Jeremiah 31:38-40

G. The New City Jeremiah 31:38-40

TRANSLATION

(38) Behold, days are coming (oracle of the LORD) when the city of the LORD shall be built from the tower of Hananeel unto the Corner Gate. (39) And the measuring line shall go out farther right on to the hill Gareb, and then around to Goath. (40) And the entire valley of corpses and ashes, and all the fields unto the brook Kidron, unto the corner of the Horse Gate to the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it shall never again be uprooted or thrown down.

COMMENTS

In the closing paragraph of the chapter Jeremiah looks forward to the building of a new city, the city of the Lord. The geographical details of this passage are not particularly important and may be dealt with summarily.
a) Tower of Hananeelnortheast corner of the city of Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate.[276]

[276] Nehemiah 3:1; Nehemiah 12:39; Zechariah 14:10.

b) Gate of the Cornernorthwest corner of Jeru salem.[277]

[277] 2 Kings 14:13; 2 Chronicles 26:9; Zechariah 14:10.

c) Hill of Gareblocation unknown. but if the etymology of the word has any significance (Gareb-itch or leprosy) this hill would be the hill outside the limits of Jerusalem proper where the unclean lepers lived.
d) Goathlocation unknown; mentioned only here.
e) Valley of the CarcassesProbably the Valley of Hinnom.[278]

[278] 2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:32-33; Jeremiah 19:11-13.

f) Brook Kidrona torrent-bed which begins north of Jerusalem, passes the Temple mount and Mount of Olives en route to the Dead Sea.

g) Horse Gateon the east side of Jerusalem near the Temple.[279]

[279] Nehemiah 3:28; 2 Chronicles 23:15.

For what purpose are these geographical details enumerated? Is it to show that Jerusalem when rebuilt will be somewhat enlarged? This is certainly a prominent theme in prophetic Scripture. That there is some increase in the size of old Jerusalem here in Jeremiah seems fairly obvious from the boundaries which are listed. But lack of information as to the precise position of some of the places named makes it impossible to determine how much gain in space is anticipated. It would seem that the circumference of the city is extended only so far as to include certain spots which were at present regarded as unclean. This is the real point of the passage. Those unclean areasplaces once reserved for outcasts, burial grounds, garbage dumpswill be brought within the city limits of the new Jerusalem. Those unclean areas will be transformed, sanctified, cleansed and the entire city will be holy to the Lord (Jeremiah 31:40).

Of what Jerusalem is the prophet speaking in this passage? Those commentators who think he speaks here of the spiritual Jerusalem, the church of Christ, are certainly correct. Some rather cogent arguments can be raised in favor of this view.

a) Jeremiah has already alluded to the church as spiritual Jerusalem in Jeremiah 3:17.

b) Nothing is said in this passage about the rebuilding of the Temple although Jeremiah had foretold its destruction as well as that of the city. This omission would be most strange if Jeremiah had in mind the literal city of Jerusalem.[280]

[280] Streane, op. cit, p. 218.

c) The church of Christ is called in the New Testament Mt. Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22).

d) The context of chapter 31 is that of the Messianic Age as has been clearly demonstrated earlier.
e) On the assumption that only literal Jerusalem is in view it would be most difficult to find an appropriate fulfillment for the concept of city-wide sanctification embraced in this passage. The city of which Jeremiah speaks has no need of refuse dumps. It is in itself so thoroughly holy to the Lord that it will have nothing unholy to cast out. On the other hand if Jeremiah is speaking of Messianic Jerusalem he could well be alluding to the incorporation of Gentilespeoples formerly thought to be unclean and profaneinto the church of Christ.

f) The idea that once this city has been built it will not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever (Jeremiah 31:40) was certainly not fulfilled in the history of literal Jerusalem. The city of which Jeremiah speaks will be safe from destruction for all eternity. This could only be fulfilled by that kingdom which cannot be moved (Hebrews 12:28).

g) Other prophets speak of the Messianic kingdom under the figure of Jerusalem (e.g., Zechariah 2:1-5; Zechariah 8:3-6).