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1Then Yahweh said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me to intercede for these people , I would not turn my heart back to them. Send them away from me and make them go.[#15:1 See Ezek. 14:14. Moses the lawgiver and Samuel the prophet were both considered unusually close to God as men of prayer and thus would be the most likely to move God through intercession to spare the people. See Ex. 32:11–14, 31–34; Num. 14:13–25; 1 Sam. 7:5–10; 12:19; Ps. 99:6. Moses (see Ex. 32:30–32) and Samuel (see 1 Sam. 7:1–10) both led the people into repentance and cleansing, and then they interceded on their behalf. In Jeremiah’s case, there was no repentance, and thus no remedy.]
2And if they ask you, ‘Where are we to go?’ answer them, ‘Here is what Yahweh says:
“ ‘Those destined to die by the plague, go die by the plague.
Those destined to die by the sword, go die by the sword.
Those destined to die by food shortages, go die by famine.
Those destined for captivity, go into captivity.’ ”
3For Yahweh says, “I will send them four destroyers—the sword to slay, the dogs to drag away, the wild animals to devour, and the birds of prey to consume them.
4I will make them a horrible sight that will shock the entire world because of the wicked things King Manasseh son of Hezekiah of Judah did in Jerusalem.”[#15:4 See 2 Kings 21:1–3; 2 Chron. 33:1–20.]
5Yahweh says,
“Who will feel sorry for you, people of Jerusalem?
Who will mourn for you?
Who will even bother to ask about your welfare?
6I, Yahweh , say to you:
You left me, turned your back on me,
and walked out.
So, I have stretched out my hand to punish you.
I am weary of feeling sorry for you.
7I threw you to the wind like straw,[#15:7 Or “I fanned [winnowed] you with a fan [winnowing fork].” See Isa. 41:16; Jer. 51:2; Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17.]
scattering you throughout the cities of the earth.
I made my people childless and killed them,
since they would not repent from their ways.
8Their widows became more numerous
than the sands of the seas.
In broad daylight, I have brought against them
an unexpected destroyer
to kill young men and mothers alike.
Suddenly, I brought upon them terror and panic.
9She who was honored to have seven children grows faint;[#15:9 The number seven was the perfect number to the Hebrews; a woman who had seven children to care for her would have felt honored, prosperous, and secure.]
robbed of her children , she wasted away.
Her sun has set while it is still day.
She is shamed and disgraced.
Any who are left alive, I will hand them over
to the sword of their enemies,” declares Yahweh .
10My mother, how terrible that you ever bore me—
a man doomed to conflict and strife
with everyone against me!
I have never cheated anyone,
yet everyone curses me.
11Yahweh answered me:
“I will surely deliver you for a good reason.
Have I not stood beside you in times of difficulty
and in times of distress against the enemy?
12“Will a man break the hardest iron or bronze?[#15:12 This is arguably one of the most difficult verses in Jeremiah to interpret. The literal Hebrew is “Will iron break iron from the north, and bronze?” Or possibly “Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze?” If is speaking, he is drawing a comparison between Israel (iron) and her stronger enemies (Babylon) from the north (iron from the north, and bronze). If Jeremiah is speaking, he is drawing a comparison between his own strength (iron) and that of his enemies (iron from the north, and bronze).]
13I will turn over your wealth and your treasures
as spoil for your enemies.
This is the price you will pay
because of all the sins you’ve committed throughout the land.
14And I will make you serve your enemies
in a foreign land,
for my anger has caught fire,
and I am furious against you.”
15Then I said ,
“Yahweh , you understand everything perfectly .
Remember me and act on my behalf.
Pay back all those who persecute me.
Do not be so patient with my enemies;
take revenge on them before they kill me.
It is for your sake that I suffer insult after insult.
16When you speak to me, I devour every word.[#15:16 Or “When I discovered your words.” This could be a reference to the discovery of the book of the law in the temple by the high priest Hilkiah in 621 BC (see 2 Kings 22:8–11; 2 Chron. 34:14–15).; #15:16 Some commentators suggest that “I devour every word” refers to Jeremiah speaking the prophetic words of , which would carry the meaning: “When your words come to me, they become my words [message],” or “they become part of me.” See Ezek. 3:1–3; Rev. 10:9, 10. According to David Kimchi, the Jewish sage who paraphrased Jeremiah, it is: “Your words descended upon me in the spirit of prophecy, and I joyfully welcomed them as one has pleasure in eating something tasty.”]
Your word brings me such boundless joy.
The endless delight of my heart is in knowing
that your beautiful name is attached to me,
O Yahweh , Commander of Angel Armies.
17I haven’t joined the crowd at their merry celebrations
just to have a good time.
I’ve kept to myself because
your strong hand upon my life sets me apart .
And your anger over what they have done fills me.
18Why must my pain be endless?
Why are my wounds incurable?
Why won’t they heal?
You’ve been to me like a deceitful spring
that stops flowing,
like a brook that goes dry.”
19Here is what Yahweh said to me:
“If you give up your hopeless tone of despair and return to me,
I will restore you as my spokesman ,
and you will stand before me and enjoy my favor .
If you separate the precious from the worthless,
you will be my mouthpiece.
They will turn to you,
but you are not to turn to them.
20They will fight and attack you,
but I will make you as strong and secure
as a fortified wall of bronze.
They will not conquer you, for I already have !
I am with you to deliver and rescue you,”
declares Yahweh .
21“I will save you from the power of the wicked
and rescue you from the clutches of ruthless men.”