Глава 14

1–6. Description of drought. 7–12. Jehovah's refusal to the prophet to hear his prayer for the people. 13–18. False prophets. 19–22. Jeremiah's new petition. Jeremiah 14:1–6. The prophet depicts a drought in the land of Judea. Both people and animals suffer extremely from lack of rain. Jer.14:1. The word of the Lord, which came to Jeremiah on the occasion of lack of rain. This probably indicates the absence of the so-called latter rain, which occurs in early spring. This “lack of rain” was very dangerous for a country where the entire harvest depends on this rain. In addition, this rain fills various reservoirs in Palestine and without it everyone has to suffer from thirst in the summer (cf. Joel 1.17–20). Jer.14:2. Judas is crying, his gates have fallen apart, blackened on the ground, and a cry is rising in Jerusalem. “The gates fell apart” - that is, the Jews, having gathered in the square at the gate, sit exhausted on the ground, in mourning, black clothes. Jer.14:3. The nobles send their servants for water; they come to wells and find no water; return with empty vessels; ashamed and embarrassed, they cover their heads. And now, when the water in Jerusalem dries up, they send for water to Job’s well, south of Jerusalem, where there is usually water even in hot weather. Jer.14:4. Since the soil is cracked because there was no rain on the ground, the farmers are embarrassed and cover their heads. According to the reading of Duhm, the beginning of the verse should be translated as follows: “and those who worked the land came in confusion because there was no rain on the land.” Jer.14:5. Even a doe gives birth in the field and leaves her children because there is no grass. The doe was distinguished, according to the ancients (Bochart, Hier. 1663, 1:893), by special tenderness towards its young. Jeremiah 14:7–12. Although the prophet recognizes that the Lord is justly punishing the Jews for their sins, he asks God to forgive them because the Jewish people are named with the name of God. However, God refuses the prophet to pardon the people for the latter’s extreme wickedness and even announces new punishments to the Jews. Jer.14:9. Why are You as an astonished man, as a strong man, not having the power to save? And yet You, Lord, are among us, and Your name is called upon us; don't leave us. “Astonished”, that is, having lost, due to some accident, the ability to reason and observe. – “Your name is called” – see Jeremiah 7.10. Jeremiah 14:13–18. The prophet tries to excuse his people by saying that they are being misled by false prophets who promise them peace and prosperity. But Jehovah condemns both prophets and those who obey their prophecies. The inhabitants of Jerusalem can expect nothing less than death or exile! Jer.14:14. And the Lord said to me: The prophets prophesy falsely in my name; I did not send them, nor command them, nor speak to them; they tell you false visions and fortune-telling, and empty things and the dreams of their hearts. "Fortune telling" - in Hebrew. kesem. This word has a bad meaning, especially with the addition of the following expression: and empty. - “The dreams of their hearts,” i.e., works of their own imagination, and not revelations from God. Jer.14:16. and the people to whom they prophesy will be scattered through the streets of Jerusalem from famine and sword, and there will be no one to bury them - they and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters; and I will pour out their evil upon them. “People” is better: people, because here, of course, not all the people (cf. Jer 20.6). “Their evil” – that is, their bad deeds will serve to punish them. Jer.14:18. I go out onto the field, and behold, they are killed with the sword; I enter the city, and behold, they are melting away from hunger; even the prophet and the priest wander the earth unconsciously. “Unconsciously” is more correct with LXX: “which they did not know” (of course, Babylon). Jeremiah 14:19–22. Jeremiah does not dare to appear to his people with such a prediction and again begs God to spare the Jews, who are so waiting for mercy from Him. Jeremiah 14:20. We recognize, Lord, our wickedness, the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against You. The Jews' guilt before God was partly inherited from their ancestors, and partly their own. Jer.14:21. Do not reject us for Thy name's sake; Do not degrade the throne of Your glory: remember, do not destroy Your covenant with us. The throne of God's glory is the temple of Jerusalem. Special notes. See after Chapter XV. You might be interested in: