ירמיהו פרק טז: You Have To Believe Me

Up till now, ירמיהו has sought to persuade בני ישראל (specifically מלכות יהודה) to return to ה by using a lot of imagery. He has been using words. It hasn't worked. Therefore, in this פרק, Hashem is going to have him up his game. ירמיהו is facing a difficulty that can be exhibited via the following clip from 'Beauty and the Beast.'

1. What's Maurice trying to get the people in the tavern to believe?
That the Beast is holding Belle hostage
2. Do they believe him?
No
3. Why don't they believe him?
Because they think he's crazy
Now let's connect it to ירמיהו.
1. What is ירמיהו trying to get the people (מלכות יהודה) to believe? (Base your answer on the last פרק we learned.)
That if they do not amend their ways בני ישראל will be exiled and their land decimated and pillaged
2. So far, have they believed him (or changed their ways)?
No
3. Why do you think they haven't believed him (or at least changed their ways)?
Its kind of a crazy idea...

ירמיהו ט״ז:א׳-ב׳

(א) וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ב) לֹֽא־תִקַּ֥ח לְךָ֖ אִשָּׁ֑ה וְלֹֽא־יִהְי֤וּ לְךָ֙ בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנ֔וֹת בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

Jeremiah 16:1-2

(1) The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying: (2) Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.

1. Before reading further, why do you think God would forbid ירמיהו to marry or to have children?

It would give potential enemies someone to threaten to get ירמיהו to do whatever they want
Then they would become a higher priority in his mind--higher than doing רצון ה
To show that Israel is not a permanent home

2. How have things escalated since פרק ב? What has changed in terms of ירמיהו's persuasion techniques?
Yes. ירמיהו now is taking action (or non action) to show his point

ירמיהו ט״ז:ג׳-ד׳

(ג) כִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה עַל־הַבָּנִים֙ וְעַל־הַבָּנ֔וֹת הַיִּלּוֹדִ֖ים בַּמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְעַֽל־אִמֹּתָ֞ם הַיֹּלְד֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם וְעַל־אֲבוֹתָ֛ם הַמּוֹלִדִ֥ים אוֹתָ֖ם בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת׃ (ד) מְמוֹתֵ֨י תַחֲלֻאִ֜ים יָמֻ֗תוּ לֹ֤א יִסָּֽפְדוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִקָּבֵ֔רוּ לְדֹ֛מֶן עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָ֖ה יִֽהְי֑וּ וּבַחֶ֤רֶב וּבָֽרָעָב֙ יִכְל֔וּ וְהָיְתָ֤ה נִבְלָתָם֙ לְמַאֲכָ֔ל לְע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וּלְבֶהֱמַ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ס)

Jeremiah 16:3-4

(3) For thus saith the LORD concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bore them, and concerning their fathers that begot them in this land: (4) They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented, neither shall they be buried, they shall be as dung upon the face of the ground; and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcasses shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

1. This source sheds light on the command that ירמיהו is forbidden to marry. Why exactly is he forbidden to marry?
Because they will die awful deaths.
2. What will happen to the people of מלכות יהודה according to this vision?
They will die and will not be grieved over or buried. They will be eaten by carrion birds

ירמיהו ט״ז:ט׳

(ט) כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנְנִ֨י מַשְׁבִּ֜ית מִן־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֛ה לְעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם וּבִֽימֵיכֶ֑ם ק֤וֹל שָׂשׂוֹן֙ וְק֣וֹל שִׂמְחָ֔ה ק֥וֹל חָתָ֖ן וְק֥וֹל כַּלָּֽה׃

Jeremiah 16:9

(9) For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place, Before your eyes and in your days, The voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, The voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.

1. What does God declare will stop happening within ארץ ישראל?
Happiness
2. What does this show us about the natural order of things/ life cycle events?
That in Israel they will be out of wack for a while

ירמיהו ט״ז:י׳-י״ג

(י) וְהָיָ֗ה כִּ֤י תַגִּיד֙ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְאָמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֗יךָ עַל־מֶה֩ דִבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֤ה עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את וּמֶ֤ה עֲוֺנֵ֙נוּ֙ וּמֶ֣ה חַטָּאתֵ֔נוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָטָ֖אנוּ לַֽיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (יא) וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם עַל֩ אֲשֶׁר־עָזְב֨וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֤ם אוֹתִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וַיֵּלְכ֗וּ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַיַּעַבְד֖וּם וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ לָהֶ֑ם וְאֹתִ֣י עָזָ֔בוּ וְאֶת־תּוֹרָתִ֖י לֹ֥א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃ (יב) וְאַתֶּ֛ם הֲרֵעֹתֶ֥ם לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת מֵאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְהִנְּכֶ֣ם הֹלְכִ֗ים אִ֚ישׁ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ שְׁרִר֣וּת לִבּֽוֹ־הָרָ֔ע לְבִלְתִּ֖י שְׁמֹ֥עַ אֵלָֽי׃ (יג) וְהֵטַלְתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֗ם מֵעַל֙ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את עַל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם אַתֶּ֖ם וַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁ֞ם אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־אֶתֵּ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם חֲנִינָֽה׃ (ס)

Jeremiah 16:10-13

(10) And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt tell this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee: ‘Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?’ (11) then shalt thou say unto them: ‘Because your fathers have forsaken Me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken Me, and have not kept My law; (12) and ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the stubbornness of his evil heart, so that ye hearken not unto Me; (13) therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye have not known, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; forasmuch as I will show you no favour.’

1. What question will בני ישראל ask ירמיהו?
What they did wrong
2. What is ירמיהו supposed to answer them about their fathers?
that they abandoned ה
3. What is ירמיהו supposed to answer them about their behavior?
That they were worse than their fathers
4. Why is בני ישראל's behavior currently worse than that of their forefathers?
Because they refuse to listen to rebuke
They have מלך יאשיהו as a role model
5. How is ה actually going to "give בני ישראל what they want" in a way? Think of it as a "Be careful what you wish for...because you just might get it" moment.
He will exile them to a land where they can worship idols as much as they want

ירמיהו ט״ז:י״ד-ט״ו

(יד) לָכֵ֛ן הִנֵּֽה־יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ חַי־יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֶעֱלָ֛ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (טו) כִּ֣י אִם־חַי־יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶעֱלָ֜ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן וּמִכֹּל֙ הָֽאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִדִּיחָ֖ם שָׁ֑מָּה וַהֲשִֽׁבֹתִים֙ עַל־אַדְמָתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לַאֲבוֹתָֽם׃ (ס)

Jeremiah 16:14-15

(14) Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said: 'As the LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt,' (15) but: ‘As the LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the countries whither He had driven them’; and I will bring them back into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

1. How is God's title going to change?
From the god that took בנ"י out of מצרים to the god who took בנ"י up north to exile and back to ישראל
2. How is this actually reassuring (in an odd way)?
because it shows that בני ישראל will come back from גלות
3. How is this also troubling/ problematic? (What does it imply about this exile?)
If we're comparing exile to Egypt, then it seems to reason that it will be as bad as Egypt.
If they know that ה will save them then they're תשובה won't be as great or meaningful

Despite everything...despite בני ישראל's abandonment of God, their turning Him away, their preferring other gods to Him and their refusing to obey their laws God tells them to just hang on and wait for Him...because He WILL come back for them and bring them out (hopefully wiser) from exile.

ירמיהו ט״ז:ט״ז-י״ח

(טז) הִנְנִ֨י שֹׁלֵ֜חַ לדוגים [לְדַיָּגִ֥ים] רַבִּ֛ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֖ה וְדִיג֑וּם וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אֶשְׁלַח֙ לְרַבִּ֣ים צַיָּדִ֔ים וְצָד֞וּם מֵעַ֤ל כָּל־הַר֙ וּמֵעַ֣ל כָּל־גִּבְעָ֔ה וּמִנְּקִיקֵ֖י הַסְּלָעִֽים׃ (יז) כִּ֤י עֵינַי֙ עַל־כָּל־דַּרְכֵיהֶ֔ם לֹ֥א נִסְתְּר֖וּ מִלְּפָנָ֑י וְלֹֽא־נִצְפַּ֥ן עֲוֺנָ֖ם מִנֶּ֥גֶד עֵינָֽי׃ (יח) וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֣י רִֽאשׁוֹנָ֗ה מִשְׁנֵ֤ה עֲוֺנָם֙ וְחַטָּאתָ֔ם עַ֖ל חַלְּלָ֣ם אֶת־אַרְצִ֑י בְּנִבְלַ֤ת שִׁקּֽוּצֵיהֶם֙ וְתוֹעֲב֣וֹתֵיהֶ֔ם מָלְא֖וּ אֶת־נַחֲלָתִֽי׃ (ס)

Jeremiah 16:16-18

(16) Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. (17) For Mine eyes are upon all their ways, They are not hid from My face; Neither is their iniquity concealed from Mine eyes. (18) And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; Because they have profaned My land; They have filled Mine inheritance With the carcasses of their detestable things and their abominations.

1. What metaphors is ה using for how He will gather up בני ישראל and exile them?
Fisherman and hunters
2. What's hopeful in פסוק יח about what ה is saying?
LATER: will save בני ישראל

ירמיהו ט״ז:י״ט-כ״א

(יט) יְהוָ֞ה עֻזִּ֧י וּמָעֻזִּ֛י וּמְנוּסִ֖י בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה אֵלֶ֗יךָ גּוֹיִ֤ם יָבֹ֙אוּ֙ מֵֽאַפְסֵי־אָ֔רֶץ וְיֹאמְר֗וּ אַךְ־שֶׁ֙קֶר֙ נָחֲל֣וּ אֲבוֹתֵ֔ינוּ הֶ֖בֶל וְאֵֽין־בָּ֥ם מוֹעִֽיל׃ (כ) הֲיַעֲשֶׂה־לּ֥וֹ אָדָ֖ם אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְהֵ֖מָּה לֹ֥א אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (כא) לָכֵן֙ הִנְנִ֣י מֽוֹדִיעָ֔ם בַּפַּ֣עַם הַזֹּ֔את אוֹדִיעֵ֥ם אֶת־יָדִ֖י וְאֶת־גְּבֽוּרָתִ֑י וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־שְׁמִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ (ס)

Jeremiah 16:19-21

(19) O LORD, my strength, and my stronghold, And my refuge, in the day of affliction, Unto Thee shall the nations come From the ends of the earth, and shall say: ‘Our fathers have inherited nought but lies, Vanity and things wherein there is no profit.’ (20) Shall a man make unto himself gods, And they are no gods? (21) Therefore, behold, I will cause them to know, This once will I cause them to know My hand and My might; And they shall know that My name is the LORD.

From the way this reads on a פשט level it seems like ירמיהו is comforting Hashem...telling Him that one day the nations of the world will tell God they understand the truth about Him. God responds to Him sadly and you can imagine Him almost shaking His head, saying "Can a man make for himself gods that are no gods? This once I will cause them to know that I am here." If בני ישראל cannot know and identify Me when I am kind to them, but instead persist in forgetting me and pretending I do not exist...perhaps they will know Me when I send them away.
1. What can we glean about ירמיהו's relationship to ה based on his description of Him in פסוק יט?
ה is the one thing that is constant for ירמיהו
He respects him
2. Why do you think ירמיהו has such an intense relationship with ה?
3. Based on what ירמיהו can/cannot do in this פרק and based on his descriptions, do you think בני ישראל will change their ways? Why or why not?