Jeremiah 13 Study Notes

13:19 Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon will strike the cities of south Judah, the Negev first. But eventually all of Judah will be taken into exile. The words “all” and “taken completely into exile” are hyperbolic. The Babylonians did leave a remnant along with Jeremiah in the land (39:9-10).

13:20 The verbs look up and see are feminine imperatives. They are addressed to Jerusalem, who as a shepherd had abandoned her flock and sheep, misleading the people.

13:21 The Hebrew word for leaders (ro’sh) has a twofold sense—“head/chief” and “a poisonous plant/poison.” Accordingly, Judah’s self-chosen allies will become not just their chiefs but their poison as well.

13:22 In answer to Jerusalem’s question about why these things happened, God pointed to their great guilt. Speaking euphemistically, God promised to expose Judah’s secret parts (politely expressed as your skirts have been stripped off, i.e., they will be sexually attacked; see Lv 18:6-19; 20:17; Dt 22:30). Your body exposed is literally “your heels have suffered violence,” another euphemism for sexual attack.

13:23-24 The question Can the Cushite (a Nubian or an Ethiopian) change his skin, or a leopard his spots? anticipates a negative answer. It was unlikely that Judah would change after centuries of acting in such an evil way.

13:25 Lot or “inheritance” is most commonly used for the portion of the land each family of Israel was to receive after the conquest of Canaan (Nm 26:55-56). But no portion was reserved for this rebellious generation. Instead God scattered them abroad in exile (Jr 13:24). Judah had trusted in lies or the Lie, a derisive term for the pagan gods, especially Baal.

13:26 On I will pull your skirts up over your face, see note at v. 22. Judah’s shame will be exposed.

13:27 This verse cites three sexual descriptions of Judah’s wickedness: adulteries . . . lustful neighing, and prostitution. These refer to the people’s practices out in the open as they went after sex with an animalistic passion in their worship of Canaanite gods.