More on Restoration and Covenants (33:1-26) 545it will appear to many that Yahweh has rejected (m>s) both Israel and Judah (cf.
6:30; 7:29). But the answer in vv 25-26, also the answer earlier in 31:37, is that
Yahweh has not rejected them. On Yahweh's election (bbr) of Israel, see Deut
7:6-7; 14:2; 1 Kgs 3:8; and Ps 33:12.
Have you not seen? Hebrew halo> ra>1ta. The same expression less the nega-
tive occurs in 3:6. Yahweh is addressing Jeremiah (the verb is singular).
The two families. I.e., Israel and Judah (Calvin; Giesebrecht; Peake; Streane;
Rudolph; Bright; Holladay; cf. Isa 8:14; Ezek 35:10). Some commentators
(Rashi; Kim]:ii; Volz) take "the two families" (hammispaMt) to be those of the
royalty and the priesthood, which would carry over from vv 17-22 and could be
supported by the later usage of mispaMt in Zech 12: 12-13. See Lust 1994: 43-- On mispebot meaning "tribes (of Israel)," see Note for 2:4.
so they have spumed my people from being any longer a nation before them.
Yahweh is now speaking, saying that other nations have spurned his people
from being a nation among the nations of the world. These other nations
spurn the covenant people because they have been rejected by Yahweh. GL,
Theod, and S read "before me," but MT's "before them" (i.e., the other na-
tions) is better (Volz). The verb n>$ ("spurn") is associated with covenant-
breaking in 14:21 (Yahweh); 23: 17 (people); and Deut 31:20 (people). The
waw on the converted imperfect, "so they spurn;' is a casus pendens (GKC
§ 11 lh; l 43d; cf. 6: 19; 28:8).
25-26. If indeed I have not established my covenant of daytime and night-
statutes of heaven and earth-then the seed of Jacob and David, my servant, I
will reject, not taking from his seed rulers unto the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. Another reaffirmation of the Abrahamic and Davidic covP-n;ints, both of
which are eternal. With the Sinai covenant broken, it is the Abrahamic cove-
nant-and also by implication the Davidic covenant-that will preserve Israel
until the new and eternal covenant takes effect (see Note for 31:36). On the
protasis-apodosis ("If ... then ... ") form, see vv 20-21.
daytime. Another use of the rare substantive yomam; see above v 20.
rulers. Hebrew moselfm. c^0 L, Theod, ands have a singular (cf. vv 17-18).
I will surely restore their fortunes. On the expression "restore the fortunes,"
which occurs also in vv 7 and 11 as an internal H-stem as it does here in the Q,
see Note for 29: 14. For its structural importance in the Book of Restoration, see
Rhetoric and Composition for 30:1-3.
and I will show them mercy. The Book of Restoration appropriately closes
with Yahweh saying that in coming days he will show his chastened people
divine mercy (rbm). See also 31:20.MESSAGE AND AUDIENCE
In Oracle I, Yahweh builds again on an assumed covenant that he has with
creation, arguing that if this covenant can be broken (and it cannot), then his
covenants with David and the Levitical priests can also be broken. Then, in
language familiar from the covenant promise to Abraham, Yahweh says that