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.

The Broken Covenant and Imminent Judgment

1
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2
Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; ​
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and say to them, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Cursed is the man who doesn’t hear the words of this covenant, ​
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which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so you shall be my people, and I will be your God; ​
5
that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Then answered I, and said, Amen, LORD. ​
6
The LORD said to me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear the words of this covenant, and do them.
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For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
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Yet they didn’t obey, nor turn their ear, but walked everyone in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they didn’t do them. ​
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The LORD said to 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, who refused to hear my words; and they are gone 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 says the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil on them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry to me, but I will not listen to them. ​
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Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense: but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble. ​
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For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal. ​
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Therefore don’t pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble. ​
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What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has worked lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from you? when you do evil, then you rejoice. ​
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The LORD called your name, A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken. ​
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For the LORD of Hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have worked for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal.

Jeremiah Laments the Plot against Him

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The LORD gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then you showed me their doings. ​
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But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I didn’t know that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, 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, the LORD of Hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I shall see your vengeance on them; for to you have I revealed my cause. ​

Judgment upon the Men of Anathoth

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Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, You shall not prophesy in the LORD’s name, that you not die by our hand; ​
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therefore thus says 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 to them: for I will bring evil on 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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