Jeremias 32
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
Jeremias 32
MacArthur explains the chronology of the siege noting that "The siege, set up in the tenth month (Jan.) of 588 B.C. (circa Jan 15, 588 B.C. - cp Jer 39:1), lasted at least 30 months to the fourth month (July) of 586 B.C. (circa July 18, 586 B.C. - Jer 39:2, 52:5, 6)....The events of the chapter occurred in this setting of Judah’s imminent loss of its land, only about a year before Babylon’s final takeover detailed in Jeremiah 39, 40, 52 (Ed: For Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem see 2Ki 25:8,9). (See context in The MacArthur Bible Commentary) And Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the house of the king of Judah - It is ironic that Jeremiah who prophesied that the king of Babylon would surround (shut up) Jerusalem is now himself shut up by the king of Judah who was in fact surrounded! THOUGHT- As someone has said "I would rather be in prison (or fill in the blank of your bad situation) IN the will of God (Jeremiah), than to be "free," but OUT of the will of God (Zedekiah)." Shut up (03607)(kala') is a verb which has the basic meaning of restricting flow or movement of thing or person. The restriction could be by act (hold back or in) or by word (prohibit). The first use in Ge 8:2 refers to the rain being restrained (Lxx = sunecho = hold together, constrain) thus ending the worldwide flood (cp Hag 1:10 dew and produce withheld). In Ge 23:6 kala' means to refuse or withhold from Abraham the right to bury Sarah in the land. In Ex 36:6 Moses order the people and they stopped making anything for the holy sanctuary. In Nu 11:28 kala' is used by Joshua when he ask Moses to restrain men from prophesying. Kala' refers to confining animals in a pen (1Sa 6:10). In 1Sa 25:33 David was thankful that Abigail kept him from harming Nabal. In Ps 40:9 kala' refers to restraining one's lips (keep his mouth closed). In Ps 40:11 David speaks to the Lord saying He would not withhold His compassion. In Ps 119:101 the psalmist testifies "I have restrained my feet from every evil way, (why?) that I may keep Your word." No man can restrain the wind (Eccl 8:8) In Jehovah's promise to restore Israel He says to the south "do not hold them back!" (Isa 43:6) which conveys the sense of do not keep them from returning to the Land of Israel. In Jer 32:2-3 kala' (Lxx = phulasso) describes Jeremiah being held in prison (shut up). Kala' - 16 verses translated in NAS hold them back(1), kept(1), refuse(1), restrain(3), restrained(3), shut(4), stopped(1), withheld(2), withhold(1). - Ge 8:2; 23:6; Ex 36:6; Nu 11:28; 1 Sam 6:10; 25:33; Ps 40:9, 11; 88:8; 119:101; Eccl 8:8; Isa 43:6; Jer 32:2f; Ezek 31:15; Hag 1:10 The court of the guard - The NET Note explains "the courtyard of the guarding” or “place of guarding.” This expression occurs only in the book of Jeremiah (Jer 32:2, 8, 12; 33:1; 37:21; 38:6, 12, 28; 39:14, 15) and in Neh 3:25. It is not the same as an enclosed prison which is where Jeremiah was initially confined (Jer 37:15–16; literally a “house of imprisoning” [בֵּית הָאֵסוּר, bet ha’esur] or “house of confining” [בֵּית הַכֶּלֶא, bet hakkele’]). The next chapter begins with Jeremiah in the same imprisonment in the court of the guard - "Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard, saying..." (Jer 33:1) Which was in the house of the king of Judah - This is clearly not your routine dungeon of antiquity! "It is said to have been in the palace compound (Jer 32:2) near the citadel or upper palace (Neh 3:25). Though it was a place of confinement (Jer 32:2; 33:1; 39:15) Jeremiah was able to receive visitors, e.g., his cousin Hanamel (Jer 32:8) and the scribe Baruch (Jer 32:12), and conduct business there (Jer 32:12). According to Jer 32:12 other Judeans were also housed there. A Cistern of one of the royal princes, Malkijah, was located in this courtyard, so this is probably not a “prison compound” as NJPS interpret but a courtyard adjacent to a guardhouse or guard post (so G. L. Keown, P. J. Scalise, T. G. Smothers, Jeremiah 26–52 [WBC], 151, and compare Neh 12:39 where reference is made to a Gate of the Guard/Guardhouse) used here for housing political prisoners who did not deserve death or solitary confinement as some of the officials though Jeremiah did. (NET Note) The king of Judah - King Zedekiah, the puppet king installed by Nebuchadnezzar to succeed Jeconiah in 597 BC after Babylon's second foray into Jerusalem (first = 603 BC and last = 586 BC which destroyed city and Temple). How sad that this king did not live up to his great name which means something like "My righteousness is Yahweh!" Jeremiah 32:3 because Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, "Why do you prophesy, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "Behold, I am about to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will take it; KJV For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it; NET For King Zedekiah had confined Jeremiah there after he had reproved him for prophesying as he did. He had asked Jeremiah, "Why do you keep prophesying these things? Why do you keep saying that the LORD says, 'I will hand this city over to the king of Babylon? I will let him capture it. ESV For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, "Why do you prophesy and say, 'Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it; NIV Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, "Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, 'This is what the LORD says: I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. NLT King Zedekiah had put him there, asking why he kept giving this prophecy: "This is what the LORD says: 'I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will take it. Zedekiah: Jer 2:30 5:3 2Ki 6:31,32 2Ch 28:22 Why: Jer 26:8,9 38:4 Ex 5:4 Am 7:13 Lu 20:2 Ac 6:12-14 Behold: Jer 32:28,29 21:4-7 27:8 34:2,3 37:6-10 38:8 JEREMIAH SHUT UP BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT SHUT UP! Because (for) - Always be alert to terms of explanation like "because" or "for" - Here because explains why Jeremiah was "shut up" - Zedekiah did not like the prophet's prediction and refused to repent. Little did Zedekiah know that the man of God might be imprisoned but the Word of God cannot be imprisoned (cp 2Ti 2:8-9-note) - within one year Jeremiah's prophecy became Zedekiah's history! Notice how simply asking what does because explain (see interrogating with the 5W/H questions), you are "forced" to re-read the context (which is "king" in interpretation). This is never a bad thing. The Bible was never "optimized" for speed reading but for meditation, for slowly chewing the great truths that they might be digested and thereby assimilated by the Spirit into our inner most being (cp 2Cor 3:18+). See Primer on Biblical Meditation. Why do you prophesy? (cp Jeremiah's prophecies in Jer 26:9, Jer 34:2-3, 37:6-10) - He prophesied because "the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth." (Jer 1:9) He prophesied because he had fire in his bosom - "But if I say, "I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name," Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it." (Jer 20:9) Jeremiah did not have a high approval rating in Jerusalem and Judah and in fact on more than one occasion the Jewish hearers sought to put him to death (Jer 26:8-9, Jer 38:4). Prophets are not popular personalities for the most part! That was true in Jeremiah's day and remains true in our day dear follower of Christ. While you might mention the Name of "God" in causal conversation in the secular world, the moment you mention the Name of "Jesus" (and not as a curse word!), you are in the "cross-hairs" (so to speak) of most of your audience. The world does not want to hear the truth because it is too convicting, too frightening (cf the reaction of Felix which "typifies" the lost world's reaction to the Gospel of Jesus - Acts 24:25, cp John 16:7-8 "Helper" = Holy Spirit). Similarly King Zedekiah did not enjoy Jeremiah's prediction of the fall of the city, which meant the defeat of his kingdom and his reign of power. Zedekiah is a bit like Ahab who, when he saw Elijah, cried out "Is this you, you troubler of Israel?" (1Ki 18:17) Do you ever feel like the "troubler" in your office, your school, etc? While these are not my favorite words from Jesus, they are words we cannot ignore as believers in an environment that is becoming increasingly hostile to the Gospel and Gospel Proclaimers - "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." (John 15:18-19). THOUGHT- Are you suffering for you faith like Jeremiah? Let Jesus encourage you that the suffering will end and a glorious future awaits you - "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Mt 5:11-12-note). Remember that the cross always precedes the crown. This world is not our home and we should seek no reward from it. In fact we should not be surprised what the lost will ask us just like Zedekiah asked Jeremiah "Why do you prophesy (Why do you proclaim that Jesus is the only way to the Father and eternal life)?" Paul's last words of warning to Timothy in 2Ti 3:12-note were "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." This is not a "promise" you will find in most little books that compile "The Promises of God," but it is just as certain. Forewarned is forearmed. In Phil 1:29-30-note Paul says God has given us a "gift" declaring "For to you it has been granted (charizomai from charis ~ a gift of grace!) for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me." Behold (02009)(hinneh) directs the reader's mind to the text, imploring him to give it special attention. The Spirit is trying to arrest our attention that something very important follows!
Jeremias 32
MacArthur comments that "The ultimate fulfillment of God’s land promise to Abraham (cf. Ge 12:7; 15:7; 17:8) will occur during Christ’s millennial reign on earth (cf. Joel 2:26, 27+)." (See context in The MacArthur Bible Commentary) I would add that "In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel" (Jer 3:18). Passages like Jer 3:18 cause a problem to those who say Israel is the church. Here they would have to say Judah is also the church! It is amazing how far from literal reading one will venture when they are seeking to defend a "systematic theological" interpretation. As an aside I am a "literalist" and NOT a dispensationalist and don't even know what that term means! Zechariah reaffirms that "In that day,' (Always observe and interrogate expressions of time - What day? Zec 3:9 says "I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day" the day Messiah returns) declares the LORD of hosts, 'every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.'" (Zechariah 3:10) Again is used several times in the book of Jeremiah with an eschatological meaning, specifically signifying the time of the end, when Messiah returns and supernaturally reverses Israel's fortunes = 12/32 times (not counting the uses in NET) - Jer 12:15; 24:6; 31:4-5, 12, 23, 29, 34 (Jer 31:40NET); Jer 32:15; 33:10 (Jer 33:11NET), Jer 33:12-13. As an aside keep alert for the phrase No longer which is used in a similar eschatological sense - Jer 3:16, 16:14, (Jer 23:4NET), Jer 23:7, 30:8 (Jer 31:19NET, Jer 31:29NET, Jer 31:34NET - twice) Jeremiah 32:16 "After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, then I prayed to the LORD, saying, KJV Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying, NET "After I had given the copies of the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD, ESV "After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD, saying: NIV "After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD: NLT Then after I had given the papers to Baruch, I prayed to the LORD: I Prayed (KJV): Jer 12:1 Ge 32:9-12 2Sa 7:18-25 Eze 36:35-37 Php 4:6,7 JEREMIAH'S PRAYER Jeremiah 32:16-25 is a beautiful prayer for all of us to pause and ponder for it's eloquence and it's focus on Jehovah. The question one might ask at this point is why did Jeremiah pray? Some think he had a moment of doubt or at least a time of questions. Feinberg comments that "Although he had explained the meaning of the episode (v.15), he was still troubled by its improbabilities; furthermore, he also longed for reassurance for the people." Huey - Jeremiah then prayed as he sought “ultimate clarity.” The only other time Jeremiah was said to pray is found in Jer 42:2–4 (but cf. Jer 37:3), though he was frequently told not to pray for Judah’s deliverance (Jer 7:16; 11:14; 14:11). Perhaps Jeremiah was having second thoughts about purchasing land at such a critical time. If so, the prayer was a complaint rather than praise. (New American Commentary - Jeremiah) Ryken says "Living for God was as daunting a challenge in Jeremiah’s times as it is in our own. As soon as the prophet put his money where his mouth was, he turned to the Lord in prayer: “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD” (32:16).
Jeremias 32
MacArthur - In the millennial kingdom, land will again be bought and sold in Israel. (See context in The MacArthur Bible Commentary or borrow The MacArthur Study Bible) John Walvoord points out that promises like those in Jer 32:37-44 especially relating to land are often not interpreted literally. He writes - It would seem redundant to cite these proofs if it were not for the fact that the term the land and its related promises are frequently spiritualized (ED: cf allegorize) as if they had no geographic implications whatever. (See his full discussion of The Promise Of The Land To Israel) Fields bought...a desolation - Notice the striking contrast and God was involved in both. God brought desolation, but He would bring about restoration. It is a desolation (shemamah), without man or beast - Emphasized the completeness of the divine judgment. Man...beast 8 uses in Jeremiah - Jer 7:20; Jer 21:6; Jer 32:43; Jer 33:10, 12; Jer 36:29; Jer 50:3; Jer 51:62 Desolation (08077)(shemamah) from shammah - see word study) means desolation or waste and can refer to the condition of land, cities and houses as a result of neglect or devastating war (e.g., Ex. 23:29; Lev. 26:33; Isa. 1:7) and of Israel's idols as a result of God's judgment (Mic. 1:7). It is used figuratively of princes being clothed with devastation under the same conditions (Ezek. 7:27). God's judgment is figuratively referred to as His cup of desolation (Ezek 23:33).> Jeremiah 32:44 'Men will buy fields for money, sign and seal deeds, and call in witnesses in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland and in the cities of the Negev; for I will restore their fortunes,' declares the LORD." KJV Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD. NET Fields will again be bought with silver, and deeds of purchase signed, sealed, and witnessed. This will happen in the territory of Benjamin, the villages surrounding Jerusalem, the towns in Judah, the southern hill country, the western foothills, and southern Judah. For I will restore them to their land. I, the LORD, affirm it!'" ESV Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, declares the LORD." NIV Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the LORD." NLT Yes, fields will once again be bought and sold-- deeds signed and sealed and witnessed-- in the land of Benjamin and here in Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the hill country, in the foothills of Judah and in the Negev, too. For someday I will restore prosperity to them. I, the LORD, have spoken!" YLT Fields with money they buy, so as to write in a book, and to seal, and to cause witnesses to testify, in the land of Benjamin, and in suburbs of Jerusalem, and in cities of Judah, and in cities of the hill-country, and in cities of the low country, and in cities of the south, for I turn back their captivity -- an affirmation of Jehovah.' buy (KJV): Jer 32:6-15 in the land (KJV): Jer 17:26 for I (KJV): Jer 32:37 33:7,11,26 Ps 126:1-4 FORTUNES WILL BE RESTORED TO ISRAEL Men will buy fields for money, sign and seal deeds, and call in witnesses in the land of Benjamin - It is almost as if God wanted to speak directly to His servant Jeremiah to reassure him regarding his own seemingly foolish land purchase. Notice that the words used here are almost identical to those used in the description of Jeremiah's land purchase (Jer 32:6-15)! And recall that the land Jeremiah purchased in Anathoth is in fact in the land of Benjamin! in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland and in the cities of the Negev - Jeremiah mentions several specific places in the land to show that the Lord’s promise covers the whole country (cf. Jer 17:26 for the various geographical divisions of the country). I would add that this large number of specific geographic designations emphasizes the truth that God is speaking of the literal land of Israel. This description in no way fits the description of the New Jerusalem, New Heaven or New Earth of Revelation 21-22. This literal prophecy will be literally and fully fulfilled in the last days when Messiah returns! Lundborn - After the fall of Jerusalem, a remnant community was formed at Mizpah in Benjamin (Jer 40:6), and some land transactions—under Babylonian supervision—doubtless occurred there while this community was in existence. We are told that the poorest of people were given fields and vineyards by Nebuzaradan (Jer 39:10). But this cannot be a fulfillment of the present prophecy, for Jeremiah doubtless has in mind a time when the land will be free from foreign occupation, and Judahites will be able to conduct their affairs in traditional ways....The whole of Judah is envisioned here as being repopulated, with people once again making land purchases such as the one Jeremiah just made. (Jeremiah The Anchor Yale Bible) Restore their fortunes - God wants to make sure this message is heard and understood for this is the repeatedly makes this promise. In Jer 30:3 He said "'For, behold, days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah. (Notice both Northern and Southern divisions of the nation are mentioned - this cannot refer to the return from Babylonian exile because the Ten Lost Tribes were still lost!) The LORD says, 'I will also bring them back to the land (Notice again the emphasis on the land! Literal land!) that I gave to their forefathers, and they shall possess it.'" In fact similar promises of restoration are made in all 4 chapters of the so-called "Book of Consolation" (Jer 30-33) and are found in Jer 30:18-note, Jer 31:23-note, Jer 32:44-note and Jer 33:7-note. And remember that these four promises of restoration of the land are given before their land was fully captured by Babylon! Amazing grace indeed! NET Note on I will restore their fortunes - Alternately, “I will bring you back from exile.” This idiom occurs twenty-six times in the OT and in several cases it is clearly not referring to return from exile but restoration of fortunes (e.g., Job 42:10; Hos 6:11–7:1; Jer 33:11). It is often followed as here by “regather” or “bring back” (e.g., Jer 30:3; Ezek 29:14) so it is often misunderstood as “bringing back the exiles.” The versions (LXX, Vulg., Tg., Pesh.) often translate the idiom as “to go away into captivity,” deriving the noun from שְׁבִי (shévi, “captivity”). However, the use of this expression in Old Aramaic documents of Sefire parallels the biblical idiom: “the gods restored the fortunes of the house of my father again” (J. A. Fitzmyer, The Aramaic Inscriptions of Sefire [BibOr], 100–101, 119–20). The idiom means “to turn someone’s fortune, bring about change” or “to reestablish as it was” (HALOT 1386 s.v. 3.c). In Ezek 16:53 it is paralleled by the expression “to restore the situation which prevailed earlier.” This amounts to restitutio in integrum, which is applicable to the circumstances surrounding the return of the exiles. Declares the LORD - I like Young's Literal rendering = "an affirmation of Jehovah." In short, this is like a "divine postscript!" from the promise keeping God that He will bring all these prophetic promises to fruition in His (perfect) time.