Глава XXVII

Jer. 27:2–3. This is what the Lord said to me (πρός με 167: make for yourself bonds and treasures and put them on your neck. And let me follow. If anyone asks how, at a time when the Jews were subjected to such a disaster, neighboring (kings) sent ambassadors to Zedekiah, then the reason is as follows. Since the time of Hezekiah, this pious and glorious man, the neighbors, highly appreciating his glory and all the Israelites, because of the former sign, were allies. So, wanting to teach everyone that God is the ruler of all, so that they would not attribute to the weakness of the Provider (the fact that) the people are made captive and the church is destroyed, he commands the prophet to go to meet them and show the power of Nebuchadnezzar, convincing them not to listen to vain and false prophets, as from the very events they will learn the power of God and the fact that the people were subjected to captivity not because of the weakness of the Provider, but because of sin. And he calls a yoke a bond, and a treasure, a tree tied at the yoke, which clasps the neck of the oxen. Look when you heard it and when you performed it. From this it is clear that not all prophecies have been heard in (lately) times. For what? So that there would be no need for a (special) sign, so that people, knowing that it was commanded to do such a sign, would be admonished. You see how God provides for everyone. And now I exist, have not changed, and have the same power. Look how He explains His rights. If I created, then I have the power to give. But you do not believe what I created; you will believe by what will happen after this. It pleased me to give it (αὐτήν) 168 to Nebuchadnezzar. See how blindness destroys them. Does he advance with his own strength and take cities? I myself decree this from above. See how he teaches them the knowledge of God, so that from this they may also understand the former. Be no more foolish than they; the dumb obeyed, but you resist; It is not you alone that I give, but also My city. Do you see the general industry? He created all people, and therefore He cares about everyone equally, since He has no partiality. Jer. 27:8. And the country (τό ἔθνος). Look, what courage, how pitifully pointed out slavery, due to great confidence in the words, and undisguisedly. The Elites do not hold their necks, so he speaks as if they were dumb. Jer. 27:9. Don't listen to the false prophet. Do you see the seat of judgment and the research being carried out on sorcery and prophecy? This is what they say, but I say the opposite. We'll see what the end means. Jer. 27:11. The country will even incline. What does this mean and what is its purpose? Isn't it so that some perish and others survive? Therefore, famine will befall them. Do not think that I speak as an enemy and adversary; And I predict the same for mine. Then look what happens: the false prophet contradicts. The devil did this to interfere with the prophecy. Jer. 27:18. If they are prophets and the word of the Lord is in them, let them appear before the Lord Almighty, so that the vessels that remain in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem, and in Babylon, do not go away. Since the false prophets said that those present would not suffer at all, on the contrary, that those who had been displaced would return, the prophet said: if they are truly prophets and God sent them, then let them appear before the Lord, that is, let them pray to God so that what remains is not taken away, which is more convenient than for those who were displaced to return, so that by this we will know what will happen. What does it mean: let them appear ( ἀπαντησάτωσαν 169 to me God ( μοι τῷ Θεῷ ), and let the vessels not be carried away? This means: reject ( κωλῦσαι ) God, dispose ( πεῖσαι ) Him, presenting the matter of prayer in the form of going out, not for war, but to prevent the Jews from leaving. I do not say: let them convince you to return the taken vessels; Πρός με is absent in the most ancient sp. Greek translation, as in Slav. B.; of the more ancient ones it is read in the Marshallian. sp. A παντησάωσαν - according to the literal translation: “let them come out to meet you.”