on account of all the evil ... which they did to provoke me to anger. The
"evil" is doubtless making idols and worshiping other gods (v 29), which is
specified in vv 34-3 5.
they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets. Accumulatio.
See 2:26 and 4:9. The T again has "prophets of falsehood."
the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. A stereotypical phrase in
the Jeremiah prose (see Note for 4:3), found elsewhere only in 2 Kgs 23:2 =
2 Chr 34:30 (S. R. Driver 1913: 276).
3 3. They faced me with the back of the neck, and not the face. This expression
with reference to the people of Judah occurs earlier in 2:27. On the body lan-
guage for showing contempt, see Note for 7:24.
although I taught them-constantly taught. Hebrew welammed )otam has-
kem welammed. For the rhetorical idiom of a repeated verb used together with
skm, see Note for 7: 13. The grammar here is different from what we are accus-
tomed to, in that the first verb-like the verb of the idiom-is not a conjugated
form but the infinitive absolute, lammed ("to teach"). Since in every other
occurrence of the idiom it is Yahweh who acts continually and persistently to
correct his wayward people, the Versions ancient and modern all translate the
first infinitive as a first person, "and I (have) taught," which is most likely cor-
rect. Giesebrecht (and others) emend the first infinitive to wa)cdammed ("and
I taught"). So read, the people are seen to be treating Yahweh with contempt
despite his teaching them to act otherwise, with the result that they have not
listened to take correction.
but they did not listen to take correction. A recurring theme in Jeremiah's
preaching (2:30; 5:3; 7:28; 17:7J; 32:33; 35:13). Hebrew musiir means "instruc-
tion, discipline, correction," and "to take instruction/discipline" is a recurring
theme in Proverbs (Prov 1:3; 8:10; 24:32).
And they set up their wretched things in the house upon which my name is
called to defile it. "Their wretched things" (siqqu?ehem) are the disgusting idols
introduced into the Temple (see Note for 7:30). In the seventh century B.C.,
the idea developed that idolatry pollutes (Milgrom 1998: 4-5).
3 5. And they built the high places of Baal that are in the Valley of Ben-Hin-
nom to give over their sons and their daughters to Malech-which I did not com-
mand them, nor did it enter my mind for them to do this abomination-in order
to make Judah sin. See 7:31and19:5; Malech (Molek) worship is discussed in
Note for 7 :31. The verb 'br in the H-stem means lit., "let pass through (the
fire),'' thus "give over (in sacrifice)" (Deut 18:10; Lev 18:21; 2 Kgs 16:3; 17:17;
21:6; Ezek 20:31).
which I did not command them, nor did it enter my mind for them to do this
abomination. Milgrom ( 1998: 5) says that the reason for such a strong dis-
claimer (a correctio), which occurs also in 7:31 and 19:5, is that people be-
lieved Molek worship was compatible with Yahweh worship. The expression
"to enter the mind" (lit., "to come up to the heart") is stereotypical in the Jere-
miah prose (see Note for 7:31), with rare occurrences also in 2 Kgs 12:5 and
Isa 65:17 (S. R. Driver 1913: 276).
