Jeremiah 8:2

2 They will be exposed^[a] to the sun, the moon, and the whole heavenly host,^[b] which they have loved, served, followed, pursued, and worshiped. [Their bones] will not be collected and buried but will become like manure on the surface of the soil.^[c]

Jeremiah 8:2 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 8:2

And they shall spread them before the sun and the moon, and all
the host of heaven
The stars. This shows, not only that they should be publicly exposed; but, as it refers to their idolatrous worship of the sun, moon, and stars, that these deities will not be able to help them; as they could not prevent their dead bodies being dug up, so neither could they order or cause them to be gathered together, and buried again: whom they have loved;
whereas they ought to have loved the Lord their God, and him only: it means an idolatrous love of and affection for them; and not the love of them, as creatures for use and delight; otherwise the light of the sun, moon, and stars, is sweet, and their influence great; and a pleasant thing it is to behold them, and especially the former of them, the fountain of light and heat: and whom they have served; more and besides the Creator of them, whom they should have served, the Lord of hosts, and him only: and after whom they have walked;
not in a natural and literal sense, but in a religious one, as is after explained: and whom they have sought;
for advice and counsel, and by making their prayers and supplications to them: and whom they have worshipped;
by bowing the knee, or kissing the hand; by offering sacrifices, and burning incense, and putting up petitions to them; by trusting in them, and expecting good things from them; see ( 2 Kings 21:3-5 ) ( 23:5 ) ( Jeremiah 7:18 ) ( Ezekiel 8:16 ) : they shall not be gathered, nor be buried:
meaning not the men that should die in those times, but the bones that should be brought out of the graves; these, having been scattered about, should not be collected together again, and replaced in their sepulchres: they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth;
that is, they should lie and rot upon the face of the earth, and crumble into dust, and become dung for it; see ( Psalms 83:10 ) .

Jeremiah 8:2 In-Context

1 "At that time"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of her officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the residents of Jerusalem will be brought out of their graves.

2 They will be exposed to the sun, the moon, and the whole heavenly host, which they have loved, served, followed, pursued, and worshiped. [Their bones] will not be collected and buried but will become like manure on the surface of the soil.

3 Death will be chosen over life by all the survivors of this evil family, those who remain wherever I have banished them." [This is] the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

4 You are to say to them: This is what the Lord says: Do [people] fall and not get up again? If they turn away, do they not return?

5 Why have these people turned away? Why is Jerusalem always turning away? They take hold of deceit; they refuse to return.

Footnotes

• [a]. 2 Sm 21:12-14; Ps 53:5; Ezk 6:5
• [b]. Dt 4:19; 2 Kg 17:16; 23:4-5
• [c]. Jr 9:22; 16:4; Ps 83:10