Jeremiah-Chap-2
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Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job,
the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth,
Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of
Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some
alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been
corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD
TO THE WORD which I command
you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT,
that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy
4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
In Jeremiah
Chapter 2, the Prophet delivers a powerful “indictment” on behalf of the
Creator. The chapter begins with a poignant recollection of the early
“honeymoon” period between אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God)
and
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Below we can read Jeremiah Chapter 2: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh). Below the
verses is an ‘Explanation’ of the verses.
1. “And the word of יְהוָה - the LORD came to me, saying: 2. Go, and cry in the ears of
Explanation: The Prophet is told to remind the people of their original
loyalty. Despite the harshness of the desert,
3.
Explanation:
4. Hear ye the word of יְהוָה - the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of
Explanation: A rhetorical challenge: What “fault” did the ancestors find in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to justify
leaving Him? By following “nothingness” (idols), the people themselves have
become spiritually empty.
6. Neither said they: ‘Where is יְהוָה - the LORD that brought us up out of the
Explanation: The people have stopped asking for the One who performed the
miracles of the Exodus and sustained them in a lethally dry environment.
7. And I brought you into a land of
fruitful fields, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodly things thereof; but
when ye entered, ye defiled My land, and made My
heritage an abomination.
Explanation: Contrast between the desert and the “
8. The priests said not: ‘Where is יְהוָה - the LORD?’ and they that handle the law knew Me
not, and the rulers also transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied
by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
Explanation: A total breakdown of leadership. The religious and political
guides, priests, lawyers, shepherds, and prophets have all turned away from the
Source.
9. Wherefore I will yet plead with
you, saith יְהוָה - the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.
Explanation: “Plead” here refers to a legal controversy (Riv).
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is
entering into a lawsuit against the nation across generations.
10. For pass over to the isles of the Kittites, and see; and send unto Kedar,
and consider diligently, and see if there hath been such a thing. 11.
Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? But My
people hath changed its glory for that which doth not profit.
Explanation: Look to the West (Kittites/Cyprus) and
the East (Kedar/Arabia). Even pagan nations do not
switch their (false) gods, yet
12. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at
this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. 13.
For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me,
the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns,
that can hold no water.
Explanation: The core indictment: Deserting a natural, flowing spring (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim) for
man-made, cracked containers (idolatry) that leak and fail.
14. Is
Explanation:
16. The children also of Noph and Tahpanhes have broken
the crown of thy head.
Explanation: Egyptian cities (Noph/Memphis) represent
the foreign powers that have humiliated and stripped
17. Hast thou not procured this unto
thyself, in that thou hast forsaken יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- The LORD thy Eloheicha,
when He led thee by the way?
Explanation: This is self-inflicted. The suffering is the direct result of
abandoning the Guide while still on the journey.
18. And now what hast thou to do in the
way to
Explanation:
19. Thine own wickedness shall correct
thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee; know therefore and see that it
is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - The LORD thy Eloheicha,
and that My fear is not in thee, saith צְבָאוֹת
אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה
- the LORD אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of hosts.
Explanation: The consequences of their sins will serve as their punishment. The
absence of the “Awe of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim” leads to
bitterness.
20. For of old time I have broken thy
yoke, and burst thy bands, and thou saidst: ‘I will
not transgress’; upon every high hill and under every leafy tree thou didst
recline, playing the harlot.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim freed them
from
21. Yet I had planted thee a noble
vine, wholly a right seed; how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant
of a strange vine unto Me?
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim planted “Sorek” (choice vines), but the crop turned out wild and
bitter.
22. For though thou wash thee with
nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהִים-יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim
of Hosts.
Explanation: No amount of superficial cleaning or ritual can hide the deep
stain of their social and spiritual corruption.
23. How canst thou say: ‘I am not
defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim’? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done; thou
art a swift young camel traversing her ways; 24. A wild ass used to the
wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire;
her lust, who can hinder it? all they that seek her
will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her’.
Explanation: The people deny their guilt, but the Prophet compares their
frantic pursuit of idols to an animal in heat uncontrollable and desperate.
25. Withhold thy foot from being
unshod, and thy throat from thirst; but thou saidst:
‘There is no hope; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.’
Explanation: They have worn out their shoes and parched their throats chasing
idols, yet they refuse to stop, claiming they are “addicted” to these foreign
ways.
26. As the thief is ashamed when he is
found, so is the house of
Explanation: They only turn back to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim when they
are in trouble, despite having spent their lives worshipping wood and stone.
28. But where are thy gods that thou
hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee
in the time of thy trouble; for according to the number of thy cities are thy
gods, O Judah.
Explanation: A biting sarcasm: Since Judah has as many gods as it has cities,
let one of those many idols step up and save them now.
29. Wherefore will ye complain against Me? Ye all have transgressed against Me,
saith יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: The people have no right to complain about their suffering when
they are the ones who broke the covenant.
30. In vain have I smitten your
children, they received no correction; your own sword hath devoured your
prophets, like a destroying lion.
Explanation: Past punishments did not teach them anything, and they even killed
the prophets who tried to warn them.
31. O
generation, see ye the word of יְהוָה - the LORD: Have I been a wilderness unto
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim asks: Did
I fail to provide for you? Why do you claim you are “free” from Me?
32. Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My
people have forgotten Me days without number.
Explanation: It is unnatural for a bride to forget her wedding jewelry, yet
33. How trimmest thou thy way to seek
love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou taught
thy ways.
Explanation: They have become so expert at “seeking love” (idolatry/alliances)
that they could teach professional harlots new tricks.
34. Also in thy skirts is found the
blood of the souls of the innocent poor; thou didst not find them breaking in;
yet for all these things. 35. Thou saidst: ‘I
am innocent; surely His anger is turned away from me’. Behold, I will enter
into judgment with thee, because thou sayest: ‘I have
not sinned’.
Explanation: Their garments are stained with the blood of the poor. Their
greatest sin is their refusal to admit they have done anything wrong.
36. How greatly dost thou go about to
change thy way! thou shalt be ashamed of
Explanation: Just as Assyria failed them,
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My Closing
Message:
Chapter 2 of
Jeremiah serves as a timeless reminder that spiritual and national decline
begins with forgetfulness. When we forget the “kindness of our youth” and
the miracles that sustained us, we begin to seek security in things that cannot
provide it, whether those are ancient idols or modern political alliances. The
Prophet’s message is clear: True stability is not found in “broken cisterns” or
foreign treaties, but in returning to the “Fountain of Living Waters”.
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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“The
More Torah, the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”
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Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts,
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שָׁלוֹם
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