Jeremiah 11:17-23

17 The LORD Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused my anger by burning incense to Baal.

Plot Against Jeremiah

18 Because the LORD revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing.
19 I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying, “Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.”
20 But you, LORD Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.
21 Therefore this is what the LORD says about the people of Anathoth who are threatening to kill you, saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD or you will die by our hands”—
22 therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine.
23 Not even a remnant will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.”

Jeremiah 11:17-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 11

This chapter gives an account of the covenant God had made with the people of the Jews; their breach of it; and the evils threatened them on that account; and particularly against the men of Anathoth, for their ill treatment of the prophet. It begins with the order to Jeremiah to rehearse the words of the covenant in the ears of the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Jer 11:1-3, which covenant is described by the sanction of it; a curse in case of disobedience; and a promise of being their God, and bringing them into the good land, in case of obedience; and by the time when it was made, when the Israelites were brought out of Egypt, Jer 10:3-5, which order, the prophet agreeing to, is repeated, Jer 10:5,6 declaring the earnest protestation and exhortation of God to obey it, which they not observing, were threatened with the curses of it, Jer 11:7,8, the present Jews doing as their forefathers had done, breaking the covenant, particularly by their idolatry, are threatened also with punishment they should not escape, Jer 11:9-11 which is aggravated by a resolution to show no regard to their cries, Jer 11:11, by the impotence of their idols to save them, though so numerous, Jer 11:12,13, by forbidding the prophet to pray for them, Jer 11:14, by their having no longer a place and protection in the house of God, because of their wickedness, Jer 11:15, by comparing their former and present state together, having been as a beautiful and fruitful olive tree, but now burnt, and its branches broken, Jer 11:16, next follows an account of a design of the men of Anathoth against the prophet, to take away his life, which he was ignorant of, till the Lord gave him knowledge of it, Jer 11:17-19, when he imprecates vengeance on them, Jer 11:20, and, under a spirit of prophecy from the Lord, foretells their utter ruin and destruction, Jer 11:21,22.

Cross References 19

  • 1. S Exodus 15:17; Isaiah 5:2; Jeremiah 12:2; Jeremiah 45:4
  • 2. ver 11
  • 3. Jeremiah 7:18
  • 4. S Jeremiah 7:9
  • 5. S Psalms 44:22
  • 6. ver 21; S Psalms 44:16; Psalms 54:3; Psalms 71:10; Jeremiah 18:18; Jeremiah 20:10
  • 7. S Job 28:13; S Psalms 116:9; Isaiah 53:8
  • 8. Psalms 83:4
  • 9. Psalms 7:11
  • 10. S 1 Samuel 2:3; S 1 Chronicles 29:17
  • 11. S Psalms 26:2; Psalms 7:9
  • 12. S Psalms 58:10; Lamentations 3:60
  • 13. S Joshua 21:18
  • 14. S ver 19; Jeremiah 12:6; Jeremiah 21:7; Jeremiah 34:20
  • 15. S Isaiah 30:10
  • 16. Jeremiah 2:30; Jeremiah 18:23; Jeremiah 26:8,11; Jeremiah 38:4
  • 17. S Isaiah 9:17; Jeremiah 18:21
  • 18. Jeremiah 6:9
  • 19. Jeremiah 23:12
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