Israel's False Religion. Israel has forfeited the privileges of a son, and incurred disaster by forsaking Yahweh for the sensuous worship of the Baalim (cf. Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 2:28). Jeremiah 2:14-17 may be a later insertion, as it seems to break the connexion between Jeremiah 2:13 and Jeremiah 2:18; Jeremiah 2:15 apparently refers to the devastation of the northern kingdom by Assyria, Jeremiah 2:16 to the defeat of Judah by Pharaoh Necho (pp. 60, 72) at Megiddo in 608 (Noph (Isaiah 19:13 *) is Memphis, Tahpanhes is Daphne, these being taken as representative cities of Egypt). In Jeremiah 2:16, the Hebrew reads as mg. The last clause of Jeremiah 2:17, when he led thee by the way, should be omitted with LXX. Jeremiah 2:18 resumes the figure of Jeremiah 2:13, and remonstrates against the pro-Egyptian policy, which was the chief alternative to subjection to Assyria. In Jeremiah 2:20, read as mg., with Jeremiah 2:21 employs the familiar figure of Israel as a vine, which might be called the national emblem (Jeremiah 12:10 ff., Hosea 10:1; Isaiah 5:1-7; Ezekiel 17:5 ff.). In Jeremiah 2:22, lye and soap denote a vegetable and a mineral alkali respectively; marked should be ingrained. Israel protests (cf. Jeremiah 2:27; Jeremiah 2:35) that she has not abandoned Yahweh, in worshipping Him according to the manner of the Baalim (Jeremiah 2:23); she is answered by a reference to the valley (Hinnom; Jeremiah 7:31 *, Mark 9:43 *), and the sensuality of her worship (so repugnant to the God of righteousness) is suggested by the figures of the young camel (Jeremiah 2:23 mg.), and the ass (Jeremiah 2:24) when in heat. Reference is made in Jeremiah 2:25 to the eager pursuit of strange gods, in Jeremiah 2:27 to the Asherah (p. 100, 1 Kings 15:13 *) and Mazzebah (p. 98) employed in their worship (Deuteronomy 16:21 f.*), in each locality (Jeremiah 11:13).
Jeremiah 2:14-28
14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled,d and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
18 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress;e when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble:f for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.