
50 Go, you who escaped the sword! Do not stand and watch – flee while you can! Remember the LORD (JESUS), even though you are in a far-off land, and think about your home in Jerusalem.
51 We are ashamed," the people say. "We are insulted and disgraced because the LORD (JESUS)'s Temple has been defiled by foreigners.
52 That is why the days are coming, declares the LORD (JESUS), when I will punish their idols, and those who are wounded will moan everywhere in the land.
53 Though Babylon reaches as high as the heavens, and though she increases her strength immeasurably, I will send enemies to plunder her, says the LORD (JESUS).
54 Cries of agony are heard from Babylon. Sounds of terrible destruction are heard from the land of the Babylonians.
55 The LORD (JESUS) will destroy Babylon. He will silence the loud noise coming from it. Waves of enemies will come roaring in like raging water. The noise will be heard everywhere.
56 Destroying armies come against Babylon. Her mighty men are captured, and their weapons break in their hands. For the LORD (JESUS) is a GOD (Elohim-The family of God) who gives just punishment, and he is giving Babylon all she deserves.
57 I will make their officials and wise men drunk, along with their governors, officers, and soldiers. They will fall into a deep sleep and never wake up, declares the king, whose name is the LORD (JESUS) of hosts.
58 This is what the LORD (JESUS) of hosts says: The thick walls of Babylon will be leveled, and its high gates will be set on fire. People exhaust themselves for nothing. The nations wear themselves out only to have a fire.
walls--eighty-seven feet broad [ROSENMULLER]; fifty cubits [GROTIUS]. A chariot of four horses abreast could meet another on it without collision. The walls were two hundred cubits high, and four hundred and eighty-five stadia, or sixty miles in extent. (Jamieson)
gates--one hundred in number, of brass; twenty-five on each of the four sides, the city being square; between the gates were two hundred and fifty towers. BEROSUS says triple walls encompassed the outer, and the same number the inner city. Cyrus caused the outer walls to be demolished. Taking the extent of the walls to be three hundred and sixty-five stadia, as DIODORUS states, it is said two hundred thousand men completed a stadium each day, so that the whole was completed in one year.
59 The prophet Jeremiah gave this message to Zedekiah's staff officer, Seraiah son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah. This was during the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign.
The fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign was 593 b.c
62 Then say, 'LORD (JESUS), you have threatened to destroy this place so that no person or animal will live here, and it will become a permanent ruin.'
63 When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates River.
64 Say, 'Babylon will sink like this scroll. It will never rise again because of the disasters that I will bring on it.'"
The words of Jeremiah end here.
Hence it is to be inferred that the last chapter is not included in Jeremiah's writings but was added by some inspired man, mainly at 2 Kings 24:18-25:30' to explain and confirm what precedes [CALVIN].
Chapter 52 was written by either Baruch, Jeremiah's personal secretary, or EZRA, the second Moses, who canonized the Old Testament (See note on EZRA)
.
Jeremiah 52
Jeremiah, having already (thirty-ninth and fortieth chapters) given the history in the proper place, was not likely to repeat it here. Its canonical authority as inspired is shown by its being in the Septuagint version. It contains the capture and burning of Jerusalem, &c., Zedekiah's punishment, and the better treatment of Jehoiachin under Evil-merodach, down to his death. These last events were probably subsequent to Jeremiah's time.
WRITTEN BY SOME OTHER THAN JEREMIAH (PROBABLY EZRA) AS AN HISTORICAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE PREVIOUS PROPHECIES
1 Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.
2 Zedekiah did what the LORD(Jesus-Yahweh) considered evil, as Jehoiakim had done.
3 The LORD(Jesus-Yahweh) became angry with Jerusalem and Judah and threw the people out of his sight. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
4 On December 24-25th (the tenth day of the tenth month) of the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with his entire army. They set up camp and built dirt ramps around the city walls.
5 The blockade of the city lasted until Zedekiah's eleventh year as king.
6 On July 26th (the ninth day of the fourth month), the famine in the city became so severe that the common people had no food.
7 Then a section of the city wall was broken down, and all the soldiers made plans to escape from the city. But since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians, they waited for nightfall and fled through the gate between the two walls behind the king's gardens. They made a dash across the fields, in the direction of the Jordan Valley.
8 The Babylonian army pursued King Zedekiah and caught up with him in the plain of Jericho. His entire army had deserted him.
9 The Babylonians captured the king and brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah in Hamath, where the king of Babylon passed sentence on him.
10 The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah's sons as Zedekiah watched. He also slaughtered all the officials of Judah at Riblah.
11 Then he blinded Zedekiah and put him in bronze shackles. The king of Babylon took him to Babylon and put him in a prison, where he stayed until he died.
12 On July 26th (the tenth day of the fifth month) of Nebuchadnezzar's nineteenth year as king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, who was the captain of the guard and an officer of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
tenth day--But in 2 Kings 25:8 , it is said "the seventh day." Nebuzara-dan started from Riblah on the "seventh" day and arrived in Jerusalem on the "tenth" day. Seeming discrepancies, when cleared up, confirm the genuineness of Scripture; for they show there was no collusion between the writers; as in all God's works there is latent harmony under outward varieties. (JAMIESON)
13 He burned down the LORD(Jesus-Yahweh)'s Temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem. Every important building was burned down.
On the 10th Day of the 5th Month is when the TEMPLE was destroyed. It was supposidly aloso destroyed on the SAME DATE in 70 BC by the Romans. (July 26th)
14 The entire Babylonian army that was with the captain of the guard tore down the walls around Jerusalem.
15 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, captured the few people left in the city, those who surrendered to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population.
16 But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left some of the poorest people in the land to work in the vineyards and on the farms.
17 The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the bronze water carts, and the bronze Sea that were at the LORD(Yahweh)'s Temple, and they carried all the bronze away to Babylon.
18 They also took all the pots, shovels, lamp snuffers, basins, dishes, and all the other bronze utensils used for making sacrifices at the Temple.
19 Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, also took the small bowls, firepans, basins, pots, lampstands, dishes, bowls used for drink offerings, and all the other utensils made of pure gold or silver.
20 The bronze from the two pillars, the water carts, and the Sea with the twelve bulls beneath it was too great to be measured. These things had been made for the LORD(Jesus-Yahweh)'s Temple in the days of King Solomon
21 One pillar was 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference. It was three inches thick and hollow.
22 The capital that was on it was 7½ feet high with a filigree and pomegranates around it. They were all made of bronze. The second pillar was the same. It also had pomegranates.
23 There were 96 pomegranates on the sides. The total number of pomegranates on the surrounding filigree was 100.
24 The captain of the guard took the chief priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the 3 doorkeepers.
25 He also took an army commander, 7 men who had access to the king whom he found in the city, the scribe who was in charge of the militia, and 60 common people whom he found in the city.
26 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.
27 The king of Babylon executed them at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So the people of Judah were captives as they left their land.
28 These are the people Nebuchadnezzar took captive: In his seventh year as king, he took 3,023 Jews.
This exile in the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign occurred in 597 b.c.
29 In his eighteenth year, Nebuchadnezzar took 832 people from Jerusalem.
This exile in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign occurred in 586 b.c.
30 In Nebuchadnezzar's twenty-third year as king, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took away 745 Jews. In all, 4,600 people were taken away.
This exile in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign occurred in 581 b.c
31 On Mrach 10th (the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month) of the thirty-seventh year {561 BC } of the imprisonment of King Jehoiakin of Judah, King Evil Merodach of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, freed King Jehoiakin of Judah and released him from prison.
32 He treated him well and gave him a special position higher than the other kings who were with him in Babylon.
33 Jehoiakin no longer wore prison clothes, and he ate his meals in the king's presence as long as he lived.
34 The king of Babylon gave him a daily food allowance as long as he lived.
