Jeremiah 11
There’s no escape for Judah
Judah breaks contract with God
1The LORD sent Jeremiah a message.2Here’s what the LORD says: “I want you to review the contract I made with your people and the laws they are supposed to follow. Then recite them to the people of Jerusalem and the rest of Judah.
3Next, tell them this: ‘The LORD and God of Israel says anyone who ignores the laws in this agreement is doomed. [1] 4These are the same laws I ordered your ancestors to obey when I brought them here, out of slavery in the oppressive heat of Egypt. Along the way I told them that if they do as I say, then I will be their God, and they will become my people. 5Then every promise I make to them is a promise I will fulfill. One of those promises is that I would take them to a land of wide-open spaces, where milk and honey flow like rivers. [2] This is that very land.’”
I said, “I will deliver that message, LORD.”
6The LORD said, “Hit the streets. Tell these people in Jerusalem and throughout Judah to listen up. Then remind them of the covenant agreement they need to honor.
7Tell them I said this: ‘I have warned your people to obey me from the time I brought your ancestors out of Egypt until today. 8But they weren’t listening to me. Those stubborn, evil people did whatever they wanted. So, I hit them with the penalties we had agreed on, if they broke the contract.’” [3]
9The LORD told me this:
My own people are conspiring against me, the people of Jerusalem and Judah. 10They’ve taken a turn for the worse, following in the footsteps of their sinful ancestors. They’ve stopped listening to me. They worship other gods. The people of Israel and Judah have broken their contract.
When God stops listening to cries for mercy
11So here’s what’s going to happen. I’m the LORD, and I’m going to hit them with the penalties outlined in that contract. There’s no escaping it now. When they cry for mercy, I’ll let them see what it’s like when no one is listening.12Then the people of Jerusalem and throughout Judah will go to their gods for help. They’ll bring offerings. But idols can’t help them. 13You’ve got more god’s than towns in all of Judah. And in Jerusalem, you’ve got more shrines and altars for Baal [4] than you’ve got streets.
14Jeremiah, don’t waste your breath praying for these people. I’m not listening to them anymore.
No right to pray
15After all the terrible things they’ve done, what makes them think they still have the right to step foot into my house, the Jerusalem Temple? Do they really think their promises to do better, and their sacrifices will save them? Do they think this token behavior will earn them a free pass?16The LORD once compared his people to a beautiful and productive olive branch, cloaked in green leaves and loaded with fruit. But now he’s getting ready to roar in anger and light a fire that will burn down the nation.
17I am everyone’s LORD. I created you. Now I condemn you. First the kingdom of Israel and then the kingdom of Judah—both of you ended up infuriating me by sacrificing to Baal.
Plot to kill Jeremiah
18The LORD warned me about the plot.
You filled in the details.
Led to the slaughter.
I didn’t know I was the target.
They were plotting against me, saying,
“Let’s chop him down, into a stump.
Let’s kill his family tree, destroy the fruit,
And erase his name from the genealogy.” [5]
20I said, “LORD of everyone, you’re a good judge.
You evaluated the heart and mind.
I’m giving this problem to you to handle.
I want to see you punish these people for what they said.” 21So, my hometown people of Anathoth, [6] the LORD has a message for you. You’re the ones who banned me from prophesying. You said, “If you ever prophesy on behalf of the LORD, we will end you.”
22The LORD of everyone replied, “I will punish these people. Swords will kill the young men. Drought and fire will kill their children. 23When it comes time for punishment, all of Judah will fall. No part of the nation will survive what’s coming. Anathoth has nothing but disaster ahead.
Footnotes
A more literal word for “doomed” is “cursed,” from the Hebrew word arar. It’s the opposite of a blessing. If God declares someone cursed, God is announcing a bad future for that person who disobeyed him. There’s doom ahead.
See Exodus 3:8; 13:5.
The contract, or covenant, between God and the Jewish people was a two-way street. When Jews obeyed God, then God gave them protection and prosperity. On the flip side, the contract provided stern penalties for breach of contract—to the point of exile and the end of Israel as a nation (Deuteronomy 27—28).
Baal was a god of fertility in family, fields, and flocks in Canaan, now known as Israel and Palestinian Territory. Joshua led Hebrew ancestors of the Jews in killing many Canaanites. He did this while reclaiming the land that the Bible says God promised to Abraham’s Jewish descendants. But Jewish ancestors continued to worship Baal and other Middle Eastern gods off and on throughout Old Testament times.
Jeremiah was young when he became a prophet. This verse could read like a clue that he still wasn’t married, and the people wanted to kill him before he had a chance to marry and produce children. If he was older at the time, and married with children, this verse sounds dangerous to his family.
Anathoth, Jeremiah’s hometown (Jeremiah 1:1), was about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) northeast of the Jerusalem Temple.
Discussion Questions
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