DORDT COLLEGE LIBRARY Sioux Center, lowa 51250 ae The “ Broadman Bible Commentary Volume 6 Jeremiah - Daniel BROADMAN PRESS + Nashville, Tennessee 53929© Copyright 1971 « BROADMAN PRESS Al sights ese eu “Th ie tt nthe pilin fom the ever Stand Vel ote Bb, cop Fehted 1940 and 1002 by the Dic oh Chratin Eduction of te Neon Coun of Caches and used by pes. Denney Dect Clasieation: 290 Library of Congres ag ard amie 885918 "pnt the ated Sate of America Preface “Ta Brosnan RIN Connor Any pre sents carent bla say within the cone Batt Seong faith tn the author, ade femcy, and tlt of the Bible asthe ord of Got, It seks to ofer help and ilance to the Chistian who x wing to Etbeake Ble stad as sro, rows Ihe punt. The publisher thos has dened the ope and pure of the Connaserane tb prontce a work ted tothe Bile tdy See of both ministers snd lynen. The Frings of eal scold are pro ented so that readers wit formal eo found education can vas tha thie Bite stay. Foorote and tecscal words tre lnted to eset information ‘Witers hase been cael slctd for dha reverent Chistian fh and. their Trwindge of Bible tath. Keepiog i find te needs of general adr, he Aesters present spot information sboot Tunguage and btory where i belps © ‘anty the meaning ofthe text. They fam Bible problems —not only in language but fn Gluing aod etcs—but_ oid. Boo points tht hive litle bearing on owe we Tooukd understand and apply the Bible ‘They expres thc own Mlews and con Sictlns, "At the sue He, they preset ‘Temative vows when sich aze advocated iy other sero, wellnfomed stn of tie Bible The vows presente, tee, fannot be regula the oficial postion ofthe publ “This Conneccrany the res of many year’ planning and prepaston. Brosnan Fret Began i 1958 to explore needs and psbiles for the preset work tn tis Jer an aan in 1080, Chron ears Paviculay pstrs and seinny profes Sooewere brought tgetber to eomider Wwhaher anew commentary was neaed and what shape i might ake. Cosring out cf these deliberations in 196, the board a truss grooming the res authored the prblstion of mliolune comment. Forte planing Ted in 1906 to the slo fion of a grea eter and a AdMsony Board, TH bourd of pst, profesor, fd denominational Teaers met in Sep- ember, 1900, evewing preliminary plans Siding “defiteroormenttions teh awe bee ered ut the Coxe Mvtany has been developed. ‘Ely in 1967, four conutng editors swore slected, to forthe Old Testament Tul te for the New. Under the leadership dn gencea etn, these. men ave Stosted withthe Broadinan Pest personel to pln the Coxasesranr in det They have partipated uly the selection of the writers and the eestion of manor Seip, They have gen general of ine td ert, taming the highest estes and fratitade of Press emplyees who. have ‘forked withthe. The sclction of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible text forthe Gost {ary was made in 1907 ako. This ew out Gr cach consideration of pore alr fates, which were fly deased i the meting ofthe Aivisory oad. The adap thon of an Englsh version at standard teat was rcogee x deine, weaning that only the King James, Arpercan Stand td, and Revised Standard Versions were tail forsonsderaton "The King Jemes Vern was recognized as hing ie place nthe Beet many Ghrinns but 3s aflering from iacewae fies in easton ad ebsites Pras ing. The Ameren Standard was seen ag {tee from thse two problens but deficient fr an stractive Engleh spe snd wide cur feet se, The Revised Standard retains tbe ceuracy and cat of the Aneriean Stand-104 ‘TIME BHOADMAN LE COMMENTARY scene attest F they are ane, Ertct too ical tase the comecton withthe cones Wi cosrd to what Jrocodes it clear tht the prot, cn contin emphasing that obed cove to Gal's wil a express in the or Shont.siulatins isthe comiion hich the continuance af the nation de fends ‘The aw of the sabbeth wes one 2 thew sipuations pow. nveling the very sgh ofthe covenant Ho. The eco he aw wl et un Thi i hat the pop at been forcing With wept to wht fellow, the ep sole fn 1.09 nade 4 to of oye bolic ct taking place in diferent. ports of Jesalem (17-19 1s 10:1) Jecomish declares, io elles "Your fathers broke the coven, at indicat by thee dessin of the eat Lear fen thas example Do not follow a thet tego: I y d,yo se going to mi” “rope saath obervanc not ype onpote withpurtatal lepine thoreis much tobe sid for conporate wor fhip and personal renewnl—phyel ted ‘padd—e a set day. and abo for an pen puis wites fo te realty of ier ‘edeton of life to Gad VII, Porale, Proclamation, and Pertcou ion (18e1— 2018) Chapters 1820 constitute an editorial ni. The unit contsne vlvable materia ff various types, coming mast probably from the reign of Jehan, 1. The Poter and the Cloy (18:1-12) he, ord that came to Jeremiah from the Lo 2h bow tthe pater, ets andthe ie rh Ea there be was working 2h wheel od the ‘ec e wat making of lay we pled in he Dotter ham, and he reworked to soother eel art secmed sod tthe pater to do. Ten the word of the Lona came fo mes 0h fT ct th ot Ike Bacay the posers fr had, © he fae wil pluck up and break down and dry Mint tat btn concoring which YBa fpaten tare fv i eis T wl repent ofthe ‘Girite Ttended to date? And sny ie de ig ti ‘ce evi in my sight ot litening to my Voie, {hen Til sepent ofthe good which Thad Ittandd fo dh. Now thereon, ty te {Ric jh th bt owe ‘Shaping etl gaint you and devising’ plan let you Herm, every oe, rom be trig and amend your wa and yur ding? "SB dey ye That a We {ato out oe pany and wil every oe Het ‘ooring to the Suboraen a hse bare? ‘This personal experience of Jeremih is fone of the most ifeesting and important {othe Bible. A pat of importance stems from the fact that it provides real insight fata the matter of napration and revel tion, Here the Tile takes un into ts com Bilence tnd indicates how Cod cased a truth to br bor sm 2 prophets brat Tt pulls buck the eurtala. and grants oe Boomentary alinpac. tate the revelatory proves, Stangely enough, the revelation {Tul not come ina prayer closet or a sino tary bot through an oedinary occurrence {iva conimoa workshop, Then the prophet, vider inspiration, put the revelation in ‘words which the people could understand {and which would Br their sitsatio, The tery epi i alo sigiennt bcnuse the pacable of the potter and the cy became "the casi! lastration of the divine svereiguty” and “the fitting feblem for the highest conception man ‘in fri ofthe evine sovereignty in rlae ‘Son to man read” (Skinner, pp. 162, 164). God ir soverega, but he works with feew wen, Man ir fre, but only to choose the response he il make to Cod Irene fseur pit thas: "To make & the prope fy of God, nt to he made that of aman Th expeitence of Jeremiah at the pot ters howe it portant, too, bacauso it ts patlonce and love. Though svt find In the parable only & Urest of coming calamity for Judah, the ‘reseut weiter i persuaded that he not Jenene 18, of hope i ck (cf ao Com, Sith Skinner, Steno, Leslie, Crnlie Jones eo ad, Cootoren, tat) Gad, so ho rovercign ern, giving bis people ane ther chan tose tobe purpose. A ourth ress forthe teens sg nicance ofthe potty experience i at consis a toing pot inthe pope fr cate. Fle wes ow convinced tt the sation eae doomed bt th dd not toean the sblste ead. Though the de {tlie of exptivity God woul sion sn ‘other veel which he orld we forthe coming forward of his work inthe world Beyond he jodmont that st come sp Josh tere ly Stare of hope In sr, the experience at the pottery meant the entry ofa new element ints Jeers tmesage and marked the begining of @ ew epoch in ht minty. From thi ting forward he hogan “to bud and to plant ‘Vere 1-4 tl shout the tip the puters hou, ‘The potters howe could Te ithe a wontop or factory, had Ing the workshop, tl,» ple for he ing and tealing hay, sed ¢sfose dump, “he probable lcation ofthe pottery wae fn the soathem sco of the cy. over Iookng or even i the valley of ior, seth easy access to drsnage od tthe ‘ater ofthe Siloam pte “The potter's wheel (Hit, $00 stones) consist of two cheular dis of sone ennected by m vera rod. The lower aise was larger to ive momentum at it was activated bythe foe. The per Alse wat igor and wat tue for sep the cay into the veel the potter withed tomahe, The eplintn of the passe follows fm we. 312 God in doar the poter doer be can aajt to o chinged sua tion. IPs people coperate with hi, bo an make of them tit Lid of people he wrens them to be, a true coer ome munity. they ‘efue to cooperate bo toast del drstaly wilh them in loving Aislin fn ordee that, if pose, they my he made over io & Pople bo ‘can Ue elfectialy forthe ahiovernent of his 105 purpose Sime scholars abet to the allison to ‘tions the tha el (vt 7-10) aoe Jlvemiarc. Since Jeremiah was appointed Ax prop tthe mations” (1). tis abe fect sees jt, There’ may Be eve merely bring by the prophet posty lterof the spent to ince any nao, since is Codie Lond er all ations and Is working ot» pa ose in history whi ive ll nats Tes imereting to note the al with ‘which key worl of Joweiah espetaly prominent inthe account of is all are Ieteneoven into this purable nd 8 lation Als, i i tata to oboe that i to eal to repentance (ye IL) the door kt oan eh te ep fase to enter (x12). The important Hehrew sub appears tie in cove santa sans (e711. ‘Now for a bit fee exponen the songest and bet orem have thle timer of tortring uncertain. Jere ad vtech prod About qr ter ofa centry eater, ener the impetus ‘fa dyanie cllesperiene, he had gone forth into tery wpe wey trough which the winds of chango were Beredly Bowing. Charged with the respons ity of prodaining the divine word, he had seta ‘every method Inapinbler Proclamation, condemnation, Isetaton, Echortaton, itereeson. Yt the people Ind become wore insoad of beter Now Aroha ater 008 ne during te eign ef Jehoisin) the. conieton eytalzed fn the propbuts mind thatthe station vas hopes and captivity certn, Bat This posed» problem. Was Cod detested? Was be eatng eal off frver I 29 vwint would become of hiv purpose aod Promina? Ae Jeremiah sat—thisking, wresting, ving dvi rectve tree wins ‘rie end 50 dovon tothe potters howe, dnd hee 1 wil et gou het my ore & Strange command! Ave fellow, the pot ter perhape, bt not the tll tan part much isght concerning &prltund106 {TE BROADMAN nmnLt! COMMENTARY peoblent Yet Jeremish went. First e saw far the poiter had ‘a purpose. ta flash, It dawned on Jeeta Here $8 & Plctice of Gad he i the potter at the ‘whl. As potter, he is sovereign ove life. Despite the evs, confusion, and change, God is in contra Since God hae a parpore for life, the highest wivlom of mat fe 10 seek to Br and ft ito that pre, ‘Soond, there it ever the posaity of perverting the pote’ purpose, When the potter fished the ves! be wae making, he examined i carefully. Hi keen eye land srasitive gers detected a flaw. Te Was spoiled in bis hand. Because some {ity substance or stubborn quality inthe tay bd rersted is touch, he ad fed. Ibracl had. perverted the purpose of the potter God "Thus, af the potter's workshop, was unforgetably npresied upon Jeremiah Ua there i always the poss of man’s perverting the purpose of the divine Pot “Pd, Jeremiah Teed something of the pate and perenne of Be pb ter When the pater dscovered that is esse wes mast he ershed i What bow? ought Jereniah, Wil bo throw i te the dump for dan, give op lock ‘Xp, and go home? No, The puter paced {he aya the whee gana shaped Into another wel at scons bast fo Bia to do. The revelation dawned “Here the explanation of the exe, God fr not testing Ine of: He giving lr another hance. Capty does noe mean. dom Inedttpie™ ‘Cod alfred Tsracl—and be offers ws— a new begining, res sar. Wor ae Tarte have only to turn to Bin in fenlens, Eth, an cence This was {he “gpl” for Joe ie war thi thd Ig which was now sed which had romeo eomsspocost forthe preaching of te goat propia 2. The Unnaturanen of the People Apottay (18:13-17) Therefore thay he Lo nh has Beard the ie of thi? ‘Te ign bol ss done a vey hase thing peg ofan kone The rags of Sin Da the ments wtere ma iy, ‘he ea owing tress? 1 tiny people hate forgten mm, they orion ego hg toe Hse forever, Benya pane by red ‘ed shker ht hea ‘This poetic ortcle incomportes both re- proach fnd threat Ie sree the wnat ‘ras and incomprebensibilty of Tras Sin (eh 210-18,9%, 5:20-25; 8:7). Ter Sefection is contrary to the practice of ppeguns and the tablished patterns in ‘God's eiegin daughter (ef. 14:17) has one 2 ery horrible thing. Sho bas for: ‘ken the Lard, has infact forgotten hin, fand has followed aftr fale gods. Her Dehavioe stands fn sharp contrast t that of other natione—who do not change hele ods (cf. 2:11)—and to that of nature— the snows of Hermon (Siri) are alays there, and. the mountain seams cease les dow, necting the needs below. Because Incl har refused to walk the ‘ancient roads (ef 6:16) and is waveling fon Bypath, not the highiray (cf. 18:13), Ir land will become a horror, thing 10 Ie ised at forever. Cod wil scatter bee Before the enemy, as tho srocoo seater: the tnd in the desert. Ae she bas tured. Ther back and not her face to God (cf 2:27), s0 he wil show his back and not 1s face to er in he ime of er calamity. In sum, because of her condet, #9 une natural and so tcomprchonshle, Ital will experience the judgment of a holy God. 8. APlot onda Prot (18:18-23) "Then they st, “Come, Tet ws mink pts Jenene 18 fom the pret, conn fy the wie noe tis word fo the pope Come et ssn in "With the tonya lt ot eed ny ea ‘otthey have dg pt for my i Remember hw i stead hetoe thee, five them over to the power of the mend Jet their wives Income chiles nd wide iy thee men mest doth by pesience {hey dan by the wd bat * Yetthow O Lien tne” Pt tr me erie the a "er Hot ot ther nm thy ae et them he ertho blre cal with hem te tine hie ange. Verse 18 tls about the plot aysinst the prope (cf 1:18=-12:6) The chit ea ei ee the ligne Ides. The Ie fenity ofthe mounting opposition to Tere: mish &refcted fn the tain of ese te in a concerted efoto get of hin, ‘There were thre groups of thems suse, Prats, on probes (ef Ezek 7.20) Jeremiah em cvstic In his etch af alter groupe (cf 2:8; 40 5:90 GAG, BE: MADE: ete). It no surprise that thy desir to dispense wilh im " “The plot put the prophet in a ather Firs he pleas his mocence (we. 19-20), [Nex be pay that Cl wl dostioy thes ‘who re oping him (oy. 21-28), Here the prophet I atthe peak of pasion. "The 4ihs Diterest preston, The spit af indtivenes show jn this ove eons fea” presents problem forthe Chit Tt hay ako constituted a. problem for sehoiars, Severs have denied the snithene 107 worthy of Jremish” Such a poston highly subjective and reprehensible. Jere: nah wat servant of the Lond, at ‘eas lo a buman Deingsontines et ‘coding humanity nly a we sept Hin a ha cig te an iii hear the prophet word tat soho (righ p13). ™ From the Chron point of view, there 4st jotcation forthe prophet ste towarl bis enemies, but lee st expe tation. ‘There area lat tree Cahors that shoul be Kept inn sto fata we kn, Jremis never realy suceed at aytieg sigue he ver mdetok. He was costly baled td howler, Srotatad and fouled by the people whom he ve eve a sh ave He war opp by {Femoral "personnel pets peoples “philosophers sid the people gee ‘ding tends ae fal meni Te ‘was eoutanty constrained fom win fo Preach« sage of fudgmene. He had to Wetch the ston fall Hebeew Treasured mote He was eompied sent a, according to tion, Kile by is countrymen. te would have been rate than Boman if occsonally be bad not ak something toy about all Second ih oer Teclites, he thought oper, not bsnl Me, Ihe tem Sit ot isting betwen in andthe Sinner Morcwer, he was convinced et hh was srving Gad with sincerity Tn ope sng him, hi fees were opposing Gn they won, Gad Tot. So, peng for thee destrcton, he wa dang woe than flog set 10 ersonal puso, Me was fxprsng his devotim to Gol and he fete forth vindication af his cane. At fan Old Testnent elev, be could do ths with pod concence, “hid, he nowhere refers to bei tn a future life He mst ve ha oor bt he didn't make much of he He ot terms of earthly veteibation, The doting ef the resunecion and al dgsnt ferges quite late ia the Old Torment Twas now on never for Jem Be ha108 {THE BROADMAN BIBLE, COMMENTARY wal be a Baal jdgment, won all chings twill be st ght This reminds ws that ‘te stil in the Old Testament and that ‘Cheat mabes a dflerence Though ax Christians we need Jeremla's capacity for righteous indignation agaist fentrenched evi we must use such pasages {3 15:19-23 with the greatest of care. We Trove to distinguish between sand the Sines. We arto hate an, but we ae to lowe simer, tochiding our entre, ad sek to bring them into a saving knowlege (ofthe grace of God in Chit. 4 A Parable and @ Proclamation (i9:1-15) “There i something quite diferent about this chapter, It contana a Wemry 7p ‘which has not yet appeared in the book: Dlogrphical naration, Someane eee, roby ably Baruch i eling a story about Jor Bish. Up to this point fm the prophecy, wo have had autobiographical” acconnt, prophecies, and prayers. Here we have the Tit of a sooce in which the penny eo tem is not what the prophet saye but ‘what he docs, with particular stress ‘on the Snufering he encounters ocause of what be oes. There are oracles, but usually they fare presented tn prone tnd with brevity ‘And al of thie “biography” related inthe third person, A comparion of eipr tees 7 and 20 wil disclose the dflernoe in form and emphasis, "The material in chapter 10 i concerned swith events which probably tenepited fa the fine part of ella’ reign Tt & fncluded here becatse of the symbolic ack and the allusion toa potter vessel (1) The Perabo of the Potter's Pitcher (3.19) “ht sid the Lown, “Co, buy a potter carton fark and tae tome ofthe ele of Sip ae fh snp Fat ety of the Paherd Cate and rota, tere the word tht Tel you. Yow sal a, ‘Tene the nod a the Lang O King f Jods fh inten of Jeri Th sy te {Eons the God of ral Beboly Ts Seng ch laps hls hat te oy hc en ne forte ea Inte profane fi place by burg nese {ety other gods who nether they nor thelr futher noc he Sige Jods have Seay i becuse they hee fled this place wih the lod of ims Sand ave bul the high [ESSER ine i lleings Yo Bol which Tid not come dete nr di come ito my sin ‘rears beh aay are soming ye to ‘Line, when this plac shane more belle ‘Topo the ale af the on of Hina, Dole valley of Slugbten And In th plas Tv mae ei the ple of Jada ad Jere ‘ale, and will one their people to fal by by the ‘ae tl cy rer a thing be sed ‘rey ame to passe! by it wl be bored SME ui at hed of Si Sater, And si ake thew est he Bet of tlre ond ticle dager a every ome tal ct the Aes of in sepor fn the siege and the ‘litres, ith whi hie eesee Shnsok the ie aft thom "3m you shall breathe Mk fhe tight ofthe en who go wth you, and all yy em" yt the Lao af Bt tril breaths people and tine, ne aks pote vent vo tat en Sever be ‘ended: Mtn shall bay in Toph esrase erwin ple caf by Th wl 1p to ts places spe the Loto, and tt Inhsbitnts, faking toy ike Topetie ‘Sie hours af Feralem and the hows of the Ling af Jodabal the hose epon ae tool inet has hen bared tal heat of ‘Rotem and ak lenge have Been pored decal be dtled the the Jeremiah is commanded to purchase a Doing, “the most artistic and expensive rete of the pitcher fanny” and this ‘Reel fited to typify Jerwsalen in Jee mishis lustrsted sermon,” for i eck ‘was a0 narrow that "it could never be Imended"” The prophet i then told 10 tke the pitcher, slong with seme of tse Tears ofthe people, and go to the ealley of the som of Hinnom at the entry of he Potsherd Gate. ‘There be i to make & ‘double proclamation’ in symbol and ia Jensen 19 sph A ed “a” kt Sok et es ae ra sth, eet eT es Se ad Sie ‘yt leo By, aE Soe es sido en wih A wl mn weeps ell reese cel aes Rae ree Sei tani oab ce ae a eins Sant apm ate Tools te et file el nee se a epi ae cote emanate SUT te arrears Sa char arma Sie ee as Sire 2 es Sle ge cess ae See ects IS rep eg fae ro mare (gh ay EI hi So Ceres: SOSSamcesy se Te ne a tie Ge nice es oe Se rea 2, pg (2) Avena he ot tases ae ep rw at oy oc kash ar eth ee el ere et tin Me aatieatectls bed sr italaie dees Se oramnk ses Eon Tie ppt owt Toe see et Do ea cays NE Po me Retyaceetes Bc 45, Persecution and Reaction (20:1-18) eo we bave one of the earliest refen= ences to open, cutlght persecution of the 109 prophet hecauso of his preaching. Al, in this chapter is preserved the last and. greatest ofthe confessions, (1) The Persecution ofthe Prophet (201-8) 1 Now Pashhur the pie, the wn of Imes, spl wat hil oer fhe be the Lom eaed Jeremiah propbenring” ese things 2 Then Pr best Jeena the prot nad Pisin the sis dt mere re upper caja Cate of he nro he Lamy the mano, wn Putas ylesel Jere fr ky Heh yh" ‘Terror om every side U For thar saya the Lona ‘etoid Twill ake you a tego to goal Sn all our fend hey shel fl by the ord ofthe ences whe you la on And Swit ge all oda ne the Fad of te tf Babyion Be sa cay them apie 1S Babylon ‘ley them with the vont, Moraver twill fee all the wealth of he celyeall is gain all tr psa balangingy and Iie trearrer of the ngs of dah Int the Ian ofthe eoemie, wh Sal oder tem, ltl stze thems ad’ carry these te Bayon, Kod yo, Pater, ad all wh Owl in yout ue, shal pin capt Baby yon ‘Ras ar re yal i nd here Yo ‘hal Be besed, yo aod all your fs ‘whom you ave prophet fae" Jeeiahis sermon at Toph and la the ‘Temple drew fie. Pst te che ofthe temple police (not the Feshbr of 2:ty 8:1) boats the prophet and pu im inthe ick = (om the apor Bevjomin Gat, ct. 2 gy 15:99). These de" war left for perbape many as 2 Thurs thong tht he Ba en a vary cramped. potion. (cthe Tebow yoo of the won for stocka lthe LX tnd Targum’ tanlatons "scraped rom") and that for much ofthe ti he teas mibject to mich idole aod ough treauent. There ira welled wordplay bees the Temple “overs” (201, pop) wat seeking to aleace Gos onener” (110, pagal. Anos 710-17), ‘When Pathhur decled to release the prophet the neat day, Jeena drone Hine with 'enonciatio. He sid to the et in flscts “Your purets gave you ema, Co ising Jou seth Is