Jeremiah 29:22

22 In fact, all those exiled from Y'hudah who are in Bavel will take up this formula for cursing: "May ADONAI make you like Tzidkiyahu and Ach'av, whom the king of Bavel roasted in the fire!"

Jeremiah 29:22 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 29:22

And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of
Judah which [are] in Babylon
A form of cursing; when they cursed anyone, or wished him ill, it should be in such like manner as follows; so odious and detestable would these men be afterwards to them, whom they, at least some of them, took to be the prophets of the Lord: saying, the Lord make thee like Zedekiah, and like Ahab, whom the king
of Babylon roasted in the fire;
or "burnt them" ^F4; not at once, but with a slow fire; so the Maccabees were roasted,

``Then the king, being in a rage, commanded pans and caldrons to be made hot: '' (2 Maccabees. 7:3)

Burning persons with fire, and casting them into a fiery furnace, were ways used by the Chaldeans in putting persons to death, ( Daniel 3:6 ) ; and roasting men at a fire was used by the Chinese ^F5.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Mlq) "combussit", Pagninus; "ustulavit", Munster; so Ben Melech says the word signifies "burning".
F5 Martin Hist. Sinic. p. 257.

Jeremiah 29:22 In-Context

20 "So pay attention now to the word of ADONAI, all of you in exile, whom I sent away from Yerushalayim to Bavel.

21 Here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot, the God of Isra'el, says about Ach'av the son of Kolayah and Tzidkiyahu the son of Ma'aseiyah, who prophesy lies to you in my name: 'I will hand them over to N'vukhadretzar king of Bavel, and he will put them to death before your eyes.

22 In fact, all those exiled from Y'hudah who are in Bavel will take up this formula for cursing: "May ADONAI make you like Tzidkiyahu and Ach'av, whom the king of Bavel roasted in the fire!"

23 because they have done vile things in Isra'el, committing adultery with their neighbors' wives and speaking words in my name, falsely, which I did not order them to say. For I am he who knows; I am witness to this,' says ADONAI.

24 "To Sh'ma'yah the Nechelami you are to communicate this message: