Jeremiah 23:1-8

Jeremiah 23:1. See introd. summary to section. We should have expected, as the natural sequel to the three preceding passages, a direct reference to the reign of Zedekiah. Probably we may attribute the absence of it to Jeremiah's unwillingness to attack one whom he recognised as merely a weak tool in the hands of the princes, the "shepherds" of Jeremiah 23:1. But see further on Jeremiah 23:5.

Du. and Erbt make the whole passage to be late, while individual parts have been disputed, e.g. 7, 8 by Gi. and with some hesitation by Co. Others than Du. reject the most striking vv., viz. 5, 6, but Co. (so Gi.) emphatically maintains their genuineness. See notes below.