Глава ХХIII

Jer. 23:1. Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture. In the same way, he says, you, Zedekiah, continue to commit lawlessness and become the cause of destruction for the people. Ezekiel and Jeremiah himself talk a lot about them, and pay attention to their gravest punishment. They perish in a foreign (land), and after this he announces to the deceived the return, liberation from disasters and good (καθαρούς) leaders. Notice justice everywhere. Jer. 23:5. These days are coming, says the Lord, and I will raise up a righteous east for David. Instead of: east righteous Symmachus translates: “branch (βλάστημα) righteous”; this is said, as some say, secretly about Christ, and according to history - about Yosedek. And he gives good leaders in good time, when he has made them more prudent through punishment, so that the benefit has become acceptable, since negligence and boasting have been destroyed. Jer. 23:6. And this is his name, which the righteous Lord will call him (καλέσει). The prophets explain Yosedek: the head of our righteousness; this means that just as the prophets spoke according to the will of God, so he, being righteous, will lead the people in righteousness. Jer. 23:9. My heart is erased. He says that, seeing the glory of God, I was embarrassed, but they are not afraid of punishment. Jer. 23:10. And the current flows fast. That is, their concern (is directed) not towards something good; they tried, but not for good. Jer. 23:11. Because the priest and the prophet (ίερεύς καί προφήτης) 153 became defiled. It seems to me that he is talking about fornication in the house itself, (so) by rank it is a priest, by place it is “house” 154, and by action it is evil adultery. What's worse than that? If they did not believe others, this sufficiently shows their corruption; They destroyed other people’s marriages and furiously attacked women. Jer. 23:12. For this reason their way will be. See how you don’t immediately bring disaster again, but give a delay; and then, so that this delay does not lead them to unbelief and evil, he reminds them of those who committed the same iniquities and suffered the most severe punishments. Jer. 23:13. And in the prophets of Samaria. Those offered (προεβάλλοντο), if nothing else, then Baal, and these offered Me. Jer. 23:14. And in the false prophets (ψευδοπροφήταις) 155 Jerusalem sights are terrible. (Instead) according to the Hebrew text: “confused” (πεφυρμένα), that is, not saying anything true, and uttering words out of ambition; He says this by comparing them with the false prophets in Samaria, because they, although apparently, spoke in some order, as having an altar, worshiping heifers and observing other visible decency, although lawlessly. And these surpassed in lawlessness the wickedness of those. They did not allow the fear of God to take hold in the souls of their listeners, they destroyed every reason to become better, and kept all people in evil. Jer. 23:14. And fastening ones (ἀντιλαμβανομένους). Not only were they not taught, he says, to people (he meant everything through the particular) to turn away from evil deeds, but they were also helped to succeed in evil. Who can't he teach? The sight of the earth is so unpleasant and scary, like a completely burnt body. It comes not from nature, but from spiritual disposition. If it happens to be bitter by nature, we can find many means (against this), and we change the place, and receive (such means) from those who have them, and resort to something else. And when the sensibility itself is damaged, all medicine is useless. It is therefore better to have healthy feelings than to carry around bitter substances. Jer. 23:15. From the prophets of Jerusalem... Again he indicates the reason: it was not enough for them to bring the city to disaster, but they became the culprits of what happened to others. Jer. 23:16. This is what the Lord says. This is the evidence; Where, tell me, can you see this? By telling lies, they increase evil and increase negligence. Jer. 23:18. Who has been in the counsel of the Lord, and in seeing and hearing his words? That is, which of those who resisted the prophets experienced divine power and spoke this, being awarded the Spirit? In other words: in fact, they are opposing the divine will when they oppose the prophets, serving idols. That is, who can see God? Symmachus says: who was present in the meeting (ὁμιλία) and who heard? How can you say that you heard? Jer. 23:22. And if they stood in my council and heard my words (καὶ ἤ κουσαν τῶν λόγων μου 156), they would teach my people (ἐδίδασκον ἂ ν τόν λαόν μου 157) and would turn away the evil one from their path. That is, if they remained faithful to My statutes and expected mercy from Me, then they would completely teach the people piety. An important evidence: it is not an accidental line that serves as the boundary between prophecy and false prophecy. Jer. 23:23–24. I am a God who draws near, says the Lord, and not a God from afar. If a man hides himself (ἄνθρωπος) 158 in the hidden, and I will not see him, says the Lord? That is, by saying something pleasant to the people, you thought to deceive them and lead those who do not know to think that they were sent by Me. Why don’t you think about My dignity that I am with everyone, I see (your) desires and, unlike people, I don’t know what you are doing, although I am far from your thoughts? Is there anyone among you who is planning something and remains unknown to Me? This is what the words mean: if a person hides himself in hidden things and I do not see him, that is, if someone wants to hide the secrets of his soul, will he hide it from My knowledge? I know that they were sent to thin grandfathers. How do I know? I am present, present everywhere. If he often lets prophets who are not present everywhere know what is happening, then all the more he knows it himself. But he does not say this, but: I am the God who approaches; I am present everywhere; this was indisputable evidence that he knew everything. Jer. 23:23. And not God from afar. Just as light is everywhere, so is God. Jer. 23:24. Do I not fill heaven and earth with food? I know, he says, how prophecies are made. The basis of the assumption is that evil is predicted for evil. Then, when he sets it out, this (assumption) will be clear. Jer. 23:28. What spit is to wheat, says the Lord. Well added this to compare prophets with false prophets, instead of saying: there is no comparison between chaff and wheat. The latter is nutritious and supports the existence of people, but chaff is useless for people; it is either thrown away or serves as food for the dumb. So, he says, the words of the prophets feed souls, but the words of false prophets cannot benefit people; it only provides those who listen foolishly with some consolation, but not with benefit. (And to this) adds: not so (οὐκ ο ὕ τως 159, that is, no comparison. Jer. 23:29. My words are like fire (Οί λόγοι μου ὥ σπερ πῦρ 160), the Lord speaks, and like a hammer that breaks away a stone. That is, the words through the prophets are true and effective. Jer. 23:30. For this reason, I am a prophet. It seems to me that some who listen to the prophets and listen to others who narrate (about them) imitate them, like the serpent. Therefore, Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:9) says: even if the prophet comes (ἔλθη) 161, the Lord is deceived (ἐπλάνησα αὐτόν), since he does not allow him to teach anymore; therefore he says that he will destroy the burden (τὸ λῆμμα 162. Jer. 23:31. Behold the prophets. He calls the prophecies of the tongue false, but the (prophecies) not of the tongue are true. Jer. 23:31. And their slumbering slumber. Many made prophecies through dreams, divinations; but will be comforted for the present. Jer. 23:34. The burden of the Lord. And what harm? Since they said that they received it (ἐκεῖνον 163), it destroys the same. And the demons could receive and were considered to have received from God. But this is not so. These words are also read in this order in ancient scriptures. Greek translation; the order adopted in Slav. B., corresponds to Hebrew. text and translation of the blessed. Jerome. In ancient sp. Greek translation usually reads: προφήταις - prophet. These words are read in the same way in the most ancient scriptures. translation of 70. The current Slavs. translation: heard would have done my words corresponds to the translation of the blessed. Jerome. These words in the most ancient sp. translation 70 is not readable. Instead of τ ί ς who, as it is read in ancient sp. translation of 70. This is how these words are read in the Marshallian list, instead of ο ὕ τως tako, as it is read in the most ancient Greek. lists and Slavs. B. Instead, in the most ancient translations of the 70, with which Slav.B. agrees, it reads: οὐκ ἰδου οί λόγοι μου ὥ σπερ πῦρ food, my words are not like fire? Instead, in ancient Greek. sp. reads: πλανήση will be deceived (Slav. B.). About the τὸ λῆμμα Κυρίου burden of the Lord, see below. That is, what was meant by the burden of the Lord.