translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: JER

label: NET study note

text: The intent of this oracle may have been to contrast the fate of Zedekiah with that of Jehoiakim who was apparently executed, went unmourned, and was left unburied (contrast Jer 22:18-19 ).


text: Most commentators are agreed that the incident referred to here occurred during the period of relief from the siege provided by the Babylonians going off to fight against the Egyptians who were apparently coming to Zedekiah’s aid (compare vv. 21-22 with 37:5, 7 ). The freeing of the slaves had occurred earlier, under the crisis of the siege while the people were more responsive to the Lord due to the threat of destruction (cf. v. 15 ).


text: Compare Deut 15:12-18 for the complete statement of this law. Here only the first part of it is cited.


text: This refers to the temple. See Jer 7:10, 11, 14, 30 and see the translator’s note on 7:10 and the study note on 10:25 for the explanation of the idiom involved here.


text: The verb at the beginning of v. 15 and v. 16 are the same in the Hebrew. They had two changes of heart ( Heb “you turned”), one that was pleasing to him ( Heb “right in his eyes”) and one that showed they did not honor him ( Heb “profaned [or belittled] his name”).


text: Heb “you profaned my name.” His name had been invoked in the oath confirming the covenant. Breaking the covenant involved taking his name in vain (cf. Exod 20:7 ; Deut 5:11 ; Jer 5:2 ). Hence the one who bore the name was not treated with the special honor and reverence due him (see the study note on 23:27 for the significance of “name” in the OT).


text: This is, of course, a metaphorical and ironical use of the term “to grant freedom to.” It is, however, a typical statement of the concept of talionic justice which is quite often operative in God’s judgments in the OT (cf., e.g., Obad 15 ).


text: Compare Jer 15:4; 24:9; 29:18 .


text: See the study note on v. 8 for explanation and parallels.


text: See this same phrase in Jer 7:33; 16:4; 19:7 .