Beacon Bible Commentary, Volume 4 by Various

Author:Various
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nazarene Publishing House
Published: 1966-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

E. MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS, 16:1—17:18

This cluster of material is a good example of the composite form of the Book of Jeremiah. In these two chapters there is a mixture of personal vignettes, prophetic indictments and predictions, hope for the future, and two prayers. Some of these have only a casual relation to the others, but all of them fit appropriately under the theme “Confessions and Predictions.”

1. The Prophet's Personal Loss (16:1-9)

Jeremiah, whose sensitive and affectionate nature craved companionship and social intercourse, is now forbidden these things. He stands isolated from his fellows, a lonely figure against a darkening sky. God forbids him the comforts of home and family: Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place (2). Jeremiah is the only one of the prophets who was forbidden to marry. But there are tragedies greater than loneliness. The prophet was instructed to use his Concerning the sons and … daughters … born in this place … their mothers … and … fathers … all shall die of grievous deaths (3-4).

Jeremiah was next forbidden to go to the house of mourning (5). This was strictly contrary to custom, and could be used as an object lesson for the people. It was a sign that the coming destruction would be so great that the rites for the dead would not be performed. Carcasses would not be buried, no lamentation made, no making themselves bald (6), no cup of consolation (7) offered. The meaning of 6-7 is clarified by Moffatt thus:

Throughout the land both high and low shall die

and all unburied lie,

with none to lament or gash themselves

or cut their hair for them,

with none to press the mourner to take food

on their account,

and none to hand a cup of comfort

for a father or a mother's death.8

For a Jew this was the darkest picture that could be painted.

The final prohibition had to do with the house of feasting (8). This was to be a sign that all pleasurable things would soon be cut off. No longer would there be the happy sounds of the wedding festival—the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness (9) would cease. Only the silence of death would prevail over a once joyous city.

2. The Meaning of Judah's Fate (16:10-21)

The prophet is warned that the people will inquire of him as to why God's punishment would be so severe. The meaning of Judah's fate is found in the answer he is instructed to give.

a. The stubbornness of an evil heart (16:10-13, 16-18). In his answer to their inquiry, Jeremiah traces the doom of the nation to a disposition of mind in the people themselves; Ye walk every one after the imagination (stubbornness) of his evil heart (12). The expression “imagination of their evil heart” is mentioned eight times9 in the Book of Jeremiah. These words apparently refer to a state of mind which had become characteristic of the people. This disposition manifested itself in a resentment toward authority—a settled determination to gratify one's own desires regardless of the cost.

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