Speaking of Prophets (23:9-40) 183
"mourning" (== drought) to the "adulterers." But there is assonance in 'ala
'abela, "the curse, it mourns" (Cheyne), suggesting that the MT pointing is
correct (Jones). Drought is one of the covenant curses (Deut 28:23-24), and
Isaiah has no difficulty in seeing a connection between covenant infidelity and
a mourning creation (Isa 24:4-7). On "the land mourning" in Jeremiah, which
is an abusio, see Notes for 4:28 and I2:4. A causal connection between sexual
impropriety and drought is assumed also in 3:1-5.
pastures of the wild are dried up. Hebrew yabesu ne'6t midbar. Here midbar
is not desert or wilderness but uncultivated meadows in the open country (see
Note on 9:9[ 10]).
Yes, their course has become evil. Hebrew mern~atam is lit., "their running"; see
8:6 (Q). The subject can be either the "adulterers" in v lOa or the prophet and
priest in v I I. It is probably the former, since the prophets and priests are only
part of the adulterous company filling the land. Compare Isa 59:7 and Prov 6: I8.
and their might is not right. Hebrew ugebUratam lo'-ken. Jeremiah here re-
verts once again to military imagery, more specifically the behavior of battle-
ready horses. The "course" of the wicked just mentioned is compared to that of
a horse plunging headlong into battle in 8:6, and here gebUra can be an allu-
sion to the "might" of horses (cf. Job 39:19 and Ps 147:10).
- Indeed even prophet, even priest-they are polluted! The verb bnp, which
the modern Versions translate "ungodly" or "godless" (cf. KB^3 ), basically
means "to be polluted" (3:I; Ps I06:38; cf. BDB). The Vg has polluti sunt. The
basic idea is that Jerusalem's prophets and priests have defiled themselves and
as a result have lost their holiness. The T has "scribe ... and priest," as in 6: I 3
(== 8:10); I8:I8; and elsewhere (see Note for 6:13). The unholy alliance be-
tween prophet and priest is elsewhere cited in 5:31; 6:13 (8:10); and 14:I8. Af-
ter Jeremiah preached his blistering Temple Oracles in 609 B.C., it was the
prophets and priests who united in calling for his death (26: 11 ).
Even in my house I have found their evil. "My house" is the Temple. Precisely
what was happening there is not known, but a sacrilege of some sort is alluded
to in 7:30; 11:15; and 32:34. See also Ezekiel 8. Jeremiah is not referring to pa-
gan practices in the Temple before the Josianic Reform (2 Kgs 23:4-7) but to
practices of like nature that were revived after Jehoiakim became king. Yet the
former may give some indication of what is happening now-pagan worship,
cult prostitution, etc.
I 2. Therefore their way shall become to them like slippery ground in thick
darkness. Hebrew 'apela is "thick, deep darkness" (2:31; Exod I0:22; Deut
28:29). Duhm goes against the accent and puts "in thick darkness" with the
next colon. BHS and many modern Versions follow suit. But the LXX and Vg
support the Masoretic scansion, which is carried over into the translations of
the AV, RSV, and NRSV. Slippery ground is dangerous; in deep darkness even
more so because with a push one can easily fall. Jeremiah is thus describing
the judgment in store for Jerusalem's unholy priests and prophets. "Darkness"
is a common biblical metaphor for calamity and judgment (4:28; I3:16; 15:9;
Mic 3:6; Isa 8:22; cf. Matt 22:13).
