Jeremiah 2:8

8 The priests didn't ask, 'Where is the Lord?' The people who know the teachings didn't know me. The leaders turned against me. and worshiped useless idols.

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 Your ancestors didn't say, 'Where is the Lord who brought us out of Egypt? He led us through the desert, through a dry and rocky land, through a dark and dangerous land. He led us where no one travels or lives.'

7 I brought you into a fertile land so you could eat its fruit and produce. But you came and made my land unclean; you made it a hateful place.

8 The priests didn't ask, 'Where is the Lord?' The people who know the teachings didn't know me. The leaders turned against me. and worshiped useless idols.

9 "So now I will again tell what I have against you," says the Lord. "And I will tell what I have against your grandchildren.

10 Go across the sea to the island of Cyprus and see. Send someone to the land of Kedar to look closely. See if there has ever been anything like this.