Jeremiah 11:1-8

1 verbum quod factum est ad Hieremiam a Domino dicens

2 audite verba pacti huius et loquimini ad viros Iuda et habitatores Hierusalem

3 et dices ad eos haec dicit Dominus Deus Israhel maledictus vir qui non audierit verba pacti huius

4 quod praecepi patribus vestris in die qua eduxi eos de terra Aegypti de fornace ferrea dicens audite vocem meam et facite omnia quae praecipio vobis et eritis mihi in populum et ego ero vobis in Deum

5 ut suscitem iuramentum quod iuravi patribus vestris daturum me eis terram fluentem lacte et melle sicut est dies haec et respondi et dixi amen Domine

6 et dixit Dominus ad me vociferare omnia verba haec in civitatibus Iuda et foris Hierusalem dicens audite verba pacti huius et facite illa

7 quia contestans contestatus sum patres vestros in die qua eduxi eos de terra Aegypti usque ad diem hanc mane surgens contestatus sum et dixi audite vocem meam

8 et non audierunt nec inclinaverunt aurem suam sed abierunt unusquisque in pravitate cordis sui mali et induxi super eos omnia verba pacti huius quod praecepi ut facerent et non fecerunt

Jeremiah 11:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 11

This chapter gives an account of the covenant God had made with the people of the Jews; their breach of it; and the evils threatened them on that account; and particularly against the men of Anathoth, for their ill treatment of the prophet. It begins with the order to Jeremiah to rehearse the words of the covenant in the ears of the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Jer 11:1-3, which covenant is described by the sanction of it; a curse in case of disobedience; and a promise of being their God, and bringing them into the good land, in case of obedience; and by the time when it was made, when the Israelites were brought out of Egypt, Jer 10:3-5, which order, the prophet agreeing to, is repeated, Jer 10:5,6 declaring the earnest protestation and exhortation of God to obey it, which they not observing, were threatened with the curses of it, Jer 11:7,8, the present Jews doing as their forefathers had done, breaking the covenant, particularly by their idolatry, are threatened also with punishment they should not escape, Jer 11:9-11 which is aggravated by a resolution to show no regard to their cries, Jer 11:11, by the impotence of their idols to save them, though so numerous, Jer 11:12,13, by forbidding the prophet to pray for them, Jer 11:14, by their having no longer a place and protection in the house of God, because of their wickedness, Jer 11:15, by comparing their former and present state together, having been as a beautiful and fruitful olive tree, but now burnt, and its branches broken, Jer 11:16, next follows an account of a design of the men of Anathoth against the prophet, to take away his life, which he was ignorant of, till the Lord gave him knowledge of it, Jer 11:17-19, when he imprecates vengeance on them, Jer 11:20, and, under a spirit of prophecy from the Lord, foretells their utter ruin and destruction, Jer 11:21,22.