Jeremiah 4:14-18

3. The third figure: the keepers (Jeremiah 4:14-18)

TRANSLATION

(14) Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem, that you might be saved. How long will you harbor in your midst wicked thoughts? (15) For hark! A messenger from Dan, one who announces bad tidings from the hills of Ephraim! (16) Report it to the nations: Behold! Publish concerning Jerusalem, Watchers are coming from a distant land and they shall give forth their voice against the cities of Judah. (17) Like watchmen of a field are they against her round about for she has rebelled against Me (oracle of the LORD). (18) Your way and your deeds have done these things to you; this is your evil. Surely it is bitter! Surely it has touched your very heart.

COMMENTS

The third figure opens with an appeal to the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse themselves from evil in order that they might be saved. Amid the crashing threats of divine judgment it is easy to overlook these quiet and sincere appeals. Jeremiah was perplexed by the obstinacy of his countrymen. In view of the impending disaster Jeremiah asks rhetorically, How long will you harbor (lit., cause to lodge) in your midst (within you) wicked thoughts (Jeremiah 4:11). Repentance is so urgent for Jeremiah can see in prophetic vision the rapid advance of the enemy, He dramatically depicts a messenger arriving from Dan, the northern border of Palestine. Almost as quickly as the first messenger reaches Jerusalem a second runner from the hills of Ephraim ten miles from Jerusalem arrives with equally bad tidings. The enemy is rapidly advancing toward Jerusalem (Jeremiah 4:15). Even the neighboring nations are called upon to take heed to what is taking place at Jerusalem for the divine visitation there has universal significance. Watchers, i.e., the besieging army. station themselves around the cities of Judah. They lift up their voices against the besieged cities in ridicule, in taunts and. demands for total surrender (Jeremiah 4:16). The enemy erects pavilions, booths and tents about the besieged city like unto those erected by those who guard a field (cf. Isaiah 1:8). The enemy watches the city lest any within make good their escape. All this has come upon Judah because she has rebelled against the Lord (Jeremiah 4:17). The sin of Judah is bitter indeed. It has reached to the very heart of the nation dealing a death blow to her (Jeremiah 4:18).