Study Desk

Judah to Serve Nebuchadnezzar

Early in the reign of Zedekiah^[a](a) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord :

This is what the Lord said to me: "Make a yoke^(b) out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck.

Then send^(c) word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon,^(d) Tyre and Sidon^(e) through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah.

Give them a message for their masters and say, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Tell this to your masters:

With my great power and outstretched arm^(f) I made^(g) the earth and its people and the animals^(h) that are on it, and I give⁽ⁱ⁾ it to anyone I please.

Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant^(j) Nebuchadnezzar^(k) king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him.^(l)

All nations will serve^(m) him and his son and his grandson until the time⁽ⁿ⁾ for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate^(o) him.

"‘"If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish^(p) that nation with the sword,^(q) famine^(r) and plague,^(s) declares the Lord , until I destroy it by his hand.

So do not listen to your prophets,^(t) your diviners,^(u) your interpreters of dreams,^(v) your mediums^(w) or your sorcerers^(x) who tell you, ‘You will not serve^(y) the king of Babylon.'

They prophesy lies^(z) to you that will only serve to remove^(aa) you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish.

But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke^(ab) of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live^(ac) there, declares the Lord ."'"

I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, "Bow your neck under the yoke^(ad) of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.^(ae)

Why will you and your people die^(af) by the sword, famine and plague^(ag) with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

Do not listen^(ah) to the words of the prophets^(ai) who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,' for they are prophesying lies^(aj) to you.

‘I have not sent^(ak) them,' declares the Lord . ‘They are prophesying lies in my name.^(al) Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish,^(am) both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.'"

Then I said to the priests and all these people, "This is what the Lord says: Do not listen to the prophets who say, ‘Very soon now the articles^(an) from the Lord 's house will be brought back from Babylon.' They are prophesying lies to you.

Do not listen^(ao) to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live.^(ap) Why should this city become a ruin?

If they are prophets and have the word of the Lord , let them plead^(aq) with the Lord Almighty that the articles remaining in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem not be taken to Babylon.

For this is what the Lord Almighty says about the pillars, the bronze Sea,^(ar) the movable stands and the other articles^(as) that are left in this city,

which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away when he carried^(at) Jehoiachin^[b](au) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem—

yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about the things that are left in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem:

‘They will be taken^(av) to Babylon and there they will remain until the day^(aw) I come for them,' declares the Lord . ‘Then I will bring^(ax) them back and restore them to this place.'"

The False Prophet Hananiah

In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah^(a) king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon,^(b) said to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people:

"This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke^(c) of the king of Babylon.

Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles^(d) of the Lord 's house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon.

I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin^[a](e) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,' declares the Lord , ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'"^(f)

Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord .

He said, "Amen! May the Lord do so! May the Lord fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the Lord 's house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.^(g)

Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:

From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague^(h) against many countries and great kingdoms.

But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true.⁽ⁱ⁾"

Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke^(j) off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it,

and he said^(k) before all the people, "This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.'" At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.

After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:

"Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron.

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke^(l) on the necks of all these nations to make them serve^(m) Nebuchadnezzar⁽ⁿ⁾ king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.^(o)'"

Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent^(p) you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies.^(q)

Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth.^(r) This very year you are going to die,^(s) because you have preached rebellion^(t) against the Lord .'"

In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.^(u)

A Letter to the Exiles

This is the text of the letter^(a) that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.^(b)

(This was after King Jehoiachin^[a](c) and the queen mother,^(d) the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.)

He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried^(e) into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

"Build^(f) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.

Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.^(g)

Also, seek^(h) the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray⁽ⁱ⁾ to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets^(j) and diviners among you deceive^(k) you. Do not listen to the dreams^(l) you encourage them to have.^(m)

They are prophesying lies⁽ⁿ⁾ to you in my name. I have not sent^(o) them," declares the Lord .

This is what the Lord says: "When seventy years^(p) are completed for Babylon, I will come to you^(q) and fulfill my good promise^(r) to bring you back^(s) to this place.

For I know the plans^(t) I have for you," declares the Lord , "plans to prosper^(u) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.^(v)

Then you will call^(w) on me and come and pray^(x) to me, and I will listen^(y) to you.

You will seek^(z) me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.^(aa)

I will be found by you," declares the Lord , "and will bring you back^(ab) from captivity.^[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord , "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."^(ac)

You may say, "The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,"

but this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David's throne and all the people who remain in this city, your fellow citizens who did not go with you into exile—

yes, this is what the Lord Almighty says: "I will send the sword, famine and plague^(ad) against them and I will make them like figs^(ae) that are so bad they cannot be eaten.

I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent^(af) to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse^[c](ag) and an object of horror,^(ah) of scorn^(ai) and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them.

For they have not listened to my words,"^(aj) declares the Lord , "words that I sent to them again and again^(ak) by my servants the prophets.^(al) And you exiles have not listened either," declares the Lord .

Therefore, hear the word of the Lord , all you exiles whom I have sent^(am) away from Jerusalem to Babylon.

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies^(an) to you in my name: "I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will put them to death before your very eyes.

Because of them, all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned^(ao) in the fire.'

For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery^(ap) with their neighbors' wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know^(aq) it and am a witness^(ar) to it," declares the Lord .

Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite,

"This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah^(as) son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah,

‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the Lord ; you should put any maniac^(at) who acts like a prophet into the stocks^(au) and neck-irons.

So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you?

He has sent this message^(av) to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.^(aw) Therefore build^(ax) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.'"

Zephaniah^(ay) the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet.

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:

"Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah^(az) the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send^(ba) him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies,

this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.^(bb) He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good^(bc) things I will do for my people, declares the Lord , because he has preached rebellion^(bd) against me.'"

Restoration of Israel

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord :

"This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: ‘Write^(a) in a book all the words I have spoken to you.

The days^(b) are coming,' declares the Lord , ‘when I will bring^(c) my people Israel and Judah back from captivity^[a] and restore^(d) them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,' says the Lord ."

These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah:

"This is what the Lord says: "‘Cries of fear^(e) are heard— terror, not peace.

Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor,^(f) every face turned deathly pale?^(g)

How awful that day^(h) will be! No other will be like it. It will be a time of trouble⁽ⁱ⁾ for Jacob, but he will be saved^(j) out of it.

"‘In that day,' declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will break the yoke^(k) off their necks and will tear off their bonds;^(l) no longer will foreigners enslave them.^(m)

Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David⁽ⁿ⁾ their king,^(o) whom I will raise up for them.

"‘So do not be afraid,^(p) Jacob my servant;^(q) do not be dismayed, Israel,' declares the Lord . ‘I will surely save^(r) you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security,^(s) and no one will make him afraid.^(t)

I am with you^(u) and will save you,' declares the Lord . ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy^(v) you. I will discipline^(w) you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.'^(x)

"This is what the Lord says: "‘Your wound^(y) is incurable, your injury beyond healing.^(z)

There is no one to plead your cause,^(aa) no remedy for your sore, no healing^(ab) for you.

All your allies^(ac) have forgotten you; they care nothing for you. I have struck you as an enemy^(ad) would and punished you as would the cruel,^(ae) because your guilt is so great and your sins^(af) so many.

Why do you cry out over your wound, your pain that has no cure?^(ag) Because of your great guilt and many sins I have done these things to you.^(ah)

"‘But all who devour^(ai) you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile.^(aj) Those who plunder^(ak) you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil.

But I will restore you to health and heal^(al) your wounds,' declares the Lord , ‘because you are called an outcast,^(am) Zion for whom no one cares.'^(an)

"This is what the Lord says: "‘I will restore the fortunes^(ao) of Jacob's tents^(ap) and have compassion^(aq) on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt^(ar) on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place.

From them will come songs^(as) of thanksgiving^(at) and the sound of rejoicing.^(au) I will add to their numbers,^(av) and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor,^(aw) and they will not be disdained.

Their children^(ax) will be as in days of old, and their community will be established^(ay) before me; I will punish^(az) all who oppress them.

Their leader^(ba) will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them.^(bb) I will bring him near^(bc) and he will come close to me— for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?' declares the Lord .

"‘So you will be my people,^(bd) and I will be your God.^(be)'"

See, the storm^(bf) of the Lord will burst out in wrath, a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.

The fierce anger^(bg) of the Lord will not turn back^(bh) until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand^(bi) this.

"At that time," declares the Lord , "I will be the God^(a) of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people."

This is what the Lord says: "The people who survive the sword will find favor^(b) in the wilderness; I will come to give rest^(c) to Israel."

The Lord appeared to us in the past,^[a] saying: "I have loved^(d) you with an everlasting love; I have drawn^(e) you with unfailing kindness.

I will build you up again, and you, Virgin^(f) Israel, will be rebuilt.^(g) Again you will take up your timbrels^(h) and go out to dance⁽ⁱ⁾ with the joyful.^(j)

Again you will plant^(k) vineyards on the hills of Samaria;^(l) the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit.^(m)

There will be a day when watchmen⁽ⁿ⁾ cry out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.'"^(o)

This is what the Lord says: "Sing^(p) with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost^(q) of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, ‘ Lord , save^(r) your people, the remnant^(s) of Israel.'

See, I will bring them from the land of the north^(t) and gather^(u) them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind^(v) and the lame,^(w) expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.

They will come with weeping;^(x) they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead^(y) them beside streams of water^(z) on a level^(aa) path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father,^(ab) and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

"Hear the word of the Lord , you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands:^(ac) ‘He who scattered^(ad) Israel will gather^(ae) them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.'^(af)

For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem^(ag) them from the hand of those stronger^(ah) than they.

They will come and shout for joy^(ai) on the heights^(aj) of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty^(ak) of the Lord — the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,^(al) the young of the flocks^(am) and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden,^(an) and they will sorrow^(ao) no more.

Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning^(ap) into gladness; I will give them comfort^(aq) and joy^(ar) instead of sorrow.

I will satisfy^(as) the priests^(at) with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty,^(au)" declares the Lord .

This is what the Lord says: "A voice is heard in Ramah,^(av) mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,^(aw) because they are no more."^(ax)

This is what the Lord says: "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears,^(ay) for your work will be rewarded,^(az)" declares the Lord . "They will return^(ba) from the land of the enemy.

So there is hope^(bb) for your descendants," declares the Lord . "Your children^(bc) will return to their own land.

"I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: ‘You disciplined^(bd) me like an unruly calf,^(be) and I have been disciplined. Restore^(bf) me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God.

After I strayed,^(bg) I repented; after I came to understand, I beat^(bh) my breast. I was ashamed^(bi) and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.'^(bj)

Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child^(bk) in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember^(bl) him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion^(bm) for him," declares the Lord .

"Set up road signs; put up guideposts.^(bn) Take note of the highway,^(bo) the road that you take. Return,^(bp) Virgin^(bq) Israel, return to your towns.

How long will you wander,^(br) unfaithful^(bs) Daughter Israel? The Lord will create a new thing^(bt) on earth— the woman will return to^[b](bu) the man."

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "When I bring them back from captivity,^[c](bv) the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless^(bw) you, you prosperous city,^(bx) you sacred mountain.'^(by)

People will live^(bz) together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks.^(ca)

I will refresh the weary^(cb) and satisfy the faint."^(cc)

At this I awoke^(cd) and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

"The days are coming,"^(ce) declares the Lord , "when I will plant^(cf) the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals.

Just as I watched^(cg) over them to uproot^(ch) and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster,^(ci) so I will watch over them to build and to plant,"^(cj) declares the Lord .

"In those days people will no longer say, ‘The parents^(ck) have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'^(cl)

Instead, everyone will die for their own sin;^(cm) whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

"The days are coming," declares the Lord , "when I will make a new covenant^(cn) with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.

It will not be like the covenant^(co) I made with their ancestors^(cp) when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt,^(cq) because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband^(cr) to^[d] them,^[e]" declares the Lord .

"This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the Lord . "I will put my law in their minds^(cs) and write it on their hearts.^(ct) I will be their God, and they will be my people.^(cu)

No longer will they teach^(cv) their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord ,' because they will all know^(cw) me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the Lord . "For I will forgive^(cx) their wickedness and will remember their sins^(cy) no more."

This is what the Lord says, he who appoints^(cz) the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night,^(da) who stirs up the sea^(db) so that its waves roar^(dc)— the Lord Almighty is his name:^(dd)

"Only if these decrees^(de) vanish from my sight," declares the Lord , "will Israel^(df) ever cease being a nation before me."

This is what the Lord says: "Only if the heavens above can be measured^(dg) and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject^(dh) all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done," declares the Lord .

"The days are coming," declares the Lord , "when this city will be rebuilt^(di) for me from the Tower of Hananel^(dj) to the Corner Gate.^(dk)

The measuring line^(dl) will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah.

The whole valley^(dm) where dead bodies^(dn) and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley^(do) on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate,^(dp) will be holy^(dq) to the Lord . The city will never again be uprooted or demolished."