Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 33

Introduction

Jeremiah 27-29. Certain linguistic peculiarities ( e.g. the incorrect spelling, Nebuchadnezzar) suggest that these three chapters may have circulated as a separate pamphlet, e.g. in Babylon. They deal with the rebuke of false hopes concerning a speedy return from exile.

Jeremiah 30-31. The Future of Israel and Judah.— These two chapters of prophecy, dealing with the future restoration of Israel and Judah, appear to be a later editorial insertion in the narrative scheme of Jeremiah 26-45, placed here perhaps because Jeremiah 32 and Jeremiah 33 contain narratives and prophecies dealing with the same subject ( cf. also Jeremiah 29:10 ff.). In Jeremiah 30 and Jeremiah 31, there are numerous points of contact with Deutero-Isaiah, a fact which, with other features, has suggested to many scholars an exilic or post-exilic date for much that these chapters contain. The contrast with the general “ pessimism” of earlier chapters is very noticeable. On the other hand, the internal evidence for Jeremiah 31:2-6, Jeremiah 31:15-22, Jeremiah 31:31-34 entitles us to regard these sections as Jeremianic.

Jeremiah 40-44. The next five chapters continue the biography of Jeremiah, including connected events, after the capture of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 46-51. The Foreign Prophecies.— These form the third principal division of the Book of Jeremiah. As already seen ( Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 1:10, Jeremiah 25:15), Jeremiah’ s prophetic horizon naturally included the surrounding nations; how far the prophecies that follow are his can be decided only by detailed criticism in each case. They refer, though in somewhat different order, to the several nations enumerated in Jeremiah 25:19-26 (which may be regarded as an introduction to them), except that an oracle on Damascus here replaces the reference to Tyre, Sidon, and the Mediterranean. (The LXX, which places this group of prophecies after Jeremiah 25:13, follows a third order.) It is generally admitted that the long prophecy on Babylon (Jeremiah 50 f.) is not by Jeremiah (see prefatory note). As to Jeremiah 46-49, there is considerable difference of opinion, ranging from Duhm’ s rejection of the whole, through Giesebrecht’ s acceptance of Jeremiah 47 (except towards end), with the nucleus of Jeremiah 46:2-12, Jeremiah 49:7-11, up to Cornill’ s acceptance of most of Jeremiah 46-49 (so also Peake). It is in any case natural to suppose that there are genuine prophecies by Jeremiah which underlie these chapters, though they have been worked over, or incorporated with other non-Jeremianic prophecies ( e.g. Jeremiah 48) by later writers. For details, the larger commentaries must be consulted.

Jeremiah 26-45. These chapters, usually ascribed in the main to Baruch, chiefly narrate selected incidents in the life of Jeremiah, often with connected prophecies; they form a second main section of the book, in contrast with 1– 25, which consist chiefly of prophecies, with little narrative.

Verses 1-26

Jeremiah 33. Promises of Restoration.— There may be a Jeremianic nucleus in the first half of the chapter, but Jeremiah 33:14-26, 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 33:1-9). The present desolation shall be replaced (contrast Jeremiah 7:34) by a joyful and thankful population, enjoying pastoral peace ( Jeremiah 33:10-13). 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 33:14-26).

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.