Глава 23

After this, he begins to accuse their shepherds, the kings themselves, as having become the culprits of the scattering of the sheep. And he threatens them with destruction, but promises the sheep their return. For he says: Jer.23:3. I will gather the remains of My people from all the lands, from their lands, into their villages, and they will increase and multiply." It promises even greater benefits. Jer.23:4. And I will raise up for them shepherds who will shepherd them, and they will not fear anyone, they will be horrified, and they will not perish, says the Lord. This prophetically came true under Zerubbabel and Joshua the son of Jozadek: but not all the prophecy was fulfilled for them; because many rebelled against the Jews, not only their neighbors, but subsequently the Macedonians, and finally the Romans. Prophecy gives the promise of continued grace. From this it is clear that something else happened under Zerubbabel and Jesus, and another thing happened under the holy Apostles. For they alone had the gift of the Spirit. This understanding is confirmed by the addition. Jer.23:5. Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, and I will raise up a righteous east for David, and a King will reign righteous, and “will be wise, and will do justice and righteousness on earth.” (Jer.23:6). “In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will remain in hope, and this is the name by which the Lord will call him,” Yozedek, he is among the Prophets. The foolish Jews are trying to apply this to Zerubbabel. But they should have known that Zerubbabel was not a king, but a ruler of the people, and was not called Jozedek, and the meaning of this name was not applicable to him. For this name means: The Lord is our righteousness, or according to the Syriac translation: Lord, justify us; Some of these meanings do not befit Zerubbabel. But since he was a prototype of the Lord Christ, and returned the captives from Babylon to Judea, just as the Lord brought those enslaved by the devil to the truth, he will not do anything indecent who will apply this typographically to Zerubbabel. Moreover, you need to know that the Lord Jesus Christ is proclaimed by the Prophets as those who are in the flesh from David, the righteous east, the righteous King and the Lord of righteousness. After this, the Prophet turns his speech to those who foretell falsehood, and calls them adulterers, as those who commit adultery and distort the divine word. He also calls them the perpetrators of wickedness among the people. He also says that the priests also became their accomplices in wickedness. He also predicts the disasters that will befall them, and compares them with the prophets of Samaria, who were clearly called the prophets of Baal. These, says the Prophet, having falsely promised peace to the people, became the reason that (Jer. 23:14) “everyone should not turn away from his evil way,” and for their sake everyone imitated the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. For this reason it is said: Jer.23:15. Behold, I will nourish them illness and “I will give them to drink” bitter water, “from the prophets of Jerusalem came defilement over the whole earth.” The Prophet depicted various disasters for everyone. He advises the people not to accept the speeches they make, and says on behalf of God: Jer.23:16. They speak from their hearts, and not from the mouth of the Lord. And they promise peace that I did not promise. ( Jer. 23:17 ) “To all who walk in their own lusts, and to everyone who walks in the obstinacy of his heart, this command: No evil will come against you.” ( Jer. 23:18 ) “Who could be in the counsel of the Lord, and in seeing and hearing His words? Who has heeded His word and heard?” By saying this, they give impudence to the workers of wickedness, make them appear to be in lawlessness, and forbid listening to the words of the prophets. Jer.23:19. Behold, a storm is from the Lord, and wrath comes forth into a shaking, rushing towards the wicked. This means continuous disasters, and shows that they are sent from God, because He Himself imposes punishments on us. Then he will say to those who will suffer: “He will come against the wicked” (Jer. 23:20) “and he who does not return the wrath of the Lord until he has completed the intent of his heart.” What he foretold will come to pass. “In the last days” they will understand this with understanding. When they see the deeds themselves; then they will remember the words. Then he says that those who prophesied falsely, arbitrarily, and not by God’s command, offered the people the opposite. For God says: Jer.23:22. And if they would stand in My council, and they heard My words, taught these My people, and “turned them from their evil way, and from their evil ways.” I have clearly forbidden by law every form of deceit. Therefore, if they followed My words, they would condemn the iniquities of the people and guide them on the right path. God teaches them that there is nothing so hidden that He does not know. For he says: Jer.23:23. God draw near I am, not God from afar. (Jer.23:24). “If a person hides himself in the hidden, and I will not see him?” says "Lord". Then he teaches that God is infinite. “Do I not fill heaven and earth with food?” says "Lord". Therefore, if I am everywhere, then why do people think that they do not know anything that is happening in the world? And again strengthens the accusation of false prophets who tell dreams, deceive the people, and dare to act like the prophets of Baal. Then he commands to compare the Prophet and the false prophet, and says: Jer.23:28. A prophet who has a dream, let him speak his dream, and let him who has My word to him, “let my word speak in truth.” And the difference is shown allegorically. “What a spit to wheat! speaks the Lord." (Jer. 23:29) “The food of My words is not like fire,” says “The Lord, like the molten stone that blots out!” Thus, in parables he showed the power of the word of God. Then he reveals the difference between false prophets. For, he says, some, like some kind of predators, steal other prophetic words and distort them with their perversions, others invent false prophecy; and others tell dreams that they have not seen; and deceiving the miserable people in various ways, they do so that they become stagnant in wickedness. Then God commands the Prophet: Jeremiah 23:33. If these people ask, the priest or the Prophet, they say that “is the burden” 12 “of the Lord? Say to them: “You are the Lord’s burden,” “and I will cast you down,” says the “Lord.” (Jer.23:34). “And the Prophet and the priest, who also say, the burden of the Lord, I will visit with vengeance on that man and on his house.” The wicked called the prophets frenzied, and prophecy frenzy (τό λἡμμα); Therefore, God commands not to use this name, and threatens those who disobey with punishment. He also commands to ask them this way: (Jer. 23:35) “What did the Lord answer! What a word the Lord says!” And no longer call it the burden of the Lord. And he threatens those who violate this command, saying: you, “and I will overthrow you, and the hail I gave to you, and to your father,” “from My presence. (Jer.23:40) And I will give you for everlasting reproach, and for everlasting shame, which shall never be blotted out by oblivion.” The Lord God commanded this in order to eradicate superstitious customs and to teach that prophets are not crazy people, but ministers of the words of God. After the threat of captivity, he promises a return, and says that it will be glorious, and because of its glory, the former exodus from Egypt will be forgotten. And we, I beg you, will follow both the prophetic and apostolic words, and we will worship Him who spoke through the mouths of both, and keep His life-giving laws, so that we may enjoy the promised benefits, according to the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. With Him glory to the Father, and together to the All-Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages! Amen. The Greek word τό λἡμμα, translated here by the word: “burden”, is translated in other places either by the word: “prophecy” (Nahum.1:1; Mal.1:1), or by the word: “vision” (Hab.1:1).