Jer. 31:1 ¶ At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
Jer. 31:2 Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
This chapter is actually a continuation of the previous one. “The same time” is still in reference to the time that God regathers all of the Jewish people to the land of Israel and establishes His kingdom with His Son on the throne. The families of Israel will be joined together as a whole nation and no longer divided into two kingdoms. All the people of Israel will be in submission and obedience to the LORD.
Verse two is basically saying that the LORD is going to protect those that have survived the seven terrible years of Jacob’s trouble and bring them home to rest once and for all in the land of Israel. The nation will be given a brand new beginning in fellowship with the LORD never again to rebel.
The Hebrew for “wilderness” is a term referencing the places where they had been driven like cattle.
Jer. 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Jer. 31:4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
Jer. 31:5 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.
Sometimes the KJV translation is a bit confusing. In these verses the nation of Israel is personified. It was from a heart of everlasting love that the LORD separated them out from among the nations as His chosen ones. Though they have suffered great destruction, God is promising that the nation will be rebuilt and its people will dance with joy. The land will produce bountifully and everyone will have plenty to eat.
I thought it was interesting that the LORD singled out the mountains of Samaria, since this location was the center of idolatry in the Northern Kingdom and ended up being the home of some of the most despised people in Israel in Jesus’ time. I think it is sort of like an exclamation point to the truth that all the people in Israel will be in fellowship with God and with one another.
As I think of the LORD describing Israel as a virgin at this time, I couldn’t help but think of His forgiveness to me and to all who turn to Him in faith and obedience. By His grace we are justified—just as if we had never sinned. What a blessed truth to this child of God!
Acts 13:33, 38-39 “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee….Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Stedman: “‘Everlasting’ connotes more than duration, means more than merely ‘eternal’; it has in it an element of mystery. That is, it refers to the ‘vanishing point’, literally. Let your mind run back into the past over all the years of history, and you come to a place where finally you just cannot think any further. Yet logic affirms that even beyond this point there has been existence and time, so this is the ‘vanishing point.’ And this is what ‘everlasting’ means. Let your mind run into the future, and you come to the same kind of haziness, a place where you no longer can comprehend what the ages mean, where times and durations seem meaningless. That, again, is the vanishing point in the future, beyond which lie experiences for God's people, but which we are unable to grasp. That is the mystery of this word, everlasting. It is a word which means, really, ‘beyond dimension,’ ‘greater than we can think.’”
Jer. 31:6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
These verses continue to emphasize that Israel will be a whole nation again. Those who are designated as watchmen for Ephraim (the name often used to identify the Northern Kingdom) will be calling the people to go to Zion in Jerusalem to worship the LORD “our God.” At that time the LORD will be on the throne in the person of Jesus, the Son of God. Again, this is a statement of unity among the people of Israel at that time.
The NIV commentary provided some enlightenment regarding the purpose of the watchmen in this context: “According to Jewish tradition watchmen were appointed for the appearance of the moon, from which their months were counted. Here the watchmen on the hills of Samaria are to show the northern kingdom how to go up to Jerusalem to keep the feasts….”
Jer. 31:7 For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
Jer. 31:8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
Jer. 31:9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
The LORD continues to declare through His prophet that this time of future restoration will be one of great gladness. Israel will be established as “chief of the nations,” certainly a far cry from her current position of most despised. The LORD is going to gather the Jewish people from all over planet earth—including those who are blind, lame, and pregnant. He makes the point that it will be a “great company.” As I looked at the Hebrew and thought about the time being referenced, I tend to think that this is more a reference to possessing national
pride and returning home with head held high. Then again, maybe in reference to the nations, the Jewish people will be much greater in number. Only time will tell.
I liked the wording of the CJB for verse 9: “They will come weeping and praying as I bring them back. I will lead them by streams of water on smooth paths, so that they won’t stumble….” In other words, their tears will be of joy and their prayers of thanks in light of the suffering they have endured. The LORD will ensure that their journey home is pleasant and safe.
Once again the people of Israel will look to God as Father. Ephraim represents the whole of the nation of Israel as firstborn among the nations. Though Reuben was actually the firstborn son of Jacob, he sinned against his father and Joseph was given the birthright. Ephraim was the son of Joseph; and just as he was often named in reference to the Northern Kingdom, he is now named in reference to the whole nation.
1 Chronicles 5:1–2 “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)”
Jer. 31:10 ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
Jer. 31:11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
The LORD now directs His message to the rest of the nations throughout the world. They are to understand that Israel was scattered because of the will of Almighty God. Just as He had scattered them, He is going to bring them home to Israel and take care of them just as a shepherd cares for his flock. The LORD has redeemed Jacob, representing the whole nation that he fathered.
Unknown to the Jewish people of Jeremiah’s day, that redemption would come at great price—the death of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
1 Peter 1:18–19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot….”
1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
Jer. 31:12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
Jer. 31:13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
Jer. 31:14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.
The “height of Zion” would seem to be a reference to the Temple, so I would think this would be a reference to bringing their tithes and offerings. Their obedience will flow from a soul that is overflowing with thankfulness for their blessings, and the LORD declares that they will sorrow no more.
The joy of the people will be visible from their outward expression of rejoicing through dance. The LORD will delight in turning their sorrow into joy and in comforting them. Our countenance should always reflect a heart of thankfulness, joy and peace before the LORD.
Finally the priests will be full of the Spirit and delighting in their service before the LORD. In fact, all of the people of Israel will be satisfied with His goodness; they will want for no good thing.
Jer. 31:15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
Jer. 31:16 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
Jer. 31:17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
These verses flash back to the thoughts of the Jewish people throughout the centuries that have suffered at the hands of their enemies and pictured by Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife. This same verse was used to describe the mourning of those Jewish mothers in Bethlehem and the surrounding area whose babies were killed by Herod after the birth of Jesus.
Matthew 2:16–18 “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”
I’ve learned in my studies that prophecies often reference foreshadowing events before culminating in final fulfillment. In these verses the LORD is giving words of hope and encouragement that “thy work” would be rewarded, and they would eventually be regathered in the land of Israel as a nation. I believe that work is a reference to yielding to the LORD in faith and obedience. This was true for the exiles in Babylon and will once again prove true when the Jewish people call out for the return of Messiah.
Luke 13:34–35 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
John 6:28–29 “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
Jer. 31:18 ¶ I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
Jer. 31:19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded,
because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
These verses paint a picture of a very repentant “Ephraim,” representing the nation. The people are acknowledging that God’s judgment was deserved. They had responded to His authority like an undisciplined calf. Just as a calf will eventually respond to training in the yoke, so would the people of Israel. When they turn back to God in repentance and submission, they will be very ashamed and full of remorse for the sins of their youth.
I certainly identify with this heart and am so thankful for God’s faithfulness and patience in growing me spiritually!
Jer. 31:20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.
Jer. 31:21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
Just as any loving parent, the Father looks at the children of Israel through eyes of the most wonderful love. Even as He has to rebuke and chastise their rebellion, the LORD does so with an unconditional love for His children. Just as the rebellion of a child troubles a parent’s heart, so was the heart of God troubled by Israel’s rejection of His authority.
“I will surely have mercy upon him” – Who can read these words and not be reminded of the Savior’s teaching on the prodigal son.
Luke 15:18–20 “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
In verse 21 it seems that the LORD is urging His people to look back on the path that led to their rebellion; and as they look, to turn back toward home in submission to Him—just like the prodigal son.
Jer. 31:22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.
I certainly had to read through verse 22 several times. I had to remind myself that the “backsliding daughter” seems to be connected to the reference to the virgin Israel in verse 4. The question seems to be speculating about how long it is going to take the “daughter” to become repentant. The “daughter” has been in rebellion against the LORD, while the “virgin” will be restored to fellowship with all forgiven. The “woman” seems to reference maturity to the point that she will become a leader (from the Hebrew) among men. I tend to look at this as a statement of the leadership role that Israel will possess when restored to fellowship with the LORD when Messiah assumes His throne in Jerusalem. This would definitely be the creation of a new thing since Israel has never been an acknowledged leader among the nations.
Jer. 31:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.
Jer. 31:24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
Jer. 31:25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
The LORD is declaring that when Israel is regathered and restored in fellowship with Him, it will be known as a land of justice. It will be a land whose inhabitants will experience complete satisfaction and contentment. The speech of the people will reflect their recognition that the LORD is the source of their blessings.
This should be a description of every child of God today. We should be publicly thankful for God’s blessings upon our lives. Our lives should reflect our thankfulness in word and action.
Jer. 31:26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
It would seem that Jeremiah had received this message from the LORD while sleeping. It stands out to me that his description of that sleep was that it was “sweet.” The Hebrew makes reference to pleasant and agreeable, but with a direct connection to a root that includes the idea of something given as security or a pledge. Because of Jeremiah’s love for his people and his nation, I feel sure that is how he understood it.
I have a semblance of understanding that feeling. There are many times I have awakened with something specific on my mind regarding writing, ministry etc., and I felt it just had to be something God communicated to me while I was asleep. A couple of my poems in particular have basically written themselves after awaking in the early morning hours with a compelling desire to put pen to paper.
Jer. 31:27 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
Jer. 31:28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.
In these verses the LORD is declaring that in that future day of restoration He will ensure that Israel’s population of both man and beast will be abundant. Just as surely as He has refined them in the fires of judgment, He will watch over them to ensure their growth and prosperity.
When I looked at the Hebrew for “watch over,” it referenced sleeplessness. I couldn’t help but think of the words of the psalmist.
Psalms 121:4–5 “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper:”
Yes, these words apply to Israel; but they also describe God the Father’s unchanging character. This is especially comforting to this child of God, because I know that He is just as diligent to “watch over” me, His child of faith.
Romans 8:16–17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ….”
Galatians 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Jer. 31:29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.
Jer. 31:30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
It would seem that this saying was coined by the children of those who had been take captive to foreign lands because of the sins of their fathers and were made to experience the consequences of their fathers' actions. I remember addressing this saying in my study of Ezekiel; following is an excerpt from that study.
Ezekiel 18:1-2 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
Ezekiel receives yet another message from the LORD. The LORD is taking issue with a common saying in the land of Israel. The meaning of the saying seems to be explained more clearly by the prophet Jeremiah in his book of Lamentations.
Lamentations 5:7 Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.
It would seem that this saying was a result of a wrong understanding of God’s word. I was also confused until I began my own verse-by-verse study of the scripture. In Exodus we find this scripture.
Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me….
I think an excerpt from my journal on Exodus is appropriate here.
“When we choose to follow other gods (really self), then we are building our lives on a lie which will impact in turn the lives of our children and in turn their children etc. It's interesting that the LORD used the designation of the 3rd & 4th generations. I just realized that those would be the normal generations of a man's lifespan at that time upon whom he would have direct impact. On the other hand, those who love Him and keep His commandments can expect God's love to be evident to their children for generations. The more submissive and obedient we are, the stronger the foundation for our progeny.”
Ezekiel 18:3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
The LORD is tired of hearing the truth of His word misinterpreted. Right now He is going to set the record straight.
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Each individual is held accountable to God for his/her own sin. Yes, we are influenced by those around us; but we are ultimately accountable before God as individuals. The Hebrew for die is a reference to being killed. I think it is important to note that the context of this passage is addressing the righteousness of God in punishing the people of Israel by causing them to be taken into captivity and their nation destroyed. [End excerpt]
Jer. 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer. 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer. 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer. 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
I am sure that the message of these verses brought a song to Jeremiah’s heart. The LORD is declaring that in future days He is going to make a new covenant with the people of Israel. Instead of a covenant of law written on stones with no inherent power to empower the people to keep it, the LORD is going to write His law on their hearts. In other words, the covenant will be a part of their very being and will empower them through the Holy Spirit to act according to the true intent of God’s law. Every person of Jewish birth will “know” the LORD; they will have a relationship with Him that reflects their love and obedience. They will know Him and see Him and interact with Him in the person of His Son Jesus Christ who will rule from the throne of David in Jerusalem. Again, that beautiful truth—“I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
The Apostle Paul also talked about this glorious time in Israel’s future.
Romans 11:25–27 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”
The verses in Romans above make it clear that a full number of Gentiles would be brought into covenant relationship before Israel turns back to God in faith. We know that Jesus Christ established the new covenant through His death and resurrection. The writer to the Hebrews also makes it clear that this covenant is an everlasting covenant; it will never be replaced.
Hebrews 8:6 “But now hath He [Jesus] obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
Hebrews 13:20–21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.”
With the new covenant the believer receives the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower him to live victoriously according to God’s law.
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
Ephesians 3:17–21 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
When we fail and fall into sin, forgiveness is ours for the asking.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
What is available to every believer through faith in Jesus Christ in this age of grace will be given to every Jewish person that enters into or is born during the Messianic Kingdom. This will become the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham concerning his physical descendants through Jacob.
The LORD confirmed His message to Jeremiah through Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 11:17–20 “Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
Ezekiel 36:26–28 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
Wiersbe: “The new covenant isn’t just another renewal of the old covenant that God gave at Sinai; it’s new in every way. The new covenant is inward so that God’s law is written on hearts and not on stone tablets. The emphasis is personal rather than national, with each person putting faith in the Lord and receiving a ‘new heart’ and with it a new disposition toward godliness.”
Jer. 31:35 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
Jer. 31:36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
The LORD goes on to declare that Israel will endure as a nation before Him forever just as surely as the sun, moon and stars are part of the heavens. Point is made that He is in control of these ordinances as well as the waves of the sea. The Psalmist echoed this truth.
Psalms 148:3–6 “Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.”
Psalms 89:8–9 “O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.”
Jer. 31:37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
This is a very interesting declaration from the LORD that again affirms that the nation of Israel will exist forever in spite of their time of rebellion. The clear implication is that heaven cannot be measured nor can the foundations of the earth be discovered.
Jer. 31:38 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
Jer. 31:39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
Jer. 31:40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
The city being referenced is Jerusalem, and these verses seem to be defining future borders of the city. The LORD is also declaring that the city will be forever secure under His authority and power and will be considered His holy possession.
It is especially interesting to note that the valley of the dead, the place where the sacrifices to Molech were made in the Hinnom Valley, is included in this designation since under the law association with the dead made one unclean.
When I looked up “Gareb,” it too would normally be considered unclean since it was the gathering place of the lepers. I think this is just a powerful statement of the power and authority of God to cleanse not only sinners and clothe them in His righteousness, but also to purify the land in which the blood of so many innocents was shed. In fact, it makes sense that the LORD would choose to turn such a place of horror into a place of holiness in regard of those innocents that were murdered there.
These borders seem to significantly increase the area that will comprise Jerusalem as indicated by Ezekiel in the closing chapters of his prophecy regarding the millennial temple.
Jer. 32:1 ¶ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
According to the record in Kings, this would be in the year before Zedekiah was taken captive to Babylon and the final fall of Jerusalem.
2 Kings 24:18 “Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.”
Jer. 32:2 For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house.
Jer. 32:3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
Jer. 32:4 And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
Jer. 32:5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.
At this time, the city of Jerusalem was under siege by the armies of Babylon and Jeremiah was in prison. Zedekiah had put Jeremiah into prison for prophesying that he would be taken captive by Babylon where he would die. He did not want Jeremiah out in public declaring that the city was doomed. This is another example of God’s sovereignty over events on planet earth. The fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in 2Kings.
2 Kings 25:2–7 “And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king’s garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.”
Jer. 32:6 And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer. 32:7 Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
Jer. 32:8 So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
While in the prison and waiting for his prophecy to be fulfilled, the LORD spoke to Jeremiah again. He told him that his cousin Hanameel, son of his uncle Shallum, would come and offer to sell him a field that he owned in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. Anathoth was Jeremiah’s hometown and was a designated city of refuge. His uncle was evidently in need of selling the land, and Jeremiah was the nearest kinsman with the right of redeeming the land.
As is always the case, God’s word came to pass just as He had told Jeremiah.
Stedman: “You notice that faith here, though it acts in a remarkable way, does not act fanatically. Faith is never fanatical; it acts cautiously, expecting God to confirm his word. Jeremiah was no novice in the active life of faith. He knew that God would confirm his word, and he had learned to wait upon God.”
Jer. 32:9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
Jer. 32:10 And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
Jer. 32:11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:
Jer. 32:12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
When Jeremiah’s cousin presented himself offering to sell the land, Jeremiah promptly weighed out the 17 shekels of silver required to purchase it. He then made record of the purchase according to the laws of Israel. It seems that two copies were made—one to be sealed and one left open for public reference. He then gave the evidence to Baruch, his assistant, in the presence of his cousin and other witnesses who had signed the documents. We are told later that Baruch actually served as Jeremiah’s scribe in recording all that the LORD revealed to him.
Jeremiah 36:4 “Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.”
Stedman: “Yet with all the caution of faith, you notice that another quality of faith is very apparent here. It is what we might call ‘the audacity of faith’.…You are not acting by faith if you are doing what everyone around you is doing. Faith always appears to defy the circumstances. It constitutes a risk and a venture….But it acts this way because it is based on a higher knowledge.”
Jer. 32:13 And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
Jer. 32:14 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
Jer. 32:15 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.
Jeremiah then instructed Baruch to take the legal papers and seal them up in a jar—similar to those in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. This would protect them from deterioration by the elements.
In verse 15 Jeremiah explains that this whole process was an assurance from the “God of Israel” that He would eventually bring His people back to possess the land of Israel. Though their judgment was harsh, the people would once again be given an opportunity to make a fresh start in the Promised Land.
Jer. 32:16 ¶ Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,
Jer. 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
After completing the legalities of the land transaction, Jeremiah lifts up his voice in prayer to the LORD. His prayer is one of praise and worship of the Creator of heaven and earth. He acknowledges that there is nothing too hard for God to do. Jesus affirmed this very truth.
Mark 10:27 “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
Jer. 32:18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
Jer. 32:19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
Jeremiah continues by incorporating the truth of scripture into his prayer.
Deuteronomy 5:9–10 “Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.”
The Hebrew for the word mercy in the passage from Deuteronomy and the word lovingkindness in verse 18 are the same. Notice that God’s mercy does not preclude His righteous judgment; they go hand-in-hand.
Counsel is a reference to God’s plans and purposes, and work is a reference to the way He accomplishes those plans and purposes. Jeremiah declares that God is aware of all that is being done by the people on planet earth. This truth is affirmed and expressed so beautifully by the Psalmist.
Psalms 139:1–11 “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.”
God’s judgment will ensure that every person is judged according to his own actions. How blessed we are as Christians to be clothed in the righteousness of the Savior!
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Jer. 32:20 Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;
Jer. 32:21 And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;
Jer. 32:22 And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;
Jer. 32:23 And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them:
Jer. 32:24 Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.
Jeremiah goes on to list some of the evidences of God’s great and mighty power. He had performed great miracles in both Egypt and Israel in delivering His people from bondage and leading them in taking possession of the land according to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Isn’t it interesting that many of those miracles are still talked about today! I am always intrigued at the interest of those in the media today who have such interest in producing media that posit natural explanations for those very miracles.
Jeremiah acknowledges that they took possession of a land flowing with milk and honey yet rebelled in disobedience against the LORD who had given it to them. In accordance with the word of God recorded by Moses, the LORD was now delivering the people into the hands of their enemies.
Deuteronomy 30:15–18 “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.”
The LORD is making it clear through His prophet that the people have brought this judgment upon themselves by breaking covenant with Him. Point is made that He is giving the people into the hands of the Chaldeans; the Chaldeans are His chosen vessels of judgment against His people.
Jer. 32:25 And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
At this point Jeremiah seems to be commenting on the futility of buying land since Judah will be held captive by Babylon. It seems he has forgotten the reasoning given in verse 15 above.
The ESV makes the sense a bit clearer: “Yet you, O Lord GOD, have said to me, “Buy the field for money and get witnesses”—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’”
One more good quote from Stedman regarding faith: “Faith always has its doubts. As a young Christian, I had the impression that if you doubted, you could not have faith — that faith and doubt were contrary to one another, and doubt was the opposite of faith. But I gradually began to understand that this is not true. Doubt is the proof of faith. Doubt is an attack upon faith. You cannot have doubts unless you have faith. Faith is the way God works, and so the enemy is bound to attack your faith immediately as he sees you beginning to act and live and walk by faith. Therefore doubts will begin to arise — as a result of Satan's attempt to overthrow your faith.”
Jer. 32:26 ¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
Jer. 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
Jer. 32:28 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:
Jer. 32:29 And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.
The LORD quickly responds by reminding Jeremiah that He is all-powerful; no man or group of men can prevent Him from accomplishing His purposes.
Yes, Babylon, the Chaldeans, under the leadership of King Nebuchadnezzar will take Jerusalem captive. The city will be destroyed by fire. It is a fitting destruction in purging the land of all things connected with the worship of false gods.
Again, this brings to mind the words of Moses connecting God’s anger with fire; the psalmist made the same connection.
Deuteronomy 32:21–22 “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.”
Psalms 78:21–22 “Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:”
Jer. 32:30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.
Jer. 32:31 For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,
Jer. 32:32 Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
This judgment is necessary in consequence of broken covenant and in purging the nation of their sin. The LORD had been longsuffering and merciful and had decided that no more good could be accomplished among His people without judgment. We know from the words of Ezekiel that the LORD would protect the few that remained faithful to Him.
Ezekiel 9:4–6 “And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.”
Jer. 32:33 And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.
Jer. 32:34 But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.
Jer. 32:35 And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
The LORD goes on to emphasize that the people had made a deliberate choice to reject Him. In spite of His faithfulness to send them His prophets to declare His truth, they had purposely set up idols to false gods in His holy temple. Their worship of idols and false gods was prevalent and public—even to the point of sacrificing their own sons and daughters by placing them in the red hot arms of the great idol of Molech.
The Holy God of Israel would never ask His people to commit such evil.
Jer. 32:36 And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
Jer. 32:37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
Jer. 32:38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
Jer. 32:39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
Jer. 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
Jer. 32:41 Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
The LORD goes on to give Jeremiah hope for Israel’s future. Though Jerusalem would be delivered into the hand of Babylon as Jeremiah had so faithfully prophesied, the LORD intends to regather His people from among all the nations to which they have been sent as a result of His judgment. Already the reference is to regathering His people from more than just Babylon. As we continue to read, it becomes clear that Jeremiah’s prophecy jumps far into the future. The return from exile in Babylon in no way comes close to fulfilling the following prophecy.
Once this regathering occurs, the Jewish people will dwell safely in the land of Israel. The people will recognize God as their LORD. At that time the LORD is going to do a miraculous work in their hearts, and they and their children will fear Him forever. Also at that time He will make an everlasting covenant with them never to turn away from them again. In this glorious future regathering, the LORD will plant them in the land of Israel for good; and they will experience the fullness of God’s love, protection and provision. Obviously, this is a time yet future and will occur when the Lord Jesus returns to set up His kingdom and rule over the earth as King from Jerusalem. This prophecy is affirmed by some of the other prophets as well.
Ezekiel 36:24–28 “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and
ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Zephaniah 3:14–20 “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem….The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing….Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out….At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.”
Zechariah 8:2–8 “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.”
Jer. 32:42 For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.
The LORD closes His answer to Jeremiah with a promise that just as surely as the coming judgment will come the glorious restoration to the land of Israel in sweet fellowship with the LORD.
Jer. 32:43 And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
Jer. 32:44 Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.
At this point I think God’s answer is directed to Jeremiah’s redemption of his uncle’s land. Yes, it is going to be given to the Chaldeans for a time. However, the LORD is going to bring His people back from exile in Babylon and establish them once again as a nation in the land of Israel. They will again be buying and selling land in the cities of Judah—e.g., Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. The transaction made by Jeremiah in obedience to the LORD is a sign from God declaring this truth. The fulfillment of this part of the prophecy is also a sign that God will fulfill the whole of His prophecy in the future.