Jeremias 32
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Jeremias 32
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Jeremiah 30-33 forms a literary unit commonly referred to as "the Book of Consolation." Jeremiah 30 and 31 describe God's "new covenant" (i.e. Jer. 31:31-34) with His people Jeremiah 32 and 33 describe the symbolic act (i.e. the purchase of land right before the exile) which assures His people of future restoration From other parts of Jeremiah we learn the exact historical setting of Jer. 32. From Jer. 39:1 we know the exact date that the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II began, in the ninth year of Zedekiah in the tenth month. This means that we can date Jeremiah 32 to around the year of 588 or 587 B.C. From Jer. 37:5 we learn that there was a brief respite in the siege of Jerusalem because of the appearance of the Egyptian army in Palestine. However, the Egyptians and Babylonians never fought and the siege of Jerusalem was renewed quickly.
Jeremias 32:1-5
32:1 "the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar" This would make the date 587 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar's father, Nabopolassar (626 - 605 B.C.), was the founder of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. When the last strong king of Assyria (Ashurbanipal) died in 626 B.C.., Nabopolassar rebelled. He started a new empire which was very successful. In 605 B.C., after the death of Nabopolasser, Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 B.C.) returned to Babylon to be crowned. This was after his successful battle at Carchemish, where he defeated the remnant of the Assyrian army and Pharaoh Necho's Egyptian army at the headwaters of the Euphrates. After being crowned king he returned to this area to subdue Palestine. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF NEO-BABYLON 32:2 This new place of imprisonment (cf. Jer. 38:13,28; 39:14) was an improvement of the prophet's situation. He had originally been placed in a cistern and was in danger of death (cf. chapter 38). ▣ "the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the house of the king of Judah" There seem to be several places of confinement. a place where (cf. Neh. 3:25) something like house arrest in a royal building (cf. Jer. 32:2,8,12; 33:1; 37:21; 39:14,15) Jeremiah could receive visitors (cf. Jer. 32:8,12) his scribe was allowed to be with him other Judean prisoners, possibly people who agreed with Jeremiah (cf. Jer. 32:12) he had personal money available (cf. Jer. 32:9) a place related to a royal son (i.e. Malchijah) which had a cistern in the middle of the courtyard (cf. Jer. 38:6,12,28) a dungeon in the house of Jonathan the scribe (Jer. 37:15-17); Jeremiah saw this as a death sentence 32:3 This summarizes Jeremiah's prophetic message inside Jerusalem as the Neo-Babylonian army lay siege to the city (cf. Jer. 21:3-7; 27:12-15). 32:4 "but he will surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon" The VERB (BDB 678, KB 733, Niphal IMPERFECT) is intensified by the addition of the INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE of the same root. The term "hand" is a Hebrew idiom for "power." See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND The term "Chaldean" has several possible meanings. an ethnic group a language a group of Babylonian wise men SPECIAL TOPIC: CHALDEANS ▣ "and he will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye" This Hebrew idiom speaks of a personal encounter (cf. Jer. 39:5). We learn from 2 Kgs. 25:4-7 that Zedekiah's family was put to death before his eyes and then his eyes were blinded and he was taken into exile. 32:5 "until I visit him" This VERB (BDB 823, KB 955, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) is used several times in Jeremiah as both positive and negative constructions. YHWH's "visit" means His presence. positive (i.e. care for) Jer. 15:15 Jer. 23:2 (negated but the action is positive) Jer. 27:22 Jer. 29:10 Ruth 1:6 Psalm 65:19; 106:4 negative (i.e. punish) Jer. 5:9,29; 6:6,15; 9:9,25; 11:22; 14:10; 21:14; 23:34; 25:12; 27:8; 29:32; 30:20; 32:5; 36:31; 44:13,29; 46:25; 49:8; 50:18,31; 51:44,47,52 (52:11 BDB 824 describes Zedekiah's fate) Zedekiah was blinded after he was forced to watch his sons killed, along with the princes of Judah. He was exiled to Babylon, where he died in prison (cf. Jer. 52:10-11).
Jeremias 32:6-8
32:7 God tells Jeremiah what is going to happen even before the events occur so that he will have confidence in the strange purchase God demands (cf. Jer. 32:8). ▣ "the right of redemption" This is discussed in Lev. 25:25-31 and alluded to in Ruth 4:1-12. It is often called the right of the Go'el (i.e. the Kinsman Redeemer). It is interesting that Jeremiah's family would request that he purchase a field for the following reasons. Jeremiah had no descendants his family had betrayed and rejected him earlier It is important for Jeremiah to accomplish this symbolic act of hope. The closer the fall of Jerusalem came to reality the more Jeremiah's prophecy turned to the hope of restoration (see chapters 30-33, the Book of Consolation). 32:8 "Hanamel my uncle's son" Jeremiah's cousin from Anathoth came to see him in the court of the guard (i.e. the place of his imprisonment). The very fact that this man could travel and enter Jerusalem shows that the siege had been lifted (i.e. because of the brief appearance of the Egyptian army). Some have asserted that he wanted to sell the land because he was afraid of the obvious Neo-Babylonian defeat of Judah and Jerusalem (cf. Jer. 32:25) he was in great debt he was testing Jeremiah's message about the future hope the truth is that we do not know the psychological motivations of many of the persons mentioned in the Bible ▣ "Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord" I think we sometimes assume that the OT prophets did not have to live by faith since they were spoken to audibly by God. This is a good example that the prophet had to live by faith also and was not 100% sure that this was the word of God until it was fulfilled. This shows that any dogmatism as to exactly how God communicated with the prophets is probably unfounded. SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION SPECIAL TOPIC: WAYS OF REVELATION
Jeremias 32:9-15
32:9 "Anathoth" This city, very close to Jerusalem, is where the family of the ousted priestly line of Eli was exiled by the will of Solomon because the current priest from the line of Eli, Abiathar, supported Adonijah's claim to David's throne (cf. 1 Kgs. 1:7; 2:26). Jeremiah was a priest not of the line of Zadok, but of Abiathar. ▣ "weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES 32:10-11 "I signed and sealed. . .and called in witnesses, and weighed out. . .the sealed copy. . .the open copy" This reflects the ancient legal procedures of buying a piece of property. This has been confirmed archaeologically from the Elephantine Papyri from the fifth century B.C., which was found in Egypt on an island in the Nile River. 32:12 "Baruch" This is the first mention of Jeremiah's private and personal secretary. He was probably the editor and recorder of most of Jeremiah's sermons and messages. He is mentioned in chapters 32; 43; 45, but mostly in chapter 36. 32:14 "put them in an earthenware jar" This method of preservation of documents has been confirmed archaeologically, not only by the Elephantine Papyri but also the Dead Sea Scrolls. 32:15 "Houses and fields and vineyards" It is interesting that "vineyards" are mentioned specifically. It took a number of years for a vineyard to grow and become productive. Judah will be destroyed but a restoration is coming after 70 years.
Jeremias 32:16-25
32:16-25 Jeremiah bought the field as a symbol of trust in YHWH and His promises, but apparently he still had some degree of doubt. These verses are a strophe recording Jeremiah's prayer to God who tries to assure him: by using the prophet's very same words from Jer. 32:7 by reminding him of His gracious acts to the seed of Abraham (cf. Neh. 9:9-38) The Jewish Study Bible, p. 993, has an interesting comment on this paragraph. "Jeremiah's prayer to God provides the basic outline of God's relationship with Israel from the Exodus and articulates his veiw that the Babylonian invasion and siege is a divinely ordained punishment for Israel's disobedience of God's teaching (v. 23)." 32:17 This verse expresses the recurrent emphasis on YHWH as the creator Deity (i.e. monotheism, see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM). The idols cannot act predict hear but YHWH can and does do all these things! He has a purpose for His creation and is actively involved in His world. ▣ "the heavens and the earth" This phrase goes back to Gen. 1:1. Genesis 1 is primarily about the creation of this planet SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH (erets) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH organization of this planet into a place to sustain plant, animal, and human life. See John H. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One: An ancient Cosmology ▣ "the heavens and the earth" This phrase goes back to Gen. 1:1. Genesis 1 is primarily about the creation of this planet SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY PLANET (erets) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE AGE AND FORMATION OF THE EARTH SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH organization of this planet into a place to sustain plant, animal, and human life. See John H. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One: An Ancient Cosmology ▣ "Your outstretched arm" This is an anthropomorphic phrase. See full note at Jer. 27:15. ▣ "Nothing is too difficult for You" This is asserting that YHWH can accomplish Judah's fall and rebuilding (cf. Jer. 1:10; 31:28). This truth clearly states the sovereignty of God (cf. Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:27; Matt. 19:26). For the word "difficult" (BDB 810) see SPECIAL TOPIC: WONDERFUL THINGS. 32:18 This is a wonderful list of the characteristics of God. Similar lists can be found in Exod. 34:6-7; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:15; 103:8; 145:8). What a great God. He will not give up on His purpose of fellowship with His fallen human creatures! SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ "shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them" This is an allusion to Deut. 5:9 and 7:9. Jeremiah is a prophet of the Mosaic covenant (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY [OT], IV.) and his phraseology and theology reflect the book of Deuteronomy. This is a very important quote because it shows the relationship between the wrath of God and the love of God. The wrath of God, based on Deut. 5:9, goes to the third and fourth generations, while the love of God, Deut. 7:9, goes to the thousandth generation. There is both a corporate aspect to sin and an individual aspect (cf. Ezekiel 18). Both sin and faith run through families! ▣ "lovingkindness" See SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed) ▣ "thousands" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) ▣ Notice the different phrases in this context for Israel's Deity. Lord (i.e. YHWH), Jer. 32:1,6,17,26,27,28,42,44; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. Lord of hosts, Jer. 32:14,15,18; see SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS God of Israel (i.e. Elohim), vv.14,15,25,38; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. Lord (i.e. Adon), Jer. 32:17,25; see SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord (adon and kurios) O great and mighty God, Jer. 32:18 (El, see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, A.) the God of all flesh, Jer. 32:27 (cf. Num. 16:22; 27:16) the Lord God of Israel (i.e. YHWH and Elohim), Jer. 32:36 One descriptive phrase that is unusual, "with all My heart and with all My soul" (cf. Jer. 32:41). What a shocking physical (anthropomorphic) phrase to describe the trustworthy commitment of the eternal, ever-present, non-corporal Deity (notice the powerful, moving example in Hosea 11:8-9). 32:19 "whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men (Adam)" There are two ways to understand this phrase. The Creator cares about His creation, especially His human creatures (i.e. Gen. 1:26-27; 3:8). This seems to be the emphasis of v. 20. The Creator watches humans to denote their wickedness (i.e. according to their deeds; note Job 34:21-22). ▣ "giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds" This truth is also mentioned in Jer. 17:10 (see full note there). We reap what we sow (see full list of Scripture texts at Gal. 6:7 online). Thank God for grace and forgetfulness (i.e. Isa. 1:18; 38:17; 43:25; 44:22; Ezek. 18:22; 33:16; Ps. 103:10-14; Mic. 7:19). In the OT this is the obvious outcome of a performance-based covenant (i.e. Mosaic covenant). In the NT it becomes the evidence of a new relationship with God through Christ. Believers are new creatures in Christ, led by the Spirit into daily Christlikeness. Godly living is not the basis of that new relationship, but the natural outcome of a new heart, new mind, new spirit (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36). The good works are the confirmation, the evidence of our free salvation! Ephesians 1:4 and 2:8-10 have helped me see this truth. 32:20-22 This is a reference to the major historical act of YHWH's deliverance from Egypt and bringing the people into the Promised Land as He had promised their forefathers (cf. Gen. 15:12-21). 32:20 YHWH is active in the lives of the descendants of Abraham. However, He also has a plan (i.e. "among mankind") for all people. He wants His name known among all the nations (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36) that they may come to Him (cf. Gen. 12:3; Exod. 19:5; Ps. 22:27; 66:1-4; 86:9-10; Isa. 2:2-4; 25:6-9; 42:6-10; 45:22-23; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 56:6-8; 60:1-3; 66:23; Micah 4:1-4; Mal. 1:11). This phrase, "even to this day both in Israel and among mankind," clearly reflects YHWH's wider purpose. Genesis 3:15 is a promise to mankind, not to Abraham's seed only. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ This same imagery used of the Exodus is found in Deut. 4:34; 7:19; 26:8. 32:22 "a land flowing with milk and honey" This is not only a descriptive phrase (cf. Jer. 11:5), but the title for Palestine found in Assyrian documents. 32:23 "but they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law" This was the problem. There was a conditional covenant between YHWH and Israel. Israel had failed to keep the conditions (i.e. Jer. 31:32; Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 30:15,19; Psalm 1). Therefore, the Judean exile reflects YHWH's abrogating (or at least modifying) of this covenant, but He will inaugurate a "new covenant" (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-36). As a Christian I believe this is what Jesus did (cf. Matt. 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:24-26; 2 Cor. 3:6; Heb. 8:7-13; 9:15; 12:24). SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT 32:24 "the siege mounds" In the ANE walled cities were captured by surrounding them, thereby cutting off the food supply. At the sign of danger the people from the surrounding villages fled to the walled cities. Therefore, the water, sanitation, and food systems were stressed. The enemy built dirt mounds against the wall(s). These mounds supported wooden, mobile A-frames which held a ramming mechanism (cf. Jer. 6:6; 33:4; Isa. 37:33). These rams would hit the stone/brick wall again and again in one place until they crumbled. ▣ "the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans" This VERB "given" (BDB 675, KB 733, Niphal PERFECT is a future event but stated as a current certainty. This grammatical form has been designated a "PROPHETIC PERFECT." God's word is sure. ▣ "Chaldeans" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHALDEANS. ▣ "the sword, the famine and the pestilence" See full note at Jer. 14:12.
Jeremias 32:26-35
32:26-44 This is YHWH's reply to Jeremiah's prayer. It covers several aspects of judgment and several wonderful promises of future hope. 32:27 "the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me" This is God's affirmation that Jeremiah's theology was accurate (i.e. monotheism) and his doubts were unfounded. SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM 32:28 Jerusalem will fall to the Neo-Babylonians! 32:29 The city of Jerusalem will be burned because of its idolatrous practices (cf. Jer. 32:30; Ezekiel 8), as the Canaanite cities were burned in the conquest (cf. Deut. 3:6). ▣ "Baal" The worship of Ba'al (the male fertility god of the Canaanites) was somehow connected with the astral deities (i.e. Babylonian, cf. Jer. 8:2; 19:13). Possibly the Babylonian deities (which were called on by name and rituals) became known to Palestine through political alliance treaties. SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE 32:30 This is a good place to demonstrate the difficulty in defining "Israel." In this verse it is used both of the northern ten tribes (i.e. their collective term) the descendants of Abraham (i.e. "sons of Israel," second usage) Only context can tell the difference after the United Monarchy, under Saul, David, Solomon, split in 922 B.C. into two separate nations. Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, and most of the Levitical priests (i.e. Levi) became Judah. The other ten tribes became Israel, also known as Ephraim or Samaria. 32:31 This is a strange verse! It seems to imply that Jerusalem (and by implication, the temple) was not pleasing to YHWH, even from their beginnings. This is surely hyperbolic, but does clearly show YHWH's reaction to His people worshiping other gods (who are not gods). 32:32 The entire population, from king to peasants, were unfaithful, disobedient, and idolatrous. Even those who should have known better (priests, prophets) did not obey! SPECIAL TOPIC: IDOLATRY 32:33-35 These verses describe how serious their rebellion was. They turned their backs to God (no respect, cf. Jer. 18:17; no worship, cf. Jer. 2:27). They should have faced Him (i.e. intimate, personal relationship illustrated in worship and life). YHWH spoke (through His prophets) again and again (cf. similar idiomatic statements in Jer. 7:13,25; 11:7; 25:3,4; 26:5,19; and also note Hosea 11:2). They would not listen or heed the words of YHWH. They put idols in YHWH's temple (cf. Jer. 7:30; 2 Kgs. 23:4; 2 Chronicles 33; Ezekiel 8). They built high places to Ba'al (cf. Jer. 19:5). They worshiped, by child sacrifice, the fertility god, Molech (cf. Jer. 7:31; Lev. 18:21; 20:2-5). The MT, verse 33, has a series of three INFINITIVE ABSOLUTES. This same thing is repeated with different VERBALS in v. 44. Verse 33 is negative action, while v. 44 is positive action of hope and restoration. SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY 32:34 "the house which is called by My name" This refers to the temple (cf. Jer. 7:10,11,14,30). This reflects the language of Deuteronomy, "the place I will cause My name to dwell" (cf. Deut. 12:5,11,14,18,21,26; 14:23,24; 15:20; 16:2,6,11,15; 17:8,10; 18:6; 26:2; 31:11). For more information see Deut. 12:5 and 26:2 online at www.freebiblecommentary.org SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH 32:35 "they built the high places of Baal" YHWH's altars are always constructed with uncut stones (cf. Exod. 20:25; Deut. 27:5-6; Josh. 8:31). However, Ba'al altars were usually located on local high places (i.e. hill, ridge), but if there was no elevation available, the worshipers would build a raised platform of cut (i.e. formed) stones on which to place an uplifted stone (i.e. phallic symbol) representing the male fertility god a carved piece of wood or a live tree representing the female fertility goddess, or possibly the "tree of life," which was common imagery in ANE mythology ▣ "which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination" Child sacrifice was part of the worship of Molech, cf. Lev. 18:21; 20:2-5; Deut. 12:31; 18:10; 2 Kgs. 21:1-7; Jer. 19:5). There may have been some confusion about the child sacrifice being the will of God because of the account of Abraham offering Isaac at God's command in Genesis 22 (or even the death of Job's children in Job 1). A reflection of this misunderstanding is seen in Micah 6:7. YHWH clearly and emphatically rejects this false understanding of worship. For "Ben-hinnom" see note at Jer. 31:40 (i.e. "the valley of dead bodies and of the ashes"). For "abomination" see SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION. SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP SPECIAL TOPIC: MOLECH SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE
Jeremias 32:36-44
32:36-44 As so often occurs in the prophets, a judgment oracle is followed by a promise oracle. The judgment was horrible and deserved (i.e. Lev. 26; Deut. 28), but the restoration is glorious and sure (i.e. Ps. 103:8-14). 32:36 This was Jeremiah's basic message to Judah. It made him treated as a traitor rejected by his own family persecuted by the authorities But, it was YHWH's message (cf. Jer. 32:24,28). ▣ "by sword, by famine and pestilence" These are the oft repeated idioms involving invasion and siege warfare. The covenant disobedience curses are becoming a reality (i.e. Lev. 26; Deut. 28). The Mosaic covenant is a conditional covenant with consquences, both positive and negative! 32:37 YHWH's mercy (Jer. 32:37c) does not dull His reaction to sin, disobedience, and rebellion. in My anger in My wrath in great indignation Sin can be forgiven (i.e. Manasseh on his deathbed, cf. 2 Chr. 33:12-13,15-16), but the consequences continue through time. Verse 37 describes the post-judgment actions of YHWH. This is the future promise. 32:38 "They shall be My people, and I will be their God" This is covenant language (cf. Jer. 30:22; 31:1). This has always been YHWH's desire. This will be the culmination of the "new covenant" (cf. Rev. 21-22). 32:39 "and I will give them one heart and one way" There is a tension between humans making a new heart, Ezek. 18:31, and God giving a new heart, Ezek. 36:26; Jer. 31:33. This paradoxical relationship is normative throughout the Bible (i.e. covenant). God always takes the initiative but humans must respond in faith, repentance, obedience, and perseverance. However, the Fall of Genesis 3 made it impossible for humans, even the faith seed of Abraham, to fulfill God's covenant desires. Therefore, the need of a new heart, new mind, new spirit! SPECIAL TOPIC: EASTERN LITERATURE (biblical paradoxes) SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND ▣ Notice what the visible outcome of a "new heart" is. respect ("fear") of YHWH always (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR (OT) the abundance/prosperity/peace of those who know Him (cf. Jer. 32:41a, as a witness to the nations) stable, happy societies, generation after generation This was always the desire of God for humanity. We were created for fellowship with Him (cf. Jer. 31:34; Gen. 1:26-27; 3:8). If there is no visible change, there is no new heart (cf. Matt. 7:15-27 and the NT books of James and 1 John)! God wants a people to reflect His character to a lost and needy world. Conversion demands transformation (cf. Matthew 13; Eph. 2:8-10). Eternal life has observable characteristics! 32:40 "and I will make an everlasting covenant with them" The new term found here is the term "everlasting" (cf. Isa. 55:3; 61:8; Ezek. 16:60; 37:26). The Hebrew here is rather ambiguous. We know from further history that the returning exiles do not faithfully fulfill the covenant either. There has always been a conditional element built into the covenant. God has always been willing to make the covenant permanent but mankind continues to rebel. This is a good example of the semantic field of 'olam (BDB 761, KB 798). The older covenants mentioned in the Hebrew Bible were also called "eternal." Noah (and all mankind) ‒ Gen. 9:11-17 (i.e. the rainbow) Abraham ‒ Gen. 17:1-8 (esp. v. 7); Ps. 105:9a Isaac ‒ Gen. 17:19; Ps. 105:9b to Jacob ‒ Ps. 105:10 aspects of corporate Israel's worship ‒ Gen. 17:9-14; Exod. 31:16; Lev. 24:8 Phineas the priest's actions involving YHWH's wrath on Israel ‒ Num. 25:10-13 David ‒ 2 Sam. 23:1-7 (also note 2 Sam. 7) Noah's eternal covenant canceled ‒ Isa. 24:1-6 the universal invitation of Isa. 55 (esp. v. 3) Israel's remnant ‒ Isa. 61:1-9; Jer. 50:4-5 Patriarchal covenants remembered ‒ Ezek. 16:60-63 New Covenant of Jer. 31:31-34 ‒ Jer. 32:40; Heb. 8:6-13 SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam and aiōnios) SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: ETERNAL 32:41 We see again an anthropomorphic phrase used for the intensity of God's love for Israel (cf. Hosea 11:8,9; Jer. 8:18-9:16). See SPECIAL TOPIC: PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN LANGUAGE. The last part of this verse has three phrases which describe YHWH's commitment to His gracious acts toward a restored/repentant Judah. "faithfully" ‒ BDB 54, see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT with all My heart" ‒ used only here in the OT, see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEART "with all My soul" ‒ this is another surprising use of a term which is used of humans (Gen. 2:7) and animals (Gen. 1:24; 2:19) ‒ nephesh (BDB 659, KB 711, see notes online at Gen. 35:18; Lev. 11:17; and Ezek. 18:4; and SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH) YHWH is accommodating Himself to physical human language to make His point to Jeremiah. 32:42 God is the source of all things (i.e. one causality in the universe). If there is only one God, then basically He either allows or uses both good and evil. This is the affirmation of the OT. The OT recognized no secondary causes! SPECIAL TOPIC: ONE CAUSALITY SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM 32:44 The promises of restoration are multi-fulfillment oracles. These promises were meant to be a reality to the post-exilic Judean community and, in one sense, they were. However, the "eternal covenant" was broken again as the interbiblical (Seleucid) and Roman periods clearly demonstrate. For me these promises to national Israel must be re-evaluated in light of the life and teaching of Jesus. If the NT is revelation, then it must be noted that the national promises have been universalized, which was always YHWH's intent. Please look at the following Special Topic; it shows my biases and meta-narrative orientation. SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO OT COVENANT PROMISES SEEM SO DIFFERENT FROM NT COVENANT PROMISES?) SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN