Jeremiah 2:36

36 How exceeding base art thou become, going the same ways over again! and thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

Jeremiah 2:36 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 2:36

Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way?
&c.] Or, "by changing thy way" F20; sometimes going one way, and sometimes another; sometimes to Egypt, and then to Assyria; seeking sometimes to the one for help, and sometimes to the other; at one time serving the gods of the one, in order to curry favour with them, and then the gods of the other, like a lascivious woman that gads about from place to place to increase her lovers, and satisfy her lust. The Vulgate Latin version is, "how exceeding vile art thou become, changing thy ways"; and so Jarchi says, the word (ylzt) signifies "contempt", or "vileness": deriving it from (lwz) , or (llz) , to be "vile" or "contemptible"; and to this sense are the Septuagint and Arabic versions; but Kimchi derives it from (lza) , to go; to which our version and others agree: thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt;
as they were in the times of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, when Pharaohnecho king of Egypt took the former, and put him in bands, and carried him into Egypt; and set the latter upon the throne, and took tribute of him, for which the land was taxed, ( 2 Kings 23:33-35 ) as thou wast ashamed of Assyria;
in the times of Ahaz, who sent to the king of Assyria for help, when Judah was smitten by the Edomites, and invaded by the Philistines; but when he came to him, he distressed him, and strengthened and helped him not, ( 2 Chronicles 28:16-21 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (Kykrd twnvl) "mutando viam tuam", Vatablus, Piscator, Junius & Tremellius.

Jeremiah 2:36 In-Context

34 And in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor and innocent? not in ditches have I found them, but in all places, which I mentioned before.
35 And thou hast said: I am without sin and am innocent: and therefore let thy anger be turned away from me. Behold, I will contend with thee in judgment, because thou hast said: I have not sinned.
36 How exceeding base art thou become, going the same ways over again! and thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
37 For from thence thou shalt go, and thy hand shall be upon thy head: for the Lord hath destroyed thy trust, and thou shalt have nothing prosperous therein.
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