Jeremías 2:13-23

13 Porque dos males ha hecho mi pueblo: me dejaron a mí, fuente de agua viva, por cavar para sí cisternas, cisternas rotas que no detienen aguas

14 ¿Es Israel siervo? ¿Es esclavo? ¿Por qué ha sido dado en presa

15 Los cachorros de los leones bramaron sobre él, dieron su voz; y pusieron su tierra en soledad; desiertas están sus ciudades, sin morador

16 Aun los hijos de Menfis y de Tafnes te quebrantaron la coronilla

17 Por ventura no te acarreó esto el haber dejado al SEÑOR tu Dios, cuando te hacía andar por el camino

18 Ahora, pues, ¿qué tienes tú en el camino de Egipto? ¿Para qué bebas agua del Nilo? ¿Y qué tienes tú en el camino de Asiria? ¿Para qué bebas agua del Río (Eufrates)

19 Tu maldad te castigará, y tu separación te acusará; sabe, pues, y ve cuán malo y amargo es tú dejar al SEÑOR tu Dios, y faltar mi temor en ti, dijo el Señor DIOS de los ejércitos

20 Porque desde muy atrás he quebrado tu yugo, y roto tus ataduras; y dijiste: No serviré (al pecado). Con todo eso, sobre todo collado alto y debajo de todo árbol umbroso, corrías tú, oh ramera

21 Y yo te planté de buen viñedo, simiente de Verdad toda ella, ¿cómo, pues, te me has tornado sarmientos de vid extraña

22 Aunque te laves con salitre, y amontones jabón sobre ti, tu iniquidad está sellada delante de mí, dijo el Señor DIOS

23 ¿Cómo dices: No soy inmunda, nunca anduve tras los baales? Mira tu proceder en el valle, reconoce lo que has hecho, dromedaria ligera que frecuentas sus carreras

Jeremías 2:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 2

This chapter contains the prophet's message from the Lord to the people of the Jews; in which they are reminded of their former favours, in order to aggravate their sins and transgressions they were chargeable with; to show their ingratitude and unkindness, and to bring them to a conviction and acknowledgment of their iniquities, without which punishment would be inflicted on them. The preface to this message is in Jer 2:1,2, and the discourse begins with an account of their former state and condition when they came out of Egypt; what kindness was shown them by the Lord, and what was returned to him by them; what they were to him, and how much regarded by him, Jer 2:2,3 and so far were they from being injured by him, that might cause them to depart from him, which they are desired to give attention to, that they were followed with various instances of goodness, which are particularly enumerated; and yet no notice was taken of them, neither by people, priests, pastors, and prophets, who were guilty of the grossest ignorance and wickedness, Jer 2:4-8, wherefore the Lord determines to plead with them and theirs; and charges them with such idolatry as was not to be found among the Gentiles, Jer 1:9-11 the heavens are called upon to be astonished at it; and the reason given for it, the ingratitude and folly of this people, Jer 2:12,13 in order to reclaim them, the Lord by the prophet proceeds to observe to them the corrections and chastisement they had already endured, being brought into bondage, their land wasted, cities burnt, and their glory taken from them; all which were owing to their revoltings and backslidings, and by which they might see what an evil and bitter thing sin is in its effects, Jer 2:14-19 and again reminds them of former favours; how that he loosed them from their yoke and bonds, when they promised to transgress no more, and yet did more and more; how he had raised them from a right seed, and planted them a noble vine, and yet they were sadly degenerated, and were guilty of such crimes as were not to be removed by anything done by them, Jer 2:20-22, and notwithstanding all this, they had the impudence to deny that they were tainted with idolatry, when they had been so guilty of it in the valley of Hinnom, and elsewhere; and were comparable to the lustful dromedary and wild ass, and so fond of strange gods, that they thirsted after them, and were resolved to follow them, Jer 2:23-25 and yet the time would come when all ranks of men among them would be ashamed of their worship of stocks and stones, and in the time of their trouble call upon the Lord to save them, when they would be sent to their gods, who were as numerous as their cities, Jer 2:26-28 wherefore it was in vain to plead their innocence, when they were all so guilty, and had received correction without amendment, and had even slain the prophets of the Lord, Jer 2:29,30 and then the Lord again upbraids them with their ingratitude to him, who had been so good and kind to them; with their forgetfulness of him, illustrated by a maid's not forgetting her ornaments, and a bride her attire; with their artful methods to entice others to idolatry, and with their shedding of innocent blood; and yet, after all this, they asserted their innocence, and affirmed they had never sinned, Jer 2:31-35, for all which sentence is pronounced against them, and punishment is threatened them, Jer 2:36,37.