Jeremias 44
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Jeremias 44
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS There is little historical evidence for an invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar II. fragment of Nebuchadnezzar annals from the 37 th year (568-567 B.C.) Herodotus, History Ezekiel 29:19-21 The invasion may have been a punitive raid which, after initial success, was suspended. After this the political relationship between Egypt and Neo-Babylon improved. There was another military campaign against Egypt by Nabonidus (550-539 B.C.) in the closing days of the Neo-Babylonian Empire which lasted ten years. Jeremiah 43 and 44 are a literary unit but deal with two different groups of Judean refugees.
Jeremias 44:1-10
44:1 The cities of Migdol and Tahpanhes are in the eastern delta region. Memphis is about 100 miles up the Nile. The Land of Pathros is another 100 miles up the Nile (i.e. city of No-Amon). These locations would represent most of Egypt. It is surprising that the expected full phrase "the word. . .from the Lord" is shortened but it still reflects the full revelatory formula of Jer. 7:1; 11:1; 18:1; 21:1; 30:1; 32:1; 34:1,8; 35:1; 40:1. 44:2 "the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel" This extended title using YHWH and Elohim is repeated four times in this chapter (cf. Jer. 44:2,7,11,25). He is creator and covenant-making Deity. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D. SPECIAL TOPIC: SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord of Hosts 44:3 Israel and Judah's problem was covenant disobedience. not listening to and obeying YHWH (cf. Jer. 44:23) going after other gods (cf. Jer. 44:3,5,15-19) SPECIAL TOPIC: LISTEN/HEAR (shema) SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY ▣ "burn sacrifices" This VERB (BDB 882, KB 1094, Piel INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) can mean (cf. Jer. 1:16) the smoke of a sacrifice the smoke of incense (cf. Jer. 44:17-18) 44:4 "again and again" This is literally "rising early and sending" (cf. Jer. 7:13,25; 25:4; 26:5; 35:15). The Judeans knew YHWH's will through previous revelations to the Patriarchs and Moses/Joshua, as well as the messages of the prophets. ▣ "My servants the prophets" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SERVANT LEADERSHIP ▣ "abominable thing" For this phrase see Jer. 16:18; 32:34,35> SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION (OT) 44:6 The fall of Judah was not because of the power of the Babylonian god Marduk or the power of the Babylonian army. It was Judah's continued covenant disobedience that caused YHWH to bring to bear the "curses" of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. 44:7 This verse is parallel to Jer. 42:20 (cf. Jer. 26:19). One's choices determine the consequences (cf. Deut. 30:15,19). These Judeans' choice will bring their lineage to an end (hyperbolic, some did survive)! 44:8 The idolatry (i.e. "the work of your hands," cf. Isa. 2:8; 17:8; 39:17; Jer. 25:6) of the Judeans continues in Egypt! These Jews changed the worship of the gods of Canaan to the gods of Egypt (cf. Jer. 2:13). SPECIAL TOPIC: IDOLATRY, #6 ▣ "become a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth" See full note at Jer. 42:18 (#4, BDB 887). The covenant people were to be a blessing to all the nations (cf. Gen. 12:3), but they had become a curse. They were meant to reveal the mercy and goodness of YHWH to the nations, but all they revealed was His anger (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36)! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ Idolatry spread to all levels of society! See note at Jer. 42:18. ▣ NASB, MT "his wives" NKJV, NRSV, TEV, REB, JPSOA, Peshitta "of their wives" "of your princes" "of your rulers" The UBS Text Project, p. 290, gives the MT a "B" rating. Wives were very involved in the worship of the Queen of Heaven (see note at v. 19). 44:10 "But they have not become contrite" The VERB (BDB 193, KB 221, Pual PERFECT) usually means "to crush"; here it is uniquely used to denote a crushed, repentant spirit. Their lack of repentance is characterized as they have not feared YHWH they have not walked in His revelation (i.e. law, statutes) SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY
Jeremias 44:11-14
44:11 "I am going to set My face against you for woe" This is vocabulary from Leviticus 26 (i.e. the cursings and blessings connected to covenant obedience, cf. Jer. 44:27). This phrase was used earlier in Jer. 21:10 (cf. Amos 9:4). A similar phrase is used in Jer. 44:27. YHWH will personally bring His people to judgment. SPECIAL TOPIC: FACE TO FACE 44:12-13 This is a repeat of Jer. 42:15-18,22. 44:12 "remnant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE REMNANT (three senses), A. #2 44:14 "for none will return except a few refugees" A small number will survive and return to Palestine (cf. Jer. 44:28). The Judeans who will be spared and returned are the ones taken to Babylon.
Jeremias 44:15-19
44:16 As the Judean remnant in Judea would not listen (cf. Jer. 42:14-17; 43:2), so too, the ones already in Egypt. 44:17-19 These Judeans attribute their current condition to their lack of idolatrous sacrifices, which Josiah stopped! O my, when light becomes darkness, how great is the darkness! 44:17 "we will certainly carry out every word" The VERB is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB from the same root (BDB 793, KB 889). This same intensive form is in Jer. 44:25 (twice). It denotes their strong intent to offer idolatrous sacrifices! 44:18 The historical period these idolaters are referring to must have been the reign of Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, who reigned 55 years and was the most wicked king of Judah. Josiah tried to bring the idolatry to an end (cf. 2 Kings 23) but at his death it returned! These three kings (i.e. Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Josiah) may be the background to Ezekiel 18. 44:19 The queen of heaven (i.e. female fertility goddess, cf. Jer. 7:18; 44:17,19,25; 2 Kgs. 17:16; possibly Ishtar or Astarte/Asherah) was a popular idol for women in the Ancient Near East. Notice the number of times "wife" or "women" is used in this chapter (cf. Jer. 44:9 [twice],15,19,20,24,25). SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE
Jeremias 44:20-23
44:20-30 This is the last message of Jeremiah recorded in the book. He was in Egypt and was confronted again with widespread idolatry by the Judeans, a total disregard for YHWH's revelation/covenant. 44:21 "the people of the land" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND 44:22 This is similar to the warnings of Jer. 25:9,11,18,38; 29:18; 42:18; 44:13. ▣ "the abominations" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION 44:23 "not obeyed the voice of the Lord" The voice was communicated through Jeremiah (i.e. "the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah"). SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP ▣ "walked" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY. ▣ "His law, His statutes or His testimonies" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION, II.
Jeremias 44:24-30
44:25 This verse repeats the committed promises of the Judean idol worshipers of Jer. 44:17 to continue their rebellious worship practices (here two intensified IMPERFECT VERBS and matching INFINITIVE ABSOLUTES). ▣ "the Lord of hosts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: The Lord of Hosts 44:26 The committed vows of idolatry by the Judean families in Egypt are now matched by the commitment (i.e. vow) of YHWH to bring judgment on them (cf. Jer. 44:27). They shall never call on His name again. SPECIAL TOPIC: CALL ON HIS NAME ▣ "As the Lord God lives" This phrase contains two titles for Israel's Deity. Lord (Adon) ‒ SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord (Adon and Aiōnios) God (YHWH) ‒ SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. This is an oath formula usually used in a worship setting to affirm the truthfulness of one's statement. 44:27 "I am watching over them for harm and not for good" The VERB (BDB 1052, KB 1638, Qal PARTICIPLE) is a recurrent theological word in Jeremiah (cf. Jer. 1:12; 31:28 [twice]) denoting YHWH's focused attention to those who do His will disobey His will 44:28 "remnant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE REMNANT (three senses) 44:29 "My words will surely stand against you for harm" The VERB (BDB 877, KB 1086) is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB denoting emphasis. This very form was used in Jer. 44:25 related to the idolaters' promise to continue to offer sacrifices. Now it is used of the certainty of YHWH's judgment. ▣ "sign" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SIGN (OT) 44:30 YHWH will judge Pharaoh Hophra (cf. Jer. 43:9-13 and 46:25; also note Ezek. 29:3). Pharaoh Hophra (Herodotus called him Apries) reigned from 588 to 569 B.C. (Jewish Study Bible has 589-570 B.C.), when he was killed in a rebellion led by one of his own officials. He was succeed by Amasus (569-525 B.C.). Hophra was the Pharaoh who encouraged Zedekiah to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar. He was the one who sent the Egyptian army into Palestine during the siege of Jerusalem (cf. Jer. 37:5). SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF EGYPT ▣ "into the hand" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND