translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: JER

label: NET study note

text: Heb “the first fruits of his harvest.” Many commentators see the figure here as having theological significance for the calling of the Gentiles. It is likely, however, that in this context the metaphor – here rendered as a simile – is intended to bring out the special relationship and inviolability that Israel had with God. As the first fruits were the special possession of the Lord , to be eaten only by the priests and off limits to the common people, so Israel was God’s special possession and was not to be “eaten” by the nations.


text: The context suggests that the question is related to a lament where the people turn to God in their troubles, asking him for help and reminding him of his past benefactions. See for example Isa 63:11-19 and . It is an implicit prayer for his intervention, cf. 2 Kgs 2:14 .


text: Note how contemporary Israel is again identified with her early ancestors. See the study note on 2:2 .


text: I.e., made it ceremonially unclean. See Lev 18:19-30 ; Num 35:34 ; Deut 21:23 .


text: See the study note on 2:6 .


text: Kedar is the home of the Bedouin tribes in the Syro-Arabian desert. See Gen 25:18 and Jer 49:38 . See also the previous note for the significance of the reference here.


text: In earlier literature the heavens (and the earth) were called on to witness Israel’s commitment to the covenant ( Deut 30:12 ) and were called to serve as witnesses to Israel’s fidelity or infidelity to it ( Isa 1:2 ; Mic 6:1 ).


text: The metaphor is intended to depict Israel’s lack of clear direction and purpose without the Lord ’s control.


text: The metaphor is intended to depict Israel’s irrepressible desire to worship other gods.


text: The reference to wood and stone is, of course, a pejorative reference to idols made by human hands. See the next verse where reference is made to “the gods you have made.”


text: This is still part of the Lord ’s case against Israel. See 2:9 for the use of the same Hebrew verb. The Lord here denies their counter claims that they do not deserve to be punished.