Jeremiah 33:1-26

Jeremiah 33. Promises of Restoration.— There may be a Jeremianic nucleus in the first half of the chapter, but Jeremiah 33:14-Ezekiel :, being imitative, and omitted by LXX, is probably late. Yahweh the Restorer promises to reveal great and secret things ( Isaiah 48:6). In spite of the present state of the city, which is surrounded by besiegers, Yahweh will restore it to health ( Jeremiah 33:6, “ new flesh” , Jeremiah 8:22), establish its prosperity (“ truth” means “ firmness” ; cf. Jeremiah 14:13), renew its former estate ( Jeremiah 33:7, as at the first, Isaiah 1:26, 1 Kings 13:6), cleansing away its sin ( Jeremiah 31:34; cf. Ezekiel 36:25), so that men shall be awed at its glory ( Jeremiah 33:1-1 Samuel :). The present desolation shall be replaced (contrast Jeremiah 7:34) by a joyful and thankful population, enjoying pastoral peace ( Jeremiah 33:10-1 Chronicles :). Yahweh will perform His promise ( Jeremiah 29:10) to both sections of the nation by raising a Davidic “ Shoot” ; the royal ( 2 Samuel 7:16) and priestly ( Deuteronomy 18:5) succession shall be guaranteed with a certainty like that of natural phenomena ( Jeremiah 31:35 f.), and in an abundance like that of the stars and the sand ( Genesis 22:17, but there of the whole nation). The taunt that Yahweh has rejected Israel and Judah (“ the two families” , Jeremiah 33:24) shall be disproved ( Jeremiah 33:14-Ezekiel :).

Jeremiah 33:2 . that doeth it: i.e. restoration; in Isaiah 22:11, on the other hand, the phrase denotes the Destroyer.

Jeremiah 33:3 . difficult: i.e. unattainable; cf. mg.

Jeremiah 33:4 . mounts: see on Jeremiah 32:24.

Jeremiah 33:5 is corrupt; a slight emendation gives “ the Chaldeans are coming to fight and fill” , etc.

Jeremiah 33:10 presupposes the exile.

Jeremiah 33:11 . For the refrain, see Psalms 106:1, etc.; for the offering, Jeremiah 17:26.

Jeremiah 33:13 . The latter half refers to the counting of sheep; for the districts named, see Jeremiah 32:44.

Jeremiah 33:15 . Branch: see on Jeremiah 23:5 f., here repeated, though the city instead of the king now receives the title; cf. Ezekiel 48:35.

Jeremiah 33:18 . For the sacrifices named see on Jeremiah 17:26; for the priestly title, Deuteronomy 18:1.

Jeremiah 33:24 is difficult; as it stands, “ this people” means the heathen, but we should probably emend slightly ( cf. Duhm and Cornill), and read (after “ off” ), “ and spurns His people . . . before Him” , making “ this people” then refer to disconsolate Jews.