The Proclamation of the Covenant. Jeremiah is commissioned to enforce solemnly (cf. Deuteronomy 27:26; Deuteronomy 29:9) on Judah and Jerusalem the covenant which Yahweh made at the time of the national deliverance from Egypt, as the condition of blessing. He solemnly accepts this commission, and is sent to the smaller cities, as well as to the streets of the capital, to declare the penalty of disobedience to this covenant, as shown by past history.
Jeremiah 11:2. The verbs, hear ye, and speak should be emended to the singular, in view of Jeremiah 11:3.
Jeremiah 11:4. the iron furnace means one for smelting iron, here a figure for severe trial; cf. Deuteronomy 4:20; 1 Kings 8:51.
Jeremiah 11:5. Amen, i.e. truly, implies the confirmation of the curse; (cf. Deuteronomy 27:15 ff.).
Jeremiah 11:9-17. The Failure of the Reformation. The first part (Jeremiah 11:9-14) of this passage implies the failure of the Deuteronomic movement (They are turned back, Jeremiah 11:10), and is, therefore, often referred to the reaction under Jehoiakim, after Josiah's death in 608, on the assumption of Jeremianic authorship; but see prefatory note to Jeremiah 11:1 ff. Judah is leagued to renew the disobedience of the past; Yahweh will punish, and will refuse to answer, whilst the false gods cannot, the outcry for help (Jeremiah 11:13 a, as Jeremiah 2:28 b). The prophet is forbidden to intercede (Jeremiah 11:14 as mg.). The corrupt Jeremiah 11:15 is emended by Driver (cf. mg.) into What hath my beloved (to do) in mine house, (seeing) she bringeth evil devices to pass? Will vows and holy flesh remove thine evil from off thee? then mightest thou rejoice! i.e. Judah's lavish ritual is really useless. She is compared with a luxuriant (not simply green) olive, suddenly struck by lightning (Jeremiah 11:16); evil will come upon her, corresponding to the evil of her Baal-cult (Jeremiah 11:17, perhaps an expansion). The want of connexion between Jeremiah 11:1-14 and Jeremiah 11:15 ff. supports the view that the former has been prefixed by a writer wishing to connect Jeremiah with the Deuteronomic Reformation. As a matter of fact, Jeremiah 11:15 stands in marked contrast with the Deuteronomic emphasis on Temple and ritual (Cornill).