Jeremias 51
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Jeremias 51:1-4
51:1 "Leb-Kamai" This is a CONSTRUCT of "heart" (BDB 524) and the VERB "arise" or "stand up" (BDB 877, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE). It could be translated literally as UBS Text Project ‒ "heart of my adversaries" NKJV (footnote) ‒ "the midst of those who rise up against Me" AB ‒ "the heart of those who rise up against Me" The LXX and most English commentators and translations take it as an Atbash cipher (letters of the alphabet are reversed to make them into a code) for "Kasdim" (i.e. Chaldean referring to Babylon). Another cipher for Babylon is "Sheshach" of Jer. 25:26 or "Sheshak" of Jer. 51:41. The Apostle John used a similar code mechanism in Revelation 18, where "Babylon" refers to Rome. "that spirit of a destroyer" NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB, LXX, REB, JPSOA, Peshitta "a destroying wind" "a destructive word" The Hebrew word ruah (BDB 924) can mean "wind," "breath," or "spirit." Only context can determine which is intended by the original author. In this context (i.e. Jeremiah) "wind" fits best (cf. Jer. 4:11-12; 13:24; 18:17; 22:22; 49:32,36). Jeremiah 51:11b demands a translation of "spirit." Context, context, context! SPECIAL TOPIC: BREATH, WIND, SPIRIT 51:2 NASB, TEV "foreigners" NKJV, NRSV, NJB, REB "winnowers" "strangers" "destroyers" The MT has "strangers" (BDB 266 I, cf. Jer. 5:19; 30:8; 51:2,51; Lam. 5:2), but other ancient versions read "winnowers" (BDB 279, cf. Jer. 4:11; 15:7; the same root is translated "scatter" in Jer. 49:32,26). The UBS Text Project, p. 320, gives "strangers" a "C" rating (considerable doubt). The LXX translates this term as "spoilers" or "insolent men." 51:3 This verse is uncertain. It could be addressing the invaders to charge ahead or it could address the defenders that all their efforts are useless. The invaders are called on not to spare (BDB 328, KB 328, negated Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE, cf. Jer. 51:4) to devote to God (BDB 355, KB 353, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, i.e. put under the ban, cf. Jer. 25:9; 50:21,36; see SPECIAL TOPIC: CURSE) All of Neo-Babylon's defenders are helpless, just as they mercilessly defeated others, so now no mercy to them! 51:4 "pierce" This VERB (BDB 201, KB 230, Pual PARTICIPLE) denotes a badly wounded person (cf. Jer. 37:10).
Jeremias 51:5-10
51:5 In light of Jer. 33:24-26, this is an important affirmation that YHWH has not permanently rejected the descendants of Abraham, but only temporarily judged them for their sin (cf. Isa. 54:7-8; also note Romans 9-11). ▣ "Lord of hosts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord of Hosts. ▣ "the Holy One of Israel" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE. 51:6 There is a series of IMPERATIVES very similar in meaning to Jer. 50:8. flee ‒ BDB 630, KB 681, Qal IMPERATIVE save ‒ BDB 572, KB 589, Piel IMPERATIVE do not be destroyed ‒ BDB 198, KB 226, negated Niphal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense YHWH commands the Jewish exiles to leave Babylon before His judgment comes! One wonders how exiles could leave before Persia's victory and Cyrus' decree. Possibly they could leave the capital city of Babylon, not the country. 51:7 Babylon served as YHWH's instrument of judgment. The "cup" was an idiom for judgment (i.e. drunkenness, cf. Jer. 25:15; Hab. 2:16; Rev. 14:8, see note at Jer. 49:12). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CUP ▣ "the nations are going mad" This VERB (BDB 237, KB 248, Hithpoel IMPERFECT) is also used in Jer. 25:16. This is imagery of drunkenness used for divine judgment. SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK 51:8 This is sarcasm addressed to Neo-Babylon's subservient nations. wail over her ‒ BDB 410, KB 413, Hiphil IMPERATIVE bring balm for her pain ‒ BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERATIVE 51:9 All the efforts to heal Neo-Babylon by the subservient nations were to no avail. Therefore, forsake her ‒ BDB 736, KB 806, Qal IMPERATIVE let us each go to his own country ‒ BDB 229, KB 246, Qal IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense (cf. Jer. 50:16; Isa. 13:14) mercenaries merchants ▣ "has reached to heaven. . .up to the very skies" Poetry is difficult to interpret because of its brevity and imagery. These VERBS seem to imply that the sins of Neo-Babylon have come to YHWH's notice sins of the people who were building the tower of Babel ‒ Gen. 11:5 sins of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah ‒ Gen. 18:20-21 sins of the covenant people ‒ Ezra 9:6 YHWH's judgment of Babylon is so extensive that it symbolically reaches to the heavens SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN 51:10 As Jer. 51:5 promised YHWH's forgiveness and restoration, Jer. 51:10 demands that the covenant people share His victory in Zion. come ‒ BDB 97, KB 112, Qal IMPERATIVE let us recount ‒ BDB 707, KB 765, Piel COHORTATIVE, cf. Jer. 50:28; Isa. 40:2 in Zion the work of YHWH
Jeremias 51:11-14
51:11-14 This poem addresses the invading army. TEV attributes the commands to the Persian army officers. sharpen the arrows, Jer. 51:11 ‒ BDB 140, KB 162, Hiphil IMPERATIVE fill the quivers, Jer. 51:11 ‒ BDB 569, KB 583, Qal IMPERATIVE lift up a signal, Jer. 51:12 ‒ BDB 669, KB 724, Qal IMPERATIVE post a strong guard, Jer. 51:12 ‒ BDB 304, KB 302,, Hiphil IMPERATIVE station sentries, Jer. 51:12 ‒ BDB 877, KB 1086, Hiphil IMPERATIVE place men in ambush, Jer. 51:12 ‒ BDB 465, KB 464, Hiphil IMPERATIVE However, #3-#6 could refer, in sarcasm, to the ineffective Neo-Babylonian defenders (cf. Jer. 51:13). The reason they are ineffective is because YHWH is now against them (cf. Jer. 51:12e-f, 14). 51:11 NASB, NRSV, NJB, JPSOA, REB "fill the quivers" "gather the shields" "get your shields ready" "gather the quivers" The MT has "fill the shields" (BDB 1020), but KB (1522-23) shows that this root was used in the Dead Sea Scrolls for "quiver." There is an Akkadian root with the same meaning. "Quiver" fits this context best in linking with the previous line of poetry the VERB "fill" The word "shields" in the Dead Sea Scrolls could refer to a throwing (i.e. spear), slinging, or shooting (i.e. arrow) weapon. ▣ "the kings of the Medes" The invader from the north is now identified (i.e. Medo-Persia under King Cyrus II, "Cyrus the Great"). The MT has "kings" (PLURAL) but the LXX has the SINGULAR. Cyrus' empire was made up of several small nations, or it may be the Hebrew grammatical feature called the "PLURAL OF MAJESTY," denoting Cyrus' greatness. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF PERSIA 51:11d This last line of poetry repeats the message of Jer. 50:28. Neo-Babylon will be destroyed with its magnificent pagan temples, as they destroyed YHWH's temple (i.e. 586 B.C.). 51:13 "you who dwell by many waters" This phrase refers to the southern part of Babylon which was made up of marshes formed at the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ▣ "measure" This is literally "cubit" (BDB 52 II). The phrase, line 4, refers to the thread being cut from a loom. Here it is an idiom for death (cf. Job 6:9; Isa. 38:12). SPECIAL TOPIC: CUBIT 51:14 "the Lord of hosts has sworn by Himself" This concept goes back to Gen. 22:16 and 26:3. There is no one or no power greater than YHWH, so to swear (BDB 989, KB 1396, Niphal PERFECT) by Him is the ultimate oath. This same imagery is used in Jer. 22:5; 44:26; 49:13 and Isa. 14:24; 45:23; 62:8. That which YHWH purposes (cf. Jer. 51:12e), He will perform (cf. Jer. 51:12e)! SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord of Hosts ▣ "locusts" "Locusts" are often used as imagery for invading armies (i.e. Joel 2:25).
Jeremias 51:15-23
51:15-23 The NASB sees this as one literary unit but most other English translations see Jer. 51:15-19 and Jer. 51:20-23 as separate. There is no textual marker to ensure the division of ancient texts into literary units. However, the task is primary in interpretation. This is where checking several modern versions can be helpful (see the paragraph divisions on the first page of each chapter). "Bible Interpretation Seminar" 51:15-19 This is a comparison of YHWH, the God who knows and acts, with the idols who are blind, dumb, uninformed, and cannot act! Notice the attributes of YHWH listed. creator, Jer. 51:15 provider, Jer. 51:16 covenant God of Jacob, Jer. 51:19 Notice the characterization of the idols. made by mankind, Jer. 51:17 worthless to help, even provide false hope, Jer. 51:18 This strophe is paralleled in Jer. 10:12-16. These truths were a recurrent theme of YHWH's reality versus the idols of the nations' non-existence. 51:15 "stretched out the heavens" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH 51:17 "put to shame" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SHAME ▣ "there is no breath in them" This same phrase describing the lifeless idols is in Jer. 10:14. The word "breath" is ruah, translated "spirit" in Jer. 51:11. The prophets regularly "make fun of" and ridicule the non-existence of pagan idols (i.e. Isa. 40:18-20; 41:6-7; 44:9-11,12-17; 46:5-7). They "cannot"; YHWH can and does! SPECIAL TOPIC: BREATH, WIND, SPIRIT 51:20-23 The only true God (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM) will bring judgment on Babylon by His chosen instrument (i.e. war-club, lit. "hammer," BDB 659 and BDB 536), Persia and Cyrus II, who are named by a specific prophecy in Isa. 44:28; 45:1. destroy nations destroy kingdoms shatter horse and its rider shatter chariot and its rider shatter man shatter woman shatter old men shatter youth shatter young men shatter virgins shatter the shepherd shatter his flock shatter the farmer shatter his team shatter governors shatter prefects All levels of society will be "shattered" (BDB 658, KB 711, nine Piel PERFECTS).
Jeremias 51:24-26
51:24-26 This poem (Jer. 51:25-26) describes the destruction of Neo-Babylon ("O destroying mountain") in highly figurative language. The two books that have helped me understand this genre are by D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic Fee and Stuart, How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth, esp. chapter 10 It is possible that this imagery relates to the Babylonian sky gods who were worshiped on the tops of ziggurats (i.e. the tower of Babel, Genesis 11). These manmade mud brick structures dominated the flat river plains of Babylon's chief cities. Each one had their own god and tower. The great ziggurat of Marduk was in the city of Babylon. The violent and complete destruction of the city of Babylon did not occur in 539 B.C., when the city was taken without a fight and with minimal destruction, by the Persian army. However, it did occur later in history (i.e. by Xerxes I in 482 B.C.). 51:25 "O destroying mountain" This imagery is uncertain. It is obviously figurative language referring to Babylon as a military victor. But why "mountain"? the home of the gods (i.e. divine empowerment, i.e. Isa. 14:13) the God of Mt. Moriah (i.e. the Jewish temple, i.e. Isa. 2:2-3) the military advantage of "higher ground" the awesome physical sites of mountains and their strength root of the mountains as the entrance to the underworld imagery used of a mountain where pagan altars were located (cf. 2 Kgs. 23:13) This destroying mountain will be destroyed (i.e. fire) by YHWH. He sends and uses Neo-Babylon but also holds them responsible! 51:26 This is imagery of a complete and lasting destruction (cf. Jer. 50:13). Usually in the ANE the sites of major cities were advantageous sites (i.e. water, protection, fertility), so destroyed cities were quickly rebuilt, often using the building material lying around. This verse prophesies no habitation. Note the ruins of Babylon today!
Jeremias 51:27-32
51:27-32 YHWH calls on the Persian Empire to take up arms against Neo-Babylon in a series of IMPERATIVES. lift up a signal ‒ BDB 669, KB 724, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Jer. 51:12; 50:2; Isa. 5:26; 13:2 blow a trumpet ‒ BDB 1075, KB 1785, Qal IMPERATIVE consecrate the nations ‒ BDB 872, KB 1073, Piel IMPERATIVE summon. . .kingdoms ‒ BDB 1033, KB 1570, Hiphil IMPERATIVE appoint a marshal ‒ BDB 823, KB 955, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Jer. 49:19; 50:44 bring up horses ‒ BDB 748, KB 828, Hiphil IMPERATIVE in Jer. 51:28a #3 is repeated 51:27 "Ararat" This nation (BDB 76) is located around Lake Urmia. Today its territory is in Armenia, Russia, and Iran. It was known as Urartu by the Assyrians. This ethnic group participated in the Persian attack on Neo-Babylon. ▣ "Minni" This (BDB 585 I) refers to the people group south of Lake Van. They were later known as Scythians but at this time as "Mannaeans." ▣ "Ashkenaz" This group of people (BDB 79) is mentioned in Gen. 10:3; 1 Chr. 1:6, living east of Lake Urmia. They are also part of what later became the Scythians. 51:30 This is ANE imagery of dis-spirited soldiers. they have ceased fighting they stay in the stronghold their strength is exhausted they are like women Their fortifications are breached. set on fire gate bars broken 51:31-32 This is a message to be delivered to the king of Neo-Babylon by the city's defenders. the city is captured fords seized marshes burned soldiers terrified There was no way to escape!
Jeremias 51:33
51:33 It is uncertain if this should be a separate literary unit or part of Jer. 51:27-32. The speaker of Jer. 51:20-32 is YHWH, so too, here. Neo-Babylon's fate is set. Her doom is sure! What she did to others will be done to her. ▣ "threshing" This is often used in judgment imagery (cf. Isa. 21:10; 41:15-16).
Jeremias 51:34-40
51:34-39 Jerusalem/Judah (Jer. 51:35d) is personified as a devastated people (Jer. 51:34). Neo-Babylon has devoured me ‒ BDB 37, KB 46, Qal PERFECT Neo-Babylon has crushed me ‒ BDB 243, KB 251, Qal PERFECT Neo-Babylon has set me down as an empty vessel ‒ BDB 426, KB 427, Hiphil PERFECT Neo-Babylon has swallowed me like a monster ‒ BDB 118, KB 134, Qal PERFECT Neo-Babylon has filled his stomach with my delicacies ‒ BDB 569, KB 583, Piel PERFECT Neo-Babylon has washed me away ‒ BDB 188, KB 216, Hiphil PERFECT Every one of these (except #5) has a Kethiv and Qere form related to PLURAL or SINGULAR. 51:34 "washed me away" "spit me out" NRSV, REB "spewed me out" "threw the rest away" "threw me out" "rinsed me out" —omit— "has caused me to go astray" The MT has the VERB "rinse" or "cleanse away" (BDB 188, KB 216, Hiphil PERFECT). The VERB can refer to ritual washing ‒ 2 Chr. 4:6; Ezek. 40:38 cleansing ‒ Isa. 4:4 here the context seems to demand a mouth rinse and expulsion of the liquid The point is Babylon used Jerusalem and then spit her out as useless! 51:35a This is praying/wishing that what Neo-Babylon did to Jerusalem/Judah, others will do to her (cf. Jer. 50:15,29). The speaker is personified Jerusalem. 51:36-40 YHWH describes what He will do to Neo-Babylon and for Judah. for Judah plead your case, Jer. 50:34; 51:36 (i.e. act as your advocate) exact full vengeance on her behalf to Neo-Babylon dry up her sea (i.e. commerce) become a heap of ruins become a haunt of jackals, cf. Jer. 49:33 become an object of horror become an object of hissing make them the food of a banquet make then drunk (lit. "rejoice"), cf. Jer. 51:57 make them sleep forever make them sacrificial animals SPECIAL TOPIC: HORROR, REPROACH, RUIN, CURSE 51:38-39 The context demands that this refers to Neo-Babylon. They are enjoying their spoils in Jer. 51:38. However, their victories make them vulnerable to excess (drunkenness), which leads to destruction and death (Jer. 51:39, lines 3 & 4, Jer. 51:40). In Jer. 51:40 the Neo-Babylonians are like animals being led to slaughter. They cannot defend themselves. As they treated others, now they will receive! SPECIAL TOPIC: LIONS IN THE OT SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK 51:39 "May sleep a perpetual sleep And not wake up" One cannot build doctrine about the afterlife based on verses such as this. OT has little information about the afterlife sleep is an OT euphemism for death "perpetual" (i.e. 'olam) must be interpreted in light of the larger context SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam and aiōnios) this phrase is a result of "drunkenness" See F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, pp. 30-31 and William Hendricksen, The Bible On the Life Hereafter.
Jeremias 51:41-44
51:41-44 Another poem of YHWH's judgment on Neo-Babylon (there are several separate poems in this chapter brought together by topic). Most of the VERBS are PROPHETIC PERFECTS describing future events as completed actions. 51:41 "Sheshak" See full note at Jer. 25:26. This is another atbash cipher. 51:42 Babylon was a country of rivers, canals, and marshes (cf. Jer. 51:13a); her waterways are disrupted as an idiom of divine judgment (cf. Jer. 51:36). YHWH, the creator God, controls the waters (cf. Jer. 5:22; 31:35). The nation of "waters" will be dry (Jer. 51:43b). SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS 51:44 "Bel" See note at Jer. 50:2. SPECIAL TOPIC: BEL ▣ "what he has swallowed" This is the imagery of eating used to describe conquest. As Neo-Babylon "ate" Jerusalem in Jer. 51:34, then spit her out, so too, now Neo-Babylon. Her deities must regurgitate! ▣ "even the wall of Babylon has fallen down" This prophecy of complete destruction of the city of Babylon (cf. Jer. 50:15; 51:58) is a hyperbolic description of Persia's defeat, but literal for future events. See note on the genre of prophecy at Jer. 51:24-26.
Jeremias 51:45-48
51:45-48 This is another poem with two emphases. YHWH calls for His people to leave the city of Babylon before His judgment comes (cf. Jer. 50:8; 51:6) YHWH will punish Neo-Babylon 51:46 This may relate to Jer. 50:28. There are two reports circulating. Judah/Israel's restoration (cf. Isa. 48:20) Neo-Babylon's fall ▣ "lest your heart grow faint" The faith challenge to God's people is "do not fear, do not lose heart," because I am with you; I am in control (cf. Deut. 3:22; 7:18; 20:3; 31:6,8; Josh. 1:6,7,9; Isa. 43:5; Jer. 46:27,28). This same admonition is for the people of faith today! The Jerome Biblical Commentary (p. 336) and NASB Study Bible (p. 1142) assert that this verse is reflected in Jesus' eschatological discourse of Matt. 24:6ff. 51:48 "heaven and earth" These are the two ancient witnesses (cf. Isa. 44:23; 49:13). They summarize all creation (cf. Gen. 1:1). "Heaven" refers to the atmosphere above the earth. SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH ▣ "from the north" See notes at Jer. 50:3,9,41, which build on Jer. 1:13-15.
Jeremias 51:49-51
51:49-51 This poem is addressed to the remnant of the exiles who returned to Judah under Cyrus' decree in 538 B.C. I believe Jer. 51:52-53 should go with Jer. 51:49-51. SPECIAL TOPIC: REMNANT (THREE SENSES) 51:49 Notice Neo-Babylon is reaping the judgment of YHWH because of its treatment of the covenant people (i.e. their treatment of the temple, cf. Jer. 51:51; 50:28c; Lam. 1:10; 2:6-7). The irony is that it was YHWH who sent Neo-Babylon but still she is responsible for her actions. There is another way to interpret this phrase. It is possible to make it parallel to Jer. 51:47. If so, it is not just "for the slain of Israel," but for all the slain of all the nations. 51:50 YHWH commands His exiled people in Babylon to think of Jerusalem/temple and leave their captivity. depart ‒ BDB 229, KB 246, Qal IMPERATIVE do not stay ‒ BDB 763, KB 840, negated Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense remember the Lord from afar ‒ BDB 269, KB 269, Qal IMPERATIVE let Jerusalem come to your mind ‒ BDB 748, KB 828, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense The exiles of Nebuchadnezzar's previous deportations (i.e. 605, 597 B.C.) heard of the atrocities that occurred in 586 B.C. with the fall and destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (cf. Jer. 51:51), but they are encouraged now to remember YHWH! The vast majority of exiled Jews did not return under the leadership of Sheshbazzar, Zerubbabel/Joshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah in the Persian period.
Jeremias 51:52-53
51:53 The imagery of geographical high places which was used of Edom does not fit Babylon, which was located mostly in the Tigris/Euphrates River valley and plain. It is imagery which may reflect her trust in the gods of the sky who they worshiped from their manmade towers, ziggurats (possibly related to Genesis 11, "the Tower of Babel").
Jeremias 51:54-58
51:54-58 This is another in a series of POETIC PROPHECIES about the fall of Neo-Babylon. 51:54 There are no VERBALS in Jer. 51:54, just stark NOUNS. hark ‒ BDB 876 cry ‒ BDB 277 great destruction ‒ ADJECTIVE, BDB 152 and NOUN, BDB 991 51:56 "a God of recompense" This characterization of YHWH as One who holds humans accountable for their actions is a recurrent theme (cf. Jer. 51:6; Isa. 35:4; 59:18 [twice]; 66:6; Lam. 3:64). For a full list of all the places in Scripture where this truth is revealed, see the note at Jer. 17:10. ▣ "He will fully repay" This is an intensified grammatical form. The INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 1022, KB 1532) are used. 51:58 "will be completely razed" As Jer. 51:56 had an intensified grammatical form, so too, here (i.e. INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root, BDB 792, KB 889). This purposeful hyperbole is a common feature of prophetic and apocalyptic literature (see D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks). It was not meant to be taken in a modern, western literalism. In fact, Cyrus II did not destroy the walls of the city of Babylon. The amazingly huge, thick double walls of Babylon (cf. Herodotus 1.178ff) were destroyed by Xerxes I in 482 B.C.
Jeremias 51:59-64
51:59-64 This is a concluding prose section relating a message sent by Jeremiah by the hand of Seraiah (possibly Baruch's brother, cf. Jer. 32:12) to the exiles already in Babylon (i.e. 605, 597 B.C.). When the visit occurred in 594/3 B.C. (Zedekiah began to reign in 597 B.C.). This is the only mention of this visit in the Bible. Possibly it was when Zedekiah tried to convince Nebuchadnezzar II of his loyalty and denial of any duplicity in the alliances/revolts of the far western nations. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM 51:63 This was done for one of two reasons (or maybe both). as a symbol of Neo-Babylon's destruction as a way to protect the message from causing a reaction from the Babylonian captors (i.e. note the ciphers of Jer. 25:26; 51:1,41). One wonders how much of Jeremiah 50-51 was included on that scroll. It seems that many poems from different periods of Jeremiah's life were brought together by topic in these two chapters (by Baruch or a later editor). Also note the cultural emphasis on oral presentation versus written. The ANE was made up of oral societies (for the most part). For a good discussion, see John H. Walton and D. Brent Sandy, The Lost World of Scripture. 51:64 MT, NASB, NKJV, NRSV, Peshitta "Thus far are the words of Jeremiah" "The words of Jeremiah end here" "Thus far are the collected sayings of Jeremiah" LXX, JPSOA —omit— There is no VERB. Many scholars believe this is an editorial comment to separate chapter 52 (destruction of Jerusalem, cf. 2 Kgs. 24:10-25:30) from Jeremiah's writings. The faith presupposition of "inspiration" must cover the editing and compiling of OT books. SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION