Add parallel Print Page Options

The Lord Charges Contemporary Israel with Spiritual Adultery

“So, once more I will state my case[a] against you,” says the Lord.
“I will also state it against your children and grandchildren.[b]
10 Go west[c] across the sea to the coasts of Cyprus[d] and see.
Send someone east to Kedar[e] and have them look carefully.
See if such a thing as this has ever happened:
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods
(even though they are not really gods at all)?
But my people have exchanged me, their glorious God,[f]
for a god that cannot help them at all![g]
12 Be amazed at this, O heavens.[h]
Be shocked and utterly dumbfounded,”
says the Lord.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 2:9 tn Or “bring charges against you.”sn The language used here is that of the law court. In international political contexts it was the language of a great king charging his subject with breach of covenant. See for examples in earlier prophets, Isa 1:2-20 and Mic 6:1-8.
  2. Jeremiah 2:9 tn The words “your children and” are supplied in the translation to bring out the idea of corporate solidarity implicit in the passage.sn The passage reflects the Hebrew concept of corporate solidarity: The actions of parents had consequences for their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Compare the usage in the ten commandments (Deut 5:10) and note the execution of the children of Dathan and Abiram (Deut 11:6) and of Achan (Josh 7:24-25).
  3. Jeremiah 2:10 tn Heb “For go west.”
  4. Jeremiah 2:10 tn Heb “pass over to the coasts of Kittim.” The words “west across the sea” in this line and “east of” in the next are implicit in the text and are supplied in the translation to give geographical orientation.sn The Hebrew term translated Cyprus (“Kittim”) originally referred to the island of Cyprus but later was used for the lands in the west, including Macedonia (1 Macc 1:1; 8:5) and Rome (Dan 11:30). It is used here as part of a figure called merism to denote the lands in the west as opposed to Kedar, which was in the east. The figure includes polar opposites to indicate totality, i.e., everywhere from west to east.
  5. Jeremiah 2:10 sn Kedar is the home of the bedouin tribes in the Syro-Arabian desert. See Gen 25:18 and Jer 49:38. See also the previous note for the significance of the reference here.
  6. Jeremiah 2:11 tn Heb “have exchanged their glory [i.e., the God in whom they glory].” This is a case of a figure of speech where the attribute of a person or thing is put for the person or thing. Compare the common phrase in Isaiah, the Holy One of Israel, obviously referring to the Lord, the God of Israel.
  7. Jeremiah 2:11 tn Heb “what cannot profit.” The verb is singular and the allusion is likely to Baal. See the translator’s note on 2:8 for the likely pun or wordplay.
  8. Jeremiah 2:12 sn In earlier literature the heavens (and the earth) were called on to witness Israel’s commitment to the covenant (Deut 30:12) and were called to serve as witnesses to Israel’s fidelity or infidelity to it (Isa 1:2; Mic 6:1).

“Therefore I will yet (A)contend with you,” declares Yahweh,
“And with your sons’ sons I will contend.
10 For (B)cross to the coastlands of [a]Kittim and see,
And send to (C)Kedar and perceive closely
And see if there has been such a thing as this!
11 Has a nation changed gods
Though (D)they were not gods?
But My people have (E)changed their glory
For that which does not profit.
12 Be appalled, (F)O heavens, at this,
And be horribly afraid, be very devastated,” declares Yahweh.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 2:10 Cyprus and other islands