Study Desk

Because you have broken the terms of our covenant, I will cut you apart just as you cut apart the calf when you walked between its halves to solemnize your vows.

but they refused. "No," they said, "we don't drink wine, because our ancestor Jehonadab son of Recab gave us this command: ‘You and your descendants must never drink wine.

The Recabites do not drink wine to this day because their ancestor Jehonadab told them not to. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you refuse to obey me.

"Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you refuse to listen or answer when I call, I will send upon Judah and Jerusalem all the disasters I have threatened.'"

Then say to the king, ‘This is what the Lord says: You burned the scroll because it said the king of Babylon would destroy this land and empty it of people and animals.

When the Babylonian army left Jerusalem because of Pharaoh's approaching army,

Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord , have spoken!'"

Baruch son of Neriah has convinced you to say this, because he wants us to stay here and be killed by the Babylonians or be carried off into exile."

It was because the Lord could no longer bear all the disgusting things you were doing that he made your land an object of cursing—a desolate ruin without inhabitants—as it is today.

All these terrible things happened to you because you have burned incense to idols and sinned against the Lord . You have refused to obey him and have not followed his instructions, his decrees, and his laws."

Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill, you will be taken captive. Your god Chemosh, with his priests and officials, will be hauled off to distant lands!

Because of the Lord 's anger, Babylon will become a deserted wasteland. All who pass by will be horrified and will gasp at the destruction they see there.

Take from Babylon all those who plant crops; send all the harvesters away. Because of the sword of the enemy, everyone will run away and rush back to their own lands.

A drought will strike her water supply, causing it to dry up. And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols, and the people are madly in love with them.

"We are ashamed," the people say. "We are insulted and disgraced because the Lord 's Temple has been defiled by foreigners."

Then say, ‘In this same way Babylon and her people will sink, never again to rise, because of the disasters I will bring upon her.'" This is the end of Jeremiah's messages.

These things happened because of the Lord 's anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah, until he finally banished them from his presence and sent them into exile. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.

Tears stream from my eyes because of the destruction of my people!

Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the sins of her priests, who defiled the city by shedding innocent blood.