1Wehe den Hirten, welche die Schafe meiner Weide zu Grunde richten und zerstreuen! spricht Jehova. 2Darum spricht Jehova, der Gott Israels, also über die Hirten, die mein Volk weiden: Ihr habt meine Schafe zerstreut und sie vertrieben, und habt nicht nach ihnen gesehen ; siehe, ich werde die Bosheit eurer Handlungen an euch heimsuchen, spricht Jehova. 3Und ich werde den Überrest meiner Schafe sammeln aus all den Ländern, wohin ich sie vertrieben habe; und ich werde sie auf ihre Triften zurückbringen, daß sie fruchtbar seien und sich mehren. 4Und ich werde Hirten über sie erwecken, die sie weiden werden; und sie sollen sich nicht mehr fürchten und nicht erschrecken, noch vermißt werden, spricht Jehova. 5Siehe, Tage kommen, spricht Jehova, da ich dem David einen gerechten Sproß erwecken werde; und er wird als König regieren und verständig handeln, und Recht und Gerechtigkeit üben im Lande. 6In seinen Tagen wird Juda gerettet werden und Israel in Sicherheit wohnen; und dies wird sein Name sein, mit dem man ihn nennen wird: Jehova, unsere Gerechtigkeit . 7Darum siehe, Tage kommen, spricht Jehova, da man nicht mehr sagen wird: So wahr Jehova lebt, der die Kinder Israel aus dem Lande Ägypten heraufgeführt hat! - 8sondern: So wahr Jehova lebt, der den Samen des Hauses Israel heraufgeführt und ihn gebracht hat aus dem Lande des Nordens und aus all den Ländern, wohin ich sie vertrieben hatte! Und sie sollen in ihrem Lande wohnen. 9Über die Propheten. Mein Herz ist gebrochen in meinem Innern, es beben alle meine Gebeine; ich bin wie ein Trunkener und wie ein Mann, den der Wein überwältigt hat, wegen Jehovas und wegen seiner heiligen Worte. 10Denn das Land ist voll von Ehebrechern; denn das Land trauert wegen des Fluches, die Auen der Steppe verdorren, und ihr Lauf ist böse, und ihre Macht ist Unrecht. 11Denn sowohl Propheten als Priester sind ruchlos; sogar in meinem Hause habe ich ihre Bosheit gefunden, spricht Jehova. 12Darum wird ihnen ihr Weg sein wie schlüpfrige Orte in der Dunkelheit, sie werden gestoßen werden und auf ihm fallen; denn ich bringe Unglück über sie, das Jahr ihrer Heimsuchung, spricht Jehova. 13Und an den Propheten Samarias habe ich Torheit gesehen: Sie weissagten durch den Baal und führten mein Volk Israel irre. 14Aber an den Propheten Jerusalems habe ich Schauderhaftes gesehen: Ehebrechen und in der Lüge Wandeln, und sie stärken die Hände der Übeltäter, auf daß sie nicht umkehren, ein jeder von seiner Bosheit; sie sind mir allesamt wie Sodom geworden, und seine Bewohner wie Gomorra. 15Darum spricht Jehova der Heerscharen über die Propheten also: Siehe, ich will sie mit Wermut speisen und sie mit bitterem Wasser tränken; denn von den Propheten Jerusalems ist Ruchlosigkeit ausgegangen über das ganze Land. 16So spricht Jehova der Heerscharen: Höret nicht auf die Worte der Propheten, die euch weissagen; sie täuschen euch, sie reden das Gesicht ihres Herzens und nicht aus dem Munde Jehovas. 17Sie sagen stets zu denen, die mich verachten: "Jehova hat geredet: Ihr werdet Frieden haben"; und zu jedem, der in dem Starrsinn seines Herzens wandelt, sprechen sie: "Es wird kein Unglück über euch kommen". 18Denn wer hat im Rate Jehovas gestanden, daß er sein Wort gesehen und gehört hätte? Wer hat auf mein Wort gemerkt und gehört? 19Siehe, ein Sturmwind Jehovas, ein Grimm ist ausgegangen, ja, ein wirbelnder Sturmwind; er wird sich herniederwälzen auf den Kopf der Gesetzlosen. 20Nicht wenden wird sich der Zorn Jehovas, bis er getan und bis er ausgeführt hat die Gedanken seines Herzens. Am Ende der Tage werdet ihr dessen mit Verständnis inne werden. 21Ich habe die Propheten nicht gesandt, und doch sind sie gelaufen. Ich habe nicht zu ihnen geredet, und doch haben sie geweissagt. 22Hätten sie aber in meinem Rate gestanden, so würden sie mein Volk meine Worte hören lassen und es abbringen von seinem bösen Wege und von der Bosheit seiner Handlungen. - 23Bin ich ein Gott aus der Nähe, spricht Jehova, und nicht ein Gott aus der Ferne? 24Oder kann sich jemand in Schlupfwinkel verbergen, und ich sähe ihn nicht? spricht Jehova. Erfülle ich nicht den Himmel und die Erde? spricht Jehova. 25Ich habe gehört, was die Propheten sagen, die in meinem Namen Lüge weissagen und sprechen: Einen Traum, einen Traum habe ich gehabt! 26Wie lange sollen das im Sinne haben die Propheten, welche Lüge weissagen, und die Propheten des Truges ihres Herzens, 27welche gedenken meinen Namen bei meinem Volke in Vergessenheit zu bringen durch ihre Träume, die sie einer dem anderen erzählen, so wie ihre Väter meines Namens vergaßen über dem Baal? 28Der Prophet, der einen Traum hat, erzähle den Traum; und wer mein Wort hat, rede mein Wort in Wahrheit! Was hat das Stroh mit dem Korn gemein? spricht Jehova. 29Ist mein Wort nicht also - wie Feuer, spricht Jehova, und wie ein Hammer, der Felsen zerschmettert? 30Darum siehe, ich will an die Propheten, spricht Jehova, die einer vom anderen meine Worte stehlen. 31Siehe, ich will an die Propheten, spricht Jehova, die Zungen nehmen und sprechen: Er hat geredet . 32Siehe, ich will an die, spricht Jehova, welche Lügenträume weissagen und sie erzählen und mein Volk irreführen mit ihrer Prahlerei; da ich sie doch nicht gesandt und sie nicht entboten habe, und sie diesem Volke gar nichts nützen, spricht Jehova. 33Und wenn dieses Volk, oder ein Prophet oder ein Priester dich fragt und spricht: Was ist die Last Jehovas? so sprich zu ihnen: Was die Last sei? - ich werde euch abwerfen, spricht Jehova. 34Und der Prophet und der Priester und das Volk, welche sagen werden: "Last Jehovas", diesen Mann und sein Haus werde ich heimsuchen. 35Also sollt ihr sprechen, ein jeder zu seinem Nächsten und ein jeder zu seinem Bruder: Was hat Jehova geantwortet und was hat Jehova geredet? 36Und die Last Jehovas sollt ihr nicht mehr erwähnen, denn die Last wird für einen jeden sein eigenes Wort sein; denn ihr verdrehet die Worte des lebendigen Gottes, Jehovas der Heerscharen, unseres Gottes. 37Also sollst du zu dem Propheten sagen: Was hat Jehova dir geantwortet und was hat Jehova geredet? 38Wenn ihr aber saget: "Last Jehovas", darum, so spricht Jehova: Weil ihr dieses Wort saget: "Last Jehovas", und ich doch zu euch gesandt und gesprochen habe: Ihr sollt nicht sagen: "Last Jehovas" - 39darum, siehe, werde ich euch ganz vergessen, und euch und die Stadt, die ich euch und euren Vätern gegeben habe, von meinem Angesicht verstoßen; 40und ich werde ewigen Hohn auf euch legen und eine ewige Schande, die nicht vergessen werden wird.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE WICKED RULERS TO BE SUPERSEDED BY THE KING, WHO SHOULD REIGN OVER THE AGAIN UNITED PEOPLES, ISRAEL AND JUDAH. (Jer. 23:1-40)
pastors--Shallum, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah (
Ezek 34:2).
2 Ye have not . . . visited them . . . I will visit upon you--just retribution. Play upon the double sense of "visit." "Visit upon," namely, in wrath (
Exod 32:34).
3 Restoration of Judah from Babylon foretold in language which in its fulness can only apply to the final restoration of both "Judah" and "Israel" (compare
Jer 23:6); also "out of all countries," in this verse and
Jer 23:8; also, "neither shall they be lacking," that is, none shall be missing or detached from the rest: a prophecy never yet fully accomplished. It holds good also of the spiritual Israel, the elect of both Jews and Gentiles (
Mal 3:16-
Mal 3:17;
John 10:28;
John 17:12). As to the literal Israel also, see
Jer 32:37;
Isa 54:13;
Isa 60:21;
Ezek 34:11-
Ezek 34:16.
shepherds . . . shall feed them-- (
Jer 3:15;
Ezek 34:23-
Ezek 34:31). Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Maccabees were but typical of the consummating fulfilment of these prophecies under Messiah.
5 As Messianic prophecy extended over many years in which many political changes took place in harmony with these, it displayed its riches by a variety more effective than if it had been manifested all at once. As the moral condition of the Jews required in each instance, so Messiah was exhibited in a corresponding phase, thus becoming more and more the soul of the nation's life: so that He is represented as the antitypical Israel (
Isa 49:3).
unto David--HENGSTENBERG observes that Isaiah dwells more on His prophetical and priestly office, which had already been partly set forth (
Deut 18:18;
Ps 110:4). Other prophets dwell more on His kingly office. Therefore here He is associated with "David" the king: but in
Isa 11:1 with the then poor and unknown "Jesse."
righteous Branch--"the Branch of righteousness" (
Jer 33:15); "The Branch" simply (
Zech 3:8;
Zech 6:12); "The Branch of the Lord" (
Isa 4:2).
prosper--the very term applied to Messiah's undertaking (
Isa 52:13, Margin;
Isa 53:10). Righteousness or justice is the characteristic of Messiah elsewhere, too, in connection with our salvation or justification (
Isa 53:11;
Dan 9:24;
Zech 9:9). So in the New Testament He is not merely "righteous" Himself, but "righteousness to us" (
1Cor 1:30), so that we become "the righteousness of God in Him" (
Rom 10:3-
Rom 10:4;
2Cor 5:19-21;
Phil 3:9).
execute judgment and justice in the earth-- (
Ps 72:2;
Isa 9:7;
Isa 32:1,
Isa 32:18). Not merely a spiritual reign in the sense in which He is "our righteousness," but a righteous reign "in the earth" (
Jer 3:17-
Jer 3:18). In some passages He is said to come to judge, in others to reign. In
Matt 25:34, He is called "the King."
Ps 9:7 unites them. Compare
Dan 7:22,
Dan 7:26-
Dan 7:27.
6 Judah . . . Israel . . . dwell safely--Compare
Jer 33:16, where "Jerusalem" is substituted for "Israel" here. Only Judah, and that only in part, has as yet returned. So far are the Jews from having enjoyed, as yet, the temporal blessings here foretold as the result of Messiah's reign, that their lot has been, for eighteen centuries, worse than ever before. The accomplishment must, therefore, be still future, when both Judah and Israel in their own land shall dwell safely under a Christocracy, far more privileged than even the old theocracy (
Jer 32:37;
Deut 33:28; Isa. 54:1-17; 60:1-22;
Isa 65:17-
Isa 65:25;
Zech 14:11).
shall be called, the Lord--that is, shall be (
Isa 9:6) "Jehovah," God's incommunicable name. Though when applied to created things, it expresses only some peculiar connection they have with Jehovah (
Gen 22:14;
Exod 17:15), yet when applied to Messiah it must express His Godhead manifested in justifying power towards us (
1Tim 3:16).
our--marks His manhood, which is also implied in His being a Branch raised unto David, whence His human title, "Son of David" (compare
Matt 22:42-
Matt 22:45).
Righteousness--marks His Godhead, for God alone can justify the ungodly (compare
Rom 4:5;
Isa 45:17,
Isa 45:24-
Isa 45:25).
7 Repeated from
Jer 16:14-
Jer 16:15. The prophet said the same things often, in order that his sayings might make the more impression. The same promise as in
Jer 23:3-
Jer 23:4. The wide dispersion of the Jews at the Babylonish captivity prefigures their present wider dispersion (
Isa 11:11;
Joel 3:6). Their second deliverance is to exceed far the former one from Egypt. But the deliverance from Babylon was inferior to that from Egypt in respect to the miracles performed and the numbers delivered. The final deliverance under Messiah must, therefore, be meant, of which that from Babylon was the earnest.
9 because of the prophets--so the Masorites and Targum. But Vulgate, Septuagint, &c., make this the inscription of the prophecy, CONCERNING THE PROPHETS: as in
Jer 46:2;
Jer 48:1;
Jer 49:1. Jeremiah expresses his horror at the so-called "prophets" not warning the people, though iniquity so fearfully abounded, soon to be followed by awful judgments.
bones shake-- (
Hab 3:16).
drunken--God's judgments are represented as stupefying like wine. The effects of the Holy Spirit also are compared to those of wine (
Acts 2:17). In both cases ecstasy was produced. This accounts for the denial of wine to those likely to be inspired, Nazarites, &c. (
Luke 1:15). It was necessary to put it out of men's power to ascribe inspired ecstasy to the effects of wine.
because of . . . words of . . . holiness--because of Jehovah's holy words, wherewith He threatened severe penalties, soon to be inflicted, against the breakers of His law.
10 adulterers--spiritual, that is, forsakers of God, Israel's true Husband (
Isa 54:5) for idols, at the instigation of the false "prophets" (
Jer 23:9,
Jer 23:15). Literal adultery and fornication, the usual concomitants of idolatry, are also meant.
swearing--MAURER, &c., translate, "Because of the curse (of God on it), the land mourneth" (
Deut 27:15-
Deut 27:26; Deu. 28:15-68;
Isa 24:6). More than usual notoriety had been given to the curses of the law, by the finding and reading of it in Josiah's time (
2Kgs 22:11, &c.). But
Hos 4:2-
Hos 4:3, favors English Version (compare
Jer 12:4). A drought was sent by God on the pastures ("pleasant places," oases) in the desert, on account of the "profaneness" of the priests, prophets, and people (
Jer 23:11).
course . . . evil--They (both prophets and people) rush into wickedness (
Jer 23:21;
Isa 59:7).
force . . . not right--Their powers are used not on the side of rectitude, but on that of falsehood.
11 profane-- (
Ezek 23:39;
Zeph 3:4).
in my house-- (
Jer 7:30). They built altars to idols in the very temple (
2Kgs 23:12;
Ezek 8:3-
Ezek 8:16). Compare as to covetousness under the roof of the sanctuary,
Matt 21:13;
John 2:16.
12 slippery ways in . . . darkness--Their "way" is their false doctrine which proves fatal to them (
Jer 13:16;
Ps 35:6;
Pro 4:19).
I will bring evil . . . visitation--still more calamities than those already inflicted. See on
Jer 11:23; "visitation," namely, in wrath.
13 folly--literally, "insipidity," "unsavouriness" (
Job 6:6), not having the salt of godliness (
Col 4:6).
in Baal--in the name of Baal; in connection with his worship (see
Jer 2:8).
caused . . . to err-- (
Isa 9:16).
14 "Jerusalem" and Judah were even worse than "Samaria" and the ten tribes; the greater were the privileges of the former, the greater was their guilt. They had the temple in their midst, which the ten tribes had not; yet in the temple itself they practised idolatry.
strengthen . . . hands of evildoers-- (
Ezek 13:22).
as Sodom-- (
Deut 32:32;
Isa 1:10).
15 gall--poison (see on
Jer 8:14;
Jer 9:15).
16 make you vain--They seduce you to vanity, that is, idolatry, which will prove a vain trust to you (
Jer 2:5;
2Kgs 17:15;
Jonah 2:8), [GESENIUS]. Rather, "they delude you with vain promises of security" (
Jer 23:17; compare
Ps 62:10) [MAURER].
of their own heart--of their own invention (
Jer 23:21;
Jer 14:14).
17 say still--Hebrew, "say in saying," that is, say incessantly.
peace-- (
Jer 6:14;
Ezek 13:10;
Zech 10:2).
imagination--Hebrew, "obstinacy."
no evil-- (
Mic 3:11).
18 A reason is given why the false prophets should not be heeded: They have not stood in the counsels of Jehovah (an image from ministers present in a standing posture at councils of Eastern kings) (compare
Jer 23:22;
Job 15:8). The spiritual man alone has the privilege (
Gen 18:17;
Ps 25:14;
Amos 3:7;
John 15:15;
1Cor 2:16).
19 So far from all prosperity awaiting the people as the false prophets say (
Jer 23:17), wrath is in store for them.
grievous--literally, "eddying," whirling itself about, a tornado. In
Jer 30:23, "continuing" is substituted for "grievous."
fall grievously--it shall be hurled on.
20 in . . . latter days--that is, "the year of their visitation" (
Jer 23:12). Primarily the meaning is: the Jews will not "consider" now God's warnings (
Deut 32:29); but when the prophecies shall be fulfilled in their Babylonish exile, they will consider and see, by bitter experience, their sinful folly. The ultimate scope of the prophecy is: the Jews, in their final dispersion, shall at last "consider" their sin and turn to Messiah "perfectly" (
Hos 3:5;
Zech 12:5,
Zech 12:10-
Zech 12:14;
Luke 13:35).
21 sent . . . spoken--sent" refers to the primary call: "spoken" to the subsequent charges given to be executed. A call is required, not only external, on the part of men, but also internal from God, that one should undertake a pastor's office [CALVIN].
22 stood in . . . counsel-- (
Jer 23:18).
they should have turned them from their evil way--They would have given such counsels to the people as would have turned them from their sins (
Jer 25:5;
Isa 55:11), and so would have averted punishment. Their not teaching the law in which God's counsel is set forth proves they are not His prophets, though they boast of being so (
Matt 7:15-
Matt 7:20).
23 Let not the false prophets fancy that their devices (
Jer 23:25) are unknown to Me. Are ye so ignorant as to suppose that I can only see things near Me, namely, things in heaven, and not earthly things as being too remote?
24 (
Ps 139:7, &c.;
Amos 9:2-
Amos 9:3).
fill heaven and earth--with My omniscience providence, power, and essential being (
1Kgs 8:27).
25 dreamed--I have received a prophetic communication by dream (
Num 12:6;
Deut 13:1, &c.
Joel 2:28).
26 prophets--a different Hebrew form from the usual one, "prophesiers." "How long," cries Jeremiah, impatient of their impious audacity, "shall these prophecy-mongers go on prophesying lies?" The answer is given in
Jer 23:29-
Jer 23:34.
27 They "think" to make My people utterly to forget Me. But I will oppose to those dreamers my true prophets.
fathers . . . for Baal-- (
Judg 3:7;
Judg 8:33-
Judg 8:34).
28 God answers the objection which might be stated, "What, then, must we do, when lies are spoken as truths, and prophets oppose prophets?" Do the same as when wheat is mixed with chaff: do not reject the wheat because of the chaff mixed with it, but discriminate between the false and the true revelations. The test is adherence to, or forgetfulness of, Me and My law (
Jer 23:27).
that hath a dream--that pretends to have a divine communication by dream, let him tell it "faithfully," that it may be compared with "my word" (
2Cor 4:2). The result will be the former (both the prophets and their fictions) will soon be seen to be chaff; the latter (the true prophets and the word of God in their mouth) wheat (
Ps 1:4;
Hos 13:3).
29 As the "fire" consumes the "chaff" (
Jer 23:28), so "My word" will consume the false prophets (
Matt 3:12;
Heb 4:12). "My word" which is "wheat" (
Jer 23:28), that is, food to the true prophet and his hearers, is a consuming "fire," and a crushing "hammer" (
Matt 21:44) to false prophets and their followers (
2Cor 2:16). The Word of the false prophets may be known by its promising men peace in sin. "My word," on the contrary, burns and breaks the hard-hearted (
Jer 20:9). The "hammer" symbolizes destructive power (
Jer 50:23;
Nah 2:1, Margin).
30 steal my words--a twofold plagiarism; one steals from the other, and all steal words from Jehovah's true prophets, but misapply them (see
Jer 28:2;
John 10:1;
Rev 22:19).
31 use--rather, "take" their tongue: a second class (compare
Jer 23:30) require, in order to bring forth a revelation, nothing more than their tongues, wherewith they say, He (Jehovah) saith: they bungle in the very formula instead of the usual "Jehovah saith," being only able to say "(He) saith."
32 Third class: inventors of lies: the climax, and worst of the three.
lightness--wanton inventions (
Zeph 3:4).
not profit--that is, greatly injure.
33 What is the burden--play on the double sense of the Hebrew: an oracle and a burden. They scoffingly ask, Has he got any new burden (burdensome oracle: for all his prophecies are disasters) to announce (
Mal 1:1)? Jeremiah indignantly repeats their own question, Do you ask, What burden? This, then, it is, "I will forsake you." My word is burdensome in your eyes, and you long to be rid if it. You shall get your wish. There will be no more prophecy: I will forsake you, and that will be a far worse "burden" to you.
34 The burden--Whoever shall in mockery call the Lord's word "a burden," shall be visited (Margin) in wrath.
35 The result of My judgments shall be, ye shall address the prophet more reverentially hereafter, no longer calling his message a burden, but a divine response or word. "What hath the LORD answered?"
36 every man's word . . . his burden--As they mockingly call all prophecies burdens, as if calamities were the sole subject of prophecy, so it shall prove to them. God will take them at their own word.
living God--not lifeless as their dumb idols, ever living so as to be able to punish.
39 I will . . . forget you--just retribution for their forgetting Him (
Hos 4:6). But God cannot possibly forget His children (
Isa 49:15). Rather for "forget" translate, "I will altogether lift you up (like a 'burden,' alluding to their mocking term for God's messages) and cast you off." God makes their wicked language fall on their own head [CALVIN]. Compare
Jer 23:36 : "every man's word shall be his burden."
40 not be forgotten--If we translate
Jer 23:39 as English Version, the antithesis is, though I forget you, your shame shall not be forgotten.
