Jeremiah 33 - Introduction

Jeremiah 33:1-26. Renewed promise of return and of honour among the nations

For the late character of Jeremiah 33:14 of this ch. see introd. note there. Jeremiah 33:1 are also rejected by Schmidt, Co. and Du., while Gi. admits that they include a certain amount of interpolation, e.g. Jeremiah 33:2. The case against the earlier portion of the ch. seems far from proven, though Jeremiah 33:1 probably contain a considerable amount of editorial addition. The latter part of Jeremiah 33:1 suggests for the Jeremianic portion the same date as ch. 32.

The contents may be summarized as follows. (i) Jeremiah 33:1. Jehovah invites the prophet to call upon Him for teaching as to His secret purposes. (ii) Jeremiah 33:4. Resistance to the Chaldaeans will involve fruitless bloodshed; but afterwards there shall come to Judah and Israel healing and restoration from exile. Jerusalem shall be honoured of all nations, who shall be smitten with dismay when they behold Jehovah's mercy towards her. (iii) Jeremiah 33:10. The cities and land that are now desolate shall once more flourish and abound in the joys of life, while flocks shall pasture without fear as in former time. (iv) Jeremiah 33:14. A righteous Ruler shall spring up in David's line. Jerusalem shall be named "The Lord is our righteousness." The permanence of the kingly and priestly line shall be securely established. (v) Jeremiah 33:19. The order of nature shall not be more fixed than the continuity of king and priests. The seed of David and the ministering Levites shall be as the stars or the sand for multitude. So far is Jehovah from rejecting His people that He will deliver and cherish them as certainly as day and night alternate in due succession by His ordinance.