Jeremiah11

Jeremiah 11 records the LORD's command to Jeremiah to proclaim the terms of the covenant made with Israel's ancestors, emphasizing the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The LORD reveals that Judah and Jerusalem have conspired to break this covenant by returning to idolatry, leading to an inescapable divine judgment. Furthermore, Jeremiah discovers a plot against his own life, prompting him to appeal to the LORD for justice against his persecutors.
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The Broken Covenant and Imminent Judgment

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The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
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Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; ​
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And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, ​
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Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: ​
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That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD. ​
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Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
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For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
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Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not. ​
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And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ​
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They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
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Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. ​
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Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. ​
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For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal. ​
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Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. ​
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What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest. ​
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The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. ​
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For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.

Jeremiah Laments the Plot against Him

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And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings. ​
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But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. ​
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But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause. ​

Judgment upon the Men of Anathoth

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Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand: ​
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Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:
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And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation. ​

Study Notes for Jeremiah 11

Verse 2

The 'words of this covenant' primarily refer to the stipulations of the Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy), which detailed blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.

Verse 3

This verse echoes the covenant structure found in Deuteronomy 27:26, emphasizing that failure to obey the entire Law brings the covenant curses.

Verse 4

The phrase 'iron furnace' (Heb. *kur barzel*) is a metaphor for the harsh slavery in Egypt (Deut. 4:20), highlighting the severity of the redemption God performed for Israel.

Verse 5

Jeremiah’s response, 'So be it, O LORD' (*Amen*), affirms the justice and faithfulness of God in upholding His covenant promises, even when they lead to judgment.

Verse 8

The people chose to follow the 'imagination of their evil heart' rather than the covenant law. This emphasizes that Israel’s failure was rooted in willful internal rebellion, not simple ignorance.

Verse 9

The term 'conspiracy' (*qesher*) implies an organized revolt against YHWH, often involving the political and religious leadership promoting idolatry.

Verse 11

The judgment is described as inescapable, a direct reversal of the covenant promise of safety. Their distress will be so great that their cries will be ignored by God.

Verse 12

In their desperation, they will turn to the idols they previously served, only to find that these false gods are powerless to save them in the time of crisis.

Verse 13

This verse satirically connects the proliferation of gods with the size of the territory. The term 'shameful thing' (Heb. *bosheth*) is a deliberate derogatory substitution for Baal.

Verse 14

This is the first of several explicit divine prohibitions against Jeremiah interceding for the people (cf. 7:16; 14:11), indicating that the judgment is irrevocably set.

Verse 15

This figurative verse uses the metaphor of an unfaithful wife (Judah, 'my beloved') defiling the temple ('mine house'). The 'holy flesh' likely refers to the sacrificial offerings, which are now nullified due to the broken covenant.

Verse 16

The olive tree symbolized Israel’s beauty, vitality, and chosen status (Hos. 14:6). The fire and broken branches signify the coming destruction and exile.

Verse 18

This marks the beginning of Jeremiah’s second major confession (or lament). God supernaturally revealed the murderous plot to Jeremiah, shifting the focus from national sin to the prophet's personal peril.

Verse 19

Jeremiah portrays himself as unsuspecting, like a sacrificial animal unaware of its fate. This highlights the treachery of his enemies, who were likely his own kinsmen.

Verse 20

Jeremiah appeals to God’s role as the righteous Judge who 'tries the reins and the heart' (examines the innermost thoughts and motives). This prayer asks for vindication through divine justice.

Verse 21

The plot originated in Anathoth, Jeremiah’s hometown, suggesting that his own family, neighbors, or fellow priests were threatened by his uncompromising prophetic message.

Verse 23

'The year of their visitation' is a technical term for the time when God definitively executes judgment. The destruction of Anathoth serves as a microcosm of the coming national judgment upon Judah.

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