Jeremiah 2:8

8 The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handled the law knew me not; and the shepherds transgressed against me; and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after [things that] do not profit.

Jeremiah 2:8 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 2:8

The priests said not, where is the Lord?
&c.] Whose business it was to draw nigh to God, and offer the sacrifices of the people, and inquire of God for them; whose lips should keep knowledge, and at whose mouth the law should be sought, they being the messengers of the Lord of hosts, ( Malachi 2:7 ) : and they that handle the law knew me not;
the sanhedrim, according to Jarchi; or the lawyers and scribes, the Rabbins and doctors of the law, whose business it was to read and explain it; these did not understand it, nor the mind of God in it; and much less did they know him in a spiritual and evangelical manner; or as he is in Christ, and revealed in the Gospel: the pastors also transgressed against me;
kings, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi interpret it, who were pastors or shepherds in a civil sense; whose business it was to feed the people as the shepherd does his flock; that is, to guide and govern them by wholesome laws, by the laws of God; but, instead of this, they rebelled against the Lord, and transgressed his commands: and the prophets prophesied by Baal;
in his name; pretending to be inspired by that idol, and to receive the spirit of prophecy from him: and walked after things that do not profit;
the gods of the Gentiles, which could not supply them with the least temporal blessing, and much less give them spiritual and eternal ones; see ( Jeremiah 14:22 ) . This is to be understood of false prophets, as Ben Melech.

Jeremiah 2:8 In-Context

6 And they said not, Where is Jehovah, that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and of pits, in a land of drought and of the shadow of death, in a land that no one passeth through, and where no man dwelleth?

7 And I brought you into a fruitful land, to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof; and ye entered and defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.

8 The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handled the law knew me not; and the shepherds transgressed against me; and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after [things that] do not profit.

9 Therefore will I yet plead with you, saith Jehovah, and with your children's children will I plead.

10 For pass over to the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there have been such a thing.

Footnotes

• [a] Or 'rebelled:' so ver. 29; chs. 3.13; 33.8: see Isa. 1.2.