Jeremiah 21-36 A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary by (Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries)

118 TRANSLATION, NOTES, AND COMMENTS

which sets off Oracle I from the introduction. In 4QJerc there is a space after
v 4, which Tov (1997: 189-90) thinks may be a setumah. If so, then v 5 with its
"oracle of Yahweh" formula could be a separate oracle. However, there are no
sections after v 4 in MA, ML, MP, or 4QJera.
The discourse in vv 3-5 is taken here as two separate oracles, although in
Jeremiah single oracles can have both an opening and a closing formula, e.g.,
2:2-3, 5-9; 30:18-21. Also, single oracles can contain both a positive and nega-
tive protasis-apodosis, e.g., 17:24-27, or only one conditional, e.g., 7:3-7, which
has only the positive, and 26:4-5, which has only the negative. In the present
case, we have one oracle containing a positive conditional followed by another
oracle containing a negative conditional. Since the two oracles will be heard
in succession, the effect upon the audience will be no different from hearing
one oracle with both positive and negative conditionals. Wording in the nega-
tive conditional of v 5 also indicates that there are two oracles here, not just
one (see Notes).
Muilenburg ( 1959) has shown that the protasis-apodosis construction in pro-
phetic covenantal speech (usually, but not always, expressed both positively
and negatively: "If ... then ... if not ... then") is a formal element in cove-
nantal speech generally (Exod 19:5-6; Josh 24:15, 20; 1 Sam 12:14-15, 25),
seen most prominently in Deuteronomy (Deut 11 :26-28; 28: 1-68), but found
also in law codes and treaties of the ANE, where the formulations have their
provenance in royal proclamations. In Jeremiah, covenant speeches of this
type occur in 7:3-7; 17:24-27; 22:1-5; and 26:4-5.
Concerning whether the present verses are a doublet of 21: 11-12 or a sec-
ondary expansion of the same, see Rhetoric and Composition for 21: 11-14.
Weiser rejects the idea of secondary expansion, saying that the present verses
are a later word to the royal palace. Similar wording in 21:12 and 22:3 ("Exe-

cute/do justice ... and rescue the robbed from the oppressor's hand"), on

which the doublet and secondary expansion theories largely rest, makes an in-

clusio for the subcollection of oracles in 21: 11-22:5 (see Rhetoric and Com-

position for 21:11-14).

Catchwords connecting to the preceding unit:

22:1 the house of the king ofludah 21: 11 the house of the king ofludah

Catchwords connecting to the unit following:

22: 1 the house of the king of! udah 22:6 the house of the king of Judah

These latter catchwords were noted by Mowinckel ( 1946: 49).

NOTES

22:1. Thus said Yahweh: Go down to the house of the king of Judah and you
shall speak there this word. This directive compares with the one in 26:2,