Looking for Jeremiah

[JLG]

72) Looking for Jeremiah


But why did the Jews experience such awful suffering and devastation? How and why did the King of Babylon destroy Jerusalem? First, let’s look at the life of the man, Nebuchadnezzar.

The Man Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar is popularly known as the destroyer of Solomon’s Temple. He was also the King of Babylon. He was the son of Nabopolassar the Chaldean, who ruled over much of the civilised world from 604 to 562 BC.

His original name was Nebuchadrezza, which means “O god Nabu, preserve my firstborn son.” However, when Jerusalem was sacked in 587 BC, the Israelites made fun of the king’s name and renamed it Nebuchadnezzar, meaning “O god Nabu, protect my jackass”.

The King of Babylon is infamous for destroying the jewish presence in the Land of Israel. He then exiled the vast majority of its citizens to Babylon, after he had desecrated and burnt the nation’s Holy Temple.

 

[JLG]

73) Looking for Jeremiah

Ascension to Power

King Nebuchadnezzar II was the longest reigned and most powerful ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who allegedly built the first public museum in world history in his royal palace in Babylon and, of course, the Hanging Gardens of babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World, which he built for his wife, the Median Queen Amytis because she missed the green hills and valleys of her country.

One of the greatest generals in history, King Alexander the Great of Macedonia would later die in this same royal palace, 239 years after King Nebuchadnezzar’s death, on June 11, 323 BC.

Despite being a man of diminutive height, Nebuchadnezzar had great ambitions. He dreamt of conquering the world and made no attempt to keep it secret. As a prince, he was frequently mocked as to how a short man could reign over the entire world.

Yet, with the ferocity of a roaring lion, Nebuchadnezzar came to power and struck terror in the hearts of the people. As his father, King Nabopolassar’s chief military officer he was no stranger to the art of war and cruelty. According to the Talmud, during his reign, nebuchadnezzar cast such terror upon men that when he died and appeared in hell, extreme fear overwhelmed those who were there, fearing that he had come to impose his rule over them.

Nebuchadnezzar declared himself a god, “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High,” Isaiah 14:14. Before long he had become the world superpower. His most fearsome general, Nebuzaradan carved the king’s image unto his chariot and trembled in fear of his master even when he was far away.

Not only was the whole human world subject to nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah’s prophecy put forth the surprising revelation that he was also granted authority over the animal kingdom: “Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subjectv to him,” Jeremiah 27:6.

Thus, Nebuchadnezzar was said to ride on the back of a male lion as a snake was tied to its head.

 

[JLG]

74) Looking for Jeremiah

Nebuchadnezzar conquers Israel

During the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar conquered and destroyed the fortified city of Ashkelon, after which he consolidated his authority over the land of Israel.

All the kings of Syria and Israel, including Jehoiakim of Judah, were compelled to pay tribute to nebuchadnezzar. This was a bitter pill for Jehoiakim to swallow as he had been appointed by the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho, a sworn enemy of Nebuchadnezzar.

In 598 BC, after three years of submission to Nebuchadnezzar, King Jehoikim attempted to shake off the yoke of Babylon and pledge allegiance to Egypt. The revolt was suppressed and Jehoiakim was bound in chains, prepared to be taken to babylon. However, he died a horrible death after being dragged through the streets outside Jerusalem, where his corpse was thrown. Jehoiakim’s death fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah:

“Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:”They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’

“He will have the burial of a donkey - dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.” - Jeremiah 22:18-19.

After Jehoiakim’s death, his eighteen-year-old son, Jehoiachin became the king of Judah. However, the teenage king reigned for just three months as his reign was cut short when Nebuchadnezzar came down to Jerusalem. He captured all of the country’s officials and tens of thousands of others. He also plundered all the treasures of Solomon’s Temple and the King’s Palace and took them with him to Babylon.

Then nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah to the throne, and subjugated the neighbouring empires - including Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon - to Zedekiah. His reign lasted 11 years, before he, too, conspired with the Egyptians and rebelled against Babylon, despite his promise to remain loyal to Nebuchadnezzar.

 

[JLG]

75) Looking for Jeremiah

A Crushing Response to Zedekiah’s Rebellion

Nebuchadnezzar had always been cautious of conflict with Israel and its Holy Temple, as he did not believe that God would sanction the destruction of Jerusalem.

In order to establish the divine intention, Nebuchadnezzar, after he had enlisted the services of a sorcerer, fired several arrows in the direction of different nations. All the arrows he fired split, apart from the one in the direction of Jerusalem. He then perceived it as a sign that he would be victorious.

Nevertheless, he was worried that he would meet the same fate as Sennacherib, the Assyrian king who had miraculously vanquished several years earlier, so he set up his headquarters in Riblah, present-day Syria near the border with Lebanon and he sent his general, Nebuzaradan to destroy Judah.

Nebuchadnezzar warned Nebuzaradan that he would face defeat if he allowed the Jews to pray and repent of their evil ways. He also instructed him to drive them out as if they were being hunted by a lion and not to stop until they reached the rivers of Babylon.

 

[JLG]

76) Looking for Jeremiah

Nebuchadnezzar Destroys Jerusalem

Nebuchadnezzar barricaded Jerusalem for nearly two years and eventually breached the walls of the city in the month of Tammuz, that is, July 587 BC.

He had arrayed Nebuzaradan with 300 mules loaded with iron axes that could cut iron. All, but one, were destroyed in an effort to open one of the gates of Jerusalem. While briefly considering the withdrawal from the city, Nebuzaradan made a final attempt with the remaining axe as the gates gave way on July 7.

On July 9, 587 BC, Nebuzaradan then went on to destroy the Holy Temple, the palace of the King, and all its dwellings by fire. While Zedekiah initially managed to escape through an underground passage leading to Jericho, he was captured, after his soldiers had deserted him, and taken away to appear before Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah.

 

[JLG]

77) Looking for Jeremiah

Exile to Babylon

Once there, the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before him, blinded him, tied him in chains, and sent him as a prisoner to Babylon. Then he took King Solomon’s throne and attempted to preside over Zedekiah’s fate sitting on it, but he was stopped from doing so. When the Jews arrived in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar spared no effort to humiliate them. He made them march down the riverbank, bound and naked, while he watched from a royal ship on the water. Among the exiles were Jewish youths whose beauty was so striking. Nebuchadnezzar had them executed and their bodies mutilated and trampled underfoot to prevent the Chaldean women from seeing their beauty and desiring it. A daring attempt by some 80,000 young priests to escape ended in tragedy.

 

[JLG]

78) Looking for Jeremiah

The Dreams and idolatry of Nebuchadnezzar

The stories concerning Nebuchadnezzar’s attempts to ensnare the Jews in the practice of idolatry, the insanity that followed him for seven years, his good acts toward the Jewish poor in his later years, and other narratives have been chronicled in diverse writings. You can read more about Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible book of Daniel.

 

[JLG]

79) Looking for Jeremiah

The Death of Nebuchadnezzar

The prophet Daniel had been one of Nebuchadnezzar’s trusted advisors during the reign of the king and was elevated to a new place of influence because of his ability to interpret dreams.

One day, Nebuchadnezzar woke up from one of his dreams, frightened. He found himself in a dream living like a farm animal, eating grass from the field, and losing his ability to reason. He then asked Daniel for an interpretation. Daniel told him that he would quickly fall into an animal-like life and that the only way to keep his mental health from failing was to offer charity.

Nebuchadnezzar opened his storehouses and for a year gave charity to those who wanted it most, especially the recently-exiled Jews.

As the year went by, he grew resentful and closed his storehouses, thereby stopping the giving of the charity, because his mental health had shown no decline.

Nebuchadnezzar then began to behave like an animal and had to be removed from the throne. He was in his state for seven years. His son, Evil-Merodach (Amel-Mardul) ruled in his place as regent during the period of Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity. After the seven years had elapsed, Nebuchadnezzar returned to his senses and emerged from his exile where he found his son seated on his throne. Immediately, Evil-Merodach was thrown into prison for life and held responsible for what had happened to his father. He remained there until the death of Nebuchadnezzar in 562 BC.

As long as Nebuchadnezzar lived, no man smiled. Therefore, at his death, the entire world burst forth in triumphant jubilation.

Upon the death of his father, the Babylonian advisors asked Evil-Merodach to take up his rightful place, which he declined until he was certain his father was really dead. The advisors then exhume Nebuchadnezzar’s body and then proceeded to stab the corpse repeatedly beforev dragging it through the streets of Babylon. This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy:

“But you are cast youtube of your grave like a rejected branch, covered by those slain with the sword, and dumped into a rocky pit, like a carcass trampled underfoot.” Isaiah 14:19

 

[JLG]

Map of the Twelve Tribes of Israel Joshua divides the land 1400 BC

 

[JLG]

Divided Kingdom of Northern Israel and Judah Map

 

[JLG]

Map of Israel - Nations Online Project

 

[JLG]

80) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:18

In those

הָהֵ֔מָּה (hā·hêm·māh)

Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural

Strong's 1992: They


days

בַּיָּמִ֣ים (bay·yā·mîm)

Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural

Strong's 3117: A day


the house

בֵית־ (ḇêṯ-)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 1004: A house


of Judah

יְהוּדָ֖ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites


will walk

יֵלְכ֥וּ (yê·lə·ḵū)

Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk


with

עַל־ (‘al-)

Preposition

Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


the house

בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 1004: A house


of Israel,

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


and they will come

וְיָבֹ֤אוּ (wə·yā·ḇō·’ū)

Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural

Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go


together

יַחְדָּו֙ (yaḥ·dāw)

Adverb

Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly


from the land

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ)

Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct

Strong's 776: Earth, land


of the north

צָפ֔וֹן (ṣā·p̄ō·wn)

Noun - feminine singular

Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter


to

עַל־ (‘al-)

Preposition

Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


the land

הָאָ֕רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)

Article | Noun - feminine singular

Strong's 776: Earth, land


I have given your ancestors

אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·ḵem)

Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural

Strong's 1: Father


as an inheritance.

הִנְחַ֖לְתִּי (hin·ḥal·tî)

Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular

Strong's 5157: To inherit, to occupy, to bequeath, distribute, instate

• Judah and Israel will walk together!

 

[JLG]

81) Looking for Jeremiah

• When was the kingdom of Israel destroyed?

• around 720 BCE
• The Kingdom of Israel was destroyed around 720 BCE, when it was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire. While the Kingdom of Judah remained intact during this time, it became a client state of first the Neo-Assyrian Empire and then the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

• History of ancient Israel and Judah - Wikipedia​

• When was the kingdom of Judah destroyed?

• 587 BCE
• In 587 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar II besieged and destroyed Jerusalem, bringing an end to the kingdom. A large number of Judeans were exiled to Babylon, and the fallen kingdom was then annexed as a Babylonian province.
• 
  

• Kingdom of Judah - Wikipedia​

• When was Jerusalem rebuilt?

• After Babylon had fallen to Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Achaemenid Empire, in 539 BCE, he allowed the exiled Judeans to return to Zion and rebuild Jerusalem. The Second Temple was completed in 516 BCE.
• 
  

• Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC) - Wikipedia​

• History of ancient Israel and Judah - Wikipedia

The exilic period, which saw the development of the Israelite religion (Yahwism) towards the distinct monotheism of Judaism, ended with the fall of Babylon to the Achaemenid Persian Empire around 538 BCE. Subsequently, Persian king Cyrus the Great issued a proclamation known as the Edict of Cyrus, which authorized and encouraged exiled Jews to return to the Land of Israel.[9][10] Cyrus' proclamation began the exiles' return to Zion, inaugurating the formative period in which a more distinctive Jewish identity was developed in the Persian province of Yehud. During this time, the destroyed Solomon's Temple was replaced by the Second Temple, marking the beginning of the Second Temple period.

During the Hellenistic period, Yehud was absorbed into the Hellenistic kingdoms that followed the conquests of Alexander the Great. The 2nd century BCE saw a successful Jewish revolt against the Seleucid Empire and the subsequent formation of the Hasmonean kingdom—the last nominally independent kingdom of Israel. The Hasmonean kingdom gradually began to lose its independence from 63 BCE onwards, under Pompey the Great. It eventually became a client state of the Roman Republic and later of the Parthian Empire. Following the installation of client kingdoms under the Herodian dynasty, the Roman province of Judaea was wracked by civil disturbances, which culminated in the First Jewish–Roman War. The Jewish defeat by the Roman Empire in this conflict saw the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE as well as the emergence of Rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity. The name Judaea (Iudaea) then ceased to be used by the Greco-Romans. After the Bar Kokhba revolt of 135 CE, the majority of Jews in the Levant were expelled, after which Judaea was renamed by the Romans to Syria Palaestina.

• As you can see on the map of today’s Israel, the territory of Israel has nothing to do with what it was at the time of Joshua and even when Israel and Judah were separated!

• When Jesus came, the Jews were waiting for someone who could free them from the Romans!

• But Jesus didn’t come for that!

• Thus we come back to the New Jerusalem!

• When God’s kingdom will take the lead!

 

[JLG]

82) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:18

In those

הָהֵ֔מָּה (hā·hêm·māh)

Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural

Strong's 1992: They


days

בַּיָּמִ֣ים (bay·yā·mîm)

Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural

Strong's 3117: A day


the house

בֵית־ (ḇêṯ-)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 1004: A house


of Judah

יְהוּדָ֖ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites


will walk

יֵלְכ֥וּ (yê·lə·ḵū)

Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk


with

עַל־ (‘al-)

Preposition

Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


the house

בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 1004: A house


of Israel,

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


and they will come

וְיָבֹ֤אוּ (wə·yā·ḇō·’ū)

Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural

Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go


together

יַחְדָּו֙ (yaḥ·dāw)

Adverb

Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly


from the land

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ)

Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct

Strong's 776: Earth, land


of the north

צָפ֔וֹן (ṣā·p̄ō·wn)

Noun - feminine singular

Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter


to

עַל־ (‘al-)

Preposition

Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


the land

הָאָ֕רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)

Article | Noun - feminine singular

Strong's 776: Earth, land


I have given your ancestors

אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·ḵem)

Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural

Strong's 1: Father


as an inheritance.

הִנְחַ֖לְתִּי (hin·ḥal·tî)

Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular

Strong's 5157: To inherit, to occupy, to bequeath, distribute, instate

• When Jerusalem and the temple were rebuilt, it was never like before!
• The country was under the control of different powers throughout history!
• But sooner or later will come the New Jerusalem and God’s kingdom!
• Then the different people of the earth will be united under one authority!

 

[JLG]

83) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:19


Then I

וְאָנֹכִ֣י (wə·’ā·nō·ḵî)

Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular

Strong's 595: I


said,

אָמַ֗רְתִּי (’ā·mar·tî)

Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular

Strong's 559: To utter, say


‘How

אֵ֚יךְ (’êḵ)

Interjection

Strong's 349: How?, how!, where


I long to make you

אֲשִׁיתֵ֣ךְ (’ă·šî·ṯêḵ)

Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular

Strong's 7896: To put, set


My sons

בַּבָּנִ֔ים (bab·bā·nîm)

Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural

Strong's 1121: A son


and give

וְאֶתֶּן־ (wə·’et·ten-)

Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular

Strong's 5414: To give, put, set


you a desirable

חֶמְדָּ֔ה (ḥem·dāh)

Noun - feminine singular

Strong's 2532: Desire, delight


land,

אֶ֣רֶץ (’e·reṣ)

Noun - feminine singular construct

Strong's 776: Earth, land


the most beautiful

צְבִ֖י (ṣə·ḇî)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 6643: Splendor, a gazelle


inheritance

נַחֲלַ֥ת (na·ḥă·laṯ)

Noun - feminine singular construct

Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion


of all

צִבְא֣וֹת (ṣiḇ·’ō·wṯ)

Noun - masculine plural construct

Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign


the nations.’

גּוֹיִ֑ם (gō·w·yim)

Noun - masculine plural

Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts


I thought

וָאֹמַ֗ר (wā·’ō·mar)

Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular

Strong's 559: To utter, say


you would call Me


תִּקְרְאִי־ (tiq·rə·’î-)

Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular

Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read


‘Father’

אָבִי֙ (’ā·ḇî)

Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular

Strong's 1: Father


and never

לֹ֥א (lō)

Adverb - Negative particle

Strong's 3808: Not, no


turn away

תָשֽׁוּבִי׃ (ṯā·šū·ḇî)

Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular

Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again


from following Me.

וּמֵאַחֲרַ֖י (ū·mê·’a·ḥă·ray)

Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | first person common singular

Strong's 310: The hind or following part

• I long to make you my sons!
• And give you a desirable land!
• The most beautiful inheritance of all the nations!
• But for that they should have behaved like real sons!
• And they should have followed God!
• God is so incredible!
• Just unbelievable!

 

[JLG]

84) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:20


But

אָכֵ֛ן (’ā·ḵên)

Adverb

Strong's 403: Firmly, surely, but


as a woman

אִשָּׁ֖ה (’iš·šāh)

Noun - feminine singular

Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female


may betray

בָּגְדָ֥ה (bā·ḡə·ḏāh)

Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular

Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage


her husband,

מֵרֵעָ֑הּ (mê·rê·‘āh)

Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular

Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow


so

כֵּ֣ן (kên)

Adverb

Strong's 3651: So -- thus


you have betrayed Me,

בְּגַדְתֶּ֥ם (bə·ḡaḏ·tem)

Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural

Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage


O house

בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 1004: A house


of Israel,”

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


declares

נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 5002: An oracle


the LORD.

יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

• God compares Israel’s attitude to an unfaithful woman who has betrayed her husband!
• We can imagine his feelings if we understand the importance of marriage according to God!
• Especially when we remember that when he created Adam and Eve, he spoke about marriage as the most important institution!

 

[JLG]

85) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:21



A voice

ק֚וֹל (qō·wl)

Noun - masculine singular

Strong's 6963: A voice, sound


is heard

נִשְׁמָ֔ע (niš·mā‘)

Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular

Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently


on

עַל־ (‘al-)

Preposition

Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


the barren heights,

שְׁפָיִ֣ים (šə·p̄ā·yîm)

Noun - masculine plural

Strong's 8205: Bareness, a smooth or bare height


the children

בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)

Noun - masculine plural construct

Strong's 1121: A son


of Israel

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


weeping

בְּכִ֥י (bə·ḵî)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 1065: A weeping, a dripping


and begging for mercy,

תַחֲנוּנֵ֖י (ṯa·ḥă·nū·nê)

Noun - masculine plural construct

Strong's 8469: Supplication for favor


because

כִּ֤י (kî)

Conjunction

Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction


they have perverted

הֶעֱוּוּ֙ (he·‘ĕw·wū)

Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural

Strong's 5753: To bend, twist


their ways

דַּרְכָּ֔ם (dar·kām)

Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural

Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action


[and] forgotten

שָׁכְח֖וּ (šā·ḵə·ḥū)

Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural

Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention


the LORD

יְהֹוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


their God.

אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ (’ĕ·lō·hê·hem)

Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural

Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

• The children of Israel weep and beg for mercy!
• Because they have perverted and forgotten God!
• And they pay the price!
• The two verbs are essential!
• Perverted and forgotten!
• First, they perverted God’s word!
• Then they replaced it with man's tradition!
• Then they completely forget God’s word!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:22

“Return,

שׁ֚וּבוּ (ū·ḇū)

Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural

Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again


O faithless

שׁוֹבָבִ֔ים (šō·w·ḇā·ḇîm)

Adjective - masculine plural

Strong's 7726: Turning back, recusant, apostate


children,

בָּנִ֣ים (bā·nîm)

Noun - masculine plural

Strong's 1121: A son


[and] I will heal

אֶרְפָּ֖ה (’er·pāh)

Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular

Strong's 7495: To mend, to cure


your faithlessness.”

מְשׁוּבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם (mə·šū·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem)

Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural

Strong's 4878: Turning back, apostasy


“Here we are.

הִנְנוּ֙ (hin·nū)

Interjection | first person common plural

Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!


We come to You,

אָתָ֣נוּ (’ā·ṯā·nū)

Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural

Strong's 857: To arrive


for

כִּ֥י (kî)

Conjunction

Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction


You

אַתָּ֖ה (’at·tāh)

Pronoun - second person masculine singular

Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you


are the LORD

יְהֹוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


our God.

אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)

Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural

Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

• First they must return!
• So they must take the first step!
• Then God will help them recover!
• Otherwise they can forget it!
• Same for mankind!
• No step no help!
• Bad end!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:23


Surely

אָכֵ֥ן (’ā·ḵên)

Adverb

Strong's 403: Firmly, surely, but


deception

לַשֶּׁ֛קֶר (laš·še·qer)

Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular

Strong's 8267: Deception, disappointment, falsehood


[comes from] the hills,

מִגְּבָע֖וֹת (mig·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ)

Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural

Strong's 1389: A hillock


commotion

הָמ֣וֹן (hā·mō·wn)

Noun - masculine singular

Strong's 1995: A noise, tumult, crowd, disquietude, wealth


from the mountains,

הָרִ֑ים (hā·rîm)

Noun - masculine plural

Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country


but surely

אָכֵן֙ (’ā·ḵên)

Adverb

Strong's 403: Firmly, surely, but


the salvation

תְּשׁוּעַ֖ת (tə·šū·‘aṯ)

Noun - feminine singular construct

Strong's 8668: Deliverance, salvation


of Israel

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


is in the LORD

בַּיהֹוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)

Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


our God.

אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)

Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural

Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

• Deception!
• Commotion!
• Salvation!
• Just three words!
• It’s a question of personal choice!
• We get what we choose!
• It’s up to us to make the best choice for us!
• Then we must not complain!

 

[JLG]

88) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:24


From our youth,

מִנְּעוּרֵ֑ינוּ (min·nə·‘ū·rê·nū)

Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural

Strong's 5271: Youth, the state, the persons


that shameful [god]

וְהַבֹּ֗שֶׁת (wə·hab·bō·šeṯ)

Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular

Strong's 1322: Shame, shameful thing


has consumed

אָֽכְלָ֛ה (’ā·ḵə·lāh)

Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular

Strong's 398: To eat


what our fathers

אֲבוֹתֵ֖ינוּ (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·nū)

Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural

Strong's 1: Father


have worked for—

יְגִ֥יעַ (yə·ḡî·a‘)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 3018: Toil, a work, produce, property


their flocks

צֹאנָם֙ (ṣō·nām)

Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural

Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock


and herds,

בְּקָרָ֔ם (bə·qā·rām)

Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural

Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd


their sons

בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם (bə·nê·hem)

Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural

Strong's 1121: A son


and daughters.

בְּנוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (bə·nō·w·ṯê·hem)

Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural

Strong's 1323: A daughter

• Israel’s spiritual prostitution has destroyed everything their forefathers have worked for by staying faithful!
• They will lose everything they possess, cattle and children!
• It will be the same with mankind!
• But when people don’t care, what should God care!

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Remember:

• If you think like today’s people, you will never understand the Bible!
• They used to write differently!
• They used to speak differently!
• They used to think differently!
• They used to act differently!

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