יהויקים has become king, and as we know from מלכים ב, he isn't the type of person to follow in his father's footsteps. ירמיהו's life is going to get a whole lot harder...in fact, it's going to be turned upside down.
We will read the relevant part of פרק ז in order to understand what exactly ירמיהו said and then flip on over to פרק כו to see the reaction to ירמיהו's words. Fair warning: it's not going to be pretty.
(א) הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ מֵאֵ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ב) עֲמֹ֗ד בְּשַׁ֙עַר֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה וְקָרָ֣אתָ שָּׁ֔ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ שִׁמְע֣וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה כָּל־יְהוּדָה֙ הַבָּאִים֙ בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת לַיהוָֽה׃ (ס)
(1) The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: (2) Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house, and proclaim there this word, and say: Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.
1. In what way is it provocative for ירמיהו to stand literally in the שער of the בית המקדש? (Consider how Hashem said in פרק ב that all the priests and leaders don't ask איה ה anymore.)
It sets him apart from the rest of the Kohanim because he's pretty mu;ch proclaiming you're all false- I'm the real deal. But it's also smart because everyone would come here (the people to br
(ג) כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֵיטִ֥יבוּ דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם וּמַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֑ם וַאֲשַׁכְּנָ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם בַּמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ (ד) אַל־תִּבְטְח֣וּ לָכֶ֔ם אֶל־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַשֶּׁ֖קֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵיכַ֤ל יְהוָה֙ הֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֔ה הֵיכַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה הֵֽמָּה׃
(3) Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. (4) Trust ye not in lying words, saying: ‘The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, are these.’
1. Is God still willing to give בני ישראל a chance to stop the חורבן? Prove it from the פסוק by quoting the relevant words below.
:He is- see pasuk gimmel
2. If you had to guess, what דרכיהם & מעלליכם do you think בני ישראל have to fix?
Avodah zarah
רד"ק על היכל ה, היכל ה, היכל ה המה
אלו דברי השקר שאומרים להם נביאי השקר המתעים אותם או הם היו אומרים לנביא והוא ירמיהו והיו אומרים לו לא יחריב היכלו בעבור העון ולא תחרב העיר הזאת
Radak on Heichal Hashem, Heichal Hashem, Heichal Hashem Heimah
These are the false words that the false prophets would say to them, who were misleading them. They would say to the prophet (Jeremiah) and they would say to him, "God's Temple won't be destroyed because of the sin and this city won't be destroyed."
1. If you had been a member of בני ישראל during this time, why might it be easier to believe the נביאי שקר as opposed to ירמיהו?
They are in the majority, they support the status quo, they are the esablishment. It's also a lot easier to not have to change your ways or exert effort to suddenly really repent and come back to God.
2. What is one reason that היכל ה is repeated three times?
For emphasis- this is the temple of God that has stood for so long- it's 'the unsinkable ship- it's not gonna go down
3. In what way is the בית המקדש during this time period comparable to the Titanic or the idea that certain institutions are #TooBigToFail?
(ד) היכל ה' ר''ל אל תחשבו שמצד שהוא היכל ה' ונבנה לשם ה' עי''כ הוא היכלו, ר''ל שעי''כ ישכן בו, לא כן כי
(ה) היכל ה' המה, ר''ל דרכיכם ומעלליכם הטובים (הנז' בכתוב הקודם) הם היכל ה', ועל ידם ישכן שם בקדש, ומפרש (ה-ו-ז)
He wants to say 'Don't think that just because it's the Temple of God and it was built for God's sake, therefore it is His Temple.' It wants to say that if you think because of this He dwells there, you are mistaken because 'The Temple of Hashem is in these.' By these, he means your ways and good behaviors (as is mentioned earlier)- those are the Temple of God, and it is through your efforts that He dwells there in the Holy.
1. According to מלבים, what constitutes the true Temple of Hashem?
It's actually found within the people- in their behaviors and actions (not the physical tmple).
2. How is this an important shift (think rituals vs. behaviors)?
Up till now the entire focus in Judaism (ancient practices/ biblical Judaism) has revolved a LOT around rituals especially that of the Temple and the sacrifices. Yirmiyahu is saying that all of that is not important if you don't actually think and behave sincerely and appropriately- your INTENTIONS and ACTIONS matter- not just the rituals.
(ו) גֵּ֣ר יָת֤וֹם וְאַלְמָנָה֙ לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשֹׁ֔קוּ וְדָ֣ם נָקִ֔י אַֽל־תִּשְׁפְּכ֖וּ בַּמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְאַחֲרֵ֨י אֱלֹהִ֧ים אֲחֵרִ֛ים לֹ֥א תֵלְכ֖וּ לְרַ֥ע לָכֶֽם׃ (ז) וְשִׁכַּנְתִּ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם לְמִן־עוֹלָ֖ם וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
(6) if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt; (7) then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
1. Whoa! What sins appear to have become commonplace during יהויקים's reign?
Oppressing the geir (person following sheva mitzvot bnei noach, literal stranger or a cnovert)
opressing the orphan
oppresssing the widow
killing people
avodah zarah
2. What are the two ways to read פסוק ו in terms of the order of importance of the various sins?
Either the pasuk can be organized from worst sin to least bad or from the least bad to the worst sin(depends on commentary's reading). the worst sins end up being either oppressing and being cruel o othersOR avodah zarah (possibly because of how avodah zarah gives rise to this amoral or immoral society)
3. What do the גר, יתום and אלמנה all have in common and why are we charged to take special care with them? These are all individuals who don't have the t ypical family structure that assists in Jewish life and are therefore more marginalized. We are supposed to take special care of them.
4. Connect the message of פסוק ו to our modern world (consider social justice & Tikkun Olam initiatives).
5. What will God do for Bnei Yisrael if they fix their ways? They will stay in the land of Israel (remain here) and not be exiled
(ח) על דברי השקר . הוא בטחון ההיכל שאין תועלת בבטחון הזה :
In lying words. This is the belief in the Heichal (Temple) where there is no purpose/ substance in this belief.
(ט) הֲגָנֹ֤ב ׀ רָצֹ֙חַ֙ וְֽנָאֹ֔ף וְהִשָּׁבֵ֥עַ לַשֶּׁ֖קֶר וְקַטֵּ֣ר לַבָּ֑עַל וְהָלֹ֗ךְ אַחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם׃ (י) וּבָאתֶ֞ם וַעֲמַדְתֶּ֣ם לְפָנַ֗י בַּבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִקְרָא־שְׁמִ֣י עָלָ֔יו וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם נִצַּ֑לְנוּ לְמַ֣עַן עֲשׂ֔וֹת אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
(9) Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and offer unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye have not known, (10) and come and stand before Me in this house, whereupon My name is called, and say: ‘We are delivered’, that ye may do all these abominations?
1. What are the transgressions Bnei Yisrael is committing according to these פסוקים?
Steal
Murder
Commit adultery
Take God's name in vain
Serve idols
(ט) אשר שמי נקרא עליו תאמרו נצלנו ולא ישיגנו עונש, שתחשבו, א. שאחפה על הבא אל ביתי, ב. שלא אחריב הבית יען ששמי עליו, ויותר מזה כי לא תבואו שם ע''מ לשוב רק ע''מ לחזור לעשות הרע ותסמכו על זכות הבית לעשות כל התועבות, עד שתאמרו שלא לבד שע''י הבית תשיגו סליחה על העבר כי גם על העתיד
That my name is called on it you say 'We are saved' and that no punishment will befall you, you think 1) that it will get wiped out because you will come to My House 2) you assume I will not destroy My House because My Name rests upon it, and you don't come there to repent but only to return to performing the evil you do and you rely upon the merit of the House (to save you) when you do all your abominations. You don't even only use the merit of the House to provide you with forgiveness for your past sins, but you even focus on the future (and think that you can sin and it won't be a problem because the merit of the House will atone for you).
Bnei Yisrael are treating the Beit Hamikdash like some kind of magical object that has the power to wipe out their past sins and atone for their future ones. They think that as long as they go through the motions, offer קרבנות and pay lip service to God, everything will be fine. It's a pretty sweet life, if you think about it- offer a cow here and a ram there and in exchange you can do whatever you want since the rituals and the House itself will (according to Bnei Yisrael's logic) atone for their actions.
Please click here to learn a bit about indulgences in the Middle Ages- an idea which was abused similarly to the way in which Bnei Yisrael are here abusing the idea of the Beit Hamikdash.
(יא) הַמְעָרַ֣ת פָּרִצִ֗ים הָיָ֨ה הַבַּ֧יִת הַזֶּ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָֽא־שְׁמִ֥י עָלָ֖יו בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם גַּ֧ם אָנֹכִ֛י הִנֵּ֥ה רָאִ֖יתִי נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ (ס)
(11) Is this house, whereupon My name is called, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it, saith the LORD.
using it like how robbers hide out
(יא) המערת, אתם מחשיבים ביתי
(יב) כמערה שהפריצים מתחבאים שם בל ימצאום, כי כן ע''י הבית תרצו להסתיר מעשיכם, כי הנה כן
(יג) היה הבית הזה בעיניכם, שאם תראו איש משתחוה לאלהיו שם, תחשבו אותו לצדיק גמור, ותועבותיו יסתרו מעיניכם, אבל גם אם יסתר מעיניכם שאינכם יודעים נסתרות, הלא
(יד) גם אנכי הנה ראיתי, ואני רואה תעלומות, ומי יסתר מפני?, ואם תחשבו שבכל זה לא אחריב ביתי, זה טעות :
The cave, you think that my house is like a den of robbers where you can hide there and won't be found, because through this House you wish to hide your actions, because this is what the House is in your eyes where if you see a man bowing to his god there, you think he's a perfect tzaddik, and his abominations are hidden from your eyes, but even if he hides from your eyes (which do not see secrets) will he also hide from my sight? for I know all hidden things, and who can hide from my face? And if you believe that with all this I will not destroy My House, this is a mistake.
(יב) כִּ֣י לְכוּ־נָ֗א אֶל־מְקוֹמִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּשִׁיל֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שִׁכַּ֧נְתִּֽי שְׁמִ֛י שָׁ֖ם בָּרִֽאשׁוֹנָ֑ה וּרְאוּ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֣יתִי ל֔וֹ מִפְּנֵ֕י רָעַ֖ת עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (יג) וְעַתָּ֗ה יַ֧עַן עֲשׂוֹתְכֶ֛ם אֶת־כָּל־הַמַּֽעֲשִׂ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וָאֲדַבֵּ֨ר אֲלֵיכֶ֜ם הַשְׁכֵּ֤ם וְדַבֵּר֙ וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֔ם וָאֶקְרָ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א עֲנִיתֶֽם׃ (יד) וְעָשִׂ֜יתִי לַבַּ֣יִת ׀ אֲשֶׁ֧ר נִֽקְרָא־שְׁמִ֣י עָלָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ בֹּטְחִ֣ים בּ֔וֹ וְלַ֨מָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תִּי לָכֶ֖ם וְלַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לְשִׁלֽוֹ׃ (טו) וְהִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵעַ֣ל פָּנָ֑י כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר הִשְׁלַ֙כְתִּי֙ אֶת־כָּל־אֲחֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת כָּל־זֶ֥רַע אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ (ס)
(12) For go ye now unto My place which was in Shiloh, where I caused My name to dwell at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of My people Israel. (13) And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spoke unto you, speaking betimes and often, but ye heard not, and I called you, but ye answered not; (14) therefore will I do unto the house, whereupon My name is called, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. (15) And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.
In order to figure out what exactly happened in שילה, we need to go back in time to a dark moment in בני ישראל's history...all the way back in שמואל א.
(יז) וַיַּ֨עַן הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָ֤ס יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְגַ֛ם מַגֵּפָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה הָיְתָ֣ה בָעָ֑ם וְגַם־שְׁנֵ֨י בָנֶ֜יךָ מֵ֗תוּ חָפְנִי֙ וּפִ֣ינְחָ֔ס וַאֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים נִלְקָֽחָה׃ (פ) (יח) וַיְהִ֞י כְּהַזְכִּיר֣וֹ ׀ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים וַיִּפֹּ֣ל מֵֽעַל־הַ֠כִּסֵּא אֲחֹ֨רַנִּ֜ית בְּעַ֣ד ׀ יַ֣ד הַשַּׁ֗עַר וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֤ר מַפְרַקְתּוֹ֙ וַיָּמֹ֔ת כִּֽי־זָקֵ֥ן הָאִ֖ישׁ וְכָבֵ֑ד וְה֛וּא שָׁפַ֥ט אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃
(17) And he that brought the tidings answered and said: ‘Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.’ (18) And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
When Yirmiyahu mentions Shiloh, he is mentioning a site of Bnei Yisrael's catastrophic defeat. The Ark was taken, the priests were slain, many members of Bnei Yisrael died, Eli the High Priest died and Shiloh itself was totally sacked and destroyed.
1. If you were a member of Bnei Yisrael, how might you react to Yirmiyahu saying what he is saying about the current Beit Hamikdash and Shiloh?
Shiloh- represents destruciton, bad, equivalent to “9/11” nowadays
Above is a photo of Ground Zero taken in 2001.
פרק כו- The Aftermath of ירמיהו's Speech
(א) בְּרֵאשִׁ֗ית מַמְלְכ֛וּת יְהוֹיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה הָיָה֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה מֵאֵ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ב) כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה עֲמֹד֮ בַּחֲצַ֣ר בֵּית־יְהוָה֒ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֞ עַל־כָּל־עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה הַבָּאִים֙ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֣ת בֵּית־יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּיתִ֖יךָ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם אַל־תִּגְרַ֖ע דָּבָֽר׃ (ג) אוּלַ֣י יִשְׁמְע֔וּ וְיָשֻׁ֕בוּ אִ֖ישׁ מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ הָרָעָ֑ה וְנִחַמְתִּ֣י אֶל־הָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֤י חֹשֵׁב֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָהֶ֔ם מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ (ד) וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה אִם־לֹ֤א תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֵלַ֔י לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ בְּת֣וֹרָתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לִפְנֵיכֶֽם׃ (ה) לִשְׁמֹ֗עַ עַל־דִּבְרֵ֨י עֲבָדַ֣י הַנְּבִאִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י שֹׁלֵ֣חַ אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם וְהַשְׁכֵּ֥ם וְשָׁלֹ֖חַ וְלֹ֥א שְׁמַעְתֶּֽם׃ (ו) וְנָתַתִּ֛י אֶת־הַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּ֖ה כְּשִׁלֹ֑ה וְאֶת־הָעִ֤יר הזאתה [הַזֹּאת֙] אֶתֵּ֣ן לִקְלָלָ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ס)
(1) In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this word from the LORD, saying: (2) ’Thus saith the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word. (3) It may be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way; that I may repent Me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. (4) And thou shalt say unto them: Thus saith the LORD: If ye will not hearken to Me, to walk in My law, which I have set before you, (5) to hearken to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I send unto you, even sending them betimes and often, but ye have not hearkened; (6) then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.’
1. What new information do we receive about the time period (which we did not have in פרק ז)?
this all takes place at the beginning of yirmiyahu's reign
2. What additional information do we have regarding how God will transform the city into שילה?
if bnei yisrael doesn't change their ways, God will
3. Was ירמיהו allowed to change the words of the prophecy? Prove it from the פסוקים (quote below).
no- "Al Tigrah Davar"
(ז) וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֛וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים וְהַנְּבִאִ֖ים וְכָל־הָעָ֑ם אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ מְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה בְּבֵ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
(7) So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
1. What do you think the reaction of the three different categories of people will be? How will the priests react vs. the prophets vs the nation (or will they all react similarly)?
Kohanim/ Neviim (if good) -its possible they take it seriously due to Shiloh reference
The Rest of the Nation-might be split, might want to do what's best for you (less restrictions)
Kohanim/ Neviim ( if bad, corrupt, worship idols)- don't want people to listen to Yirmiyahu because it'll put them out of commission.
(ח) וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּכַלּ֣וֹת יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ לְדַבֵּר֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה לְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֑ם וַיִּתְפְּשׂ֨וּ אֹת֜וֹ הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים וְהַנְּבִאִ֛ים וְכָל־הָעָ֥ם לֵאמֹ֖ר מ֥וֹת תָּמֽוּת׃ (ט) מַדּוּעַ֩ נִבֵּ֨יתָ בְשֵׁם־יְהוָ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר כְּשִׁלוֹ֙ יִֽהְיֶה֙ הַבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֔ה וְהָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֛את תֶּחֱרַ֖ב מֵאֵ֣ין יוֹשֵׁ֑ב וַיִּקָּהֵ֧ל כָּל־הָעָ֛ם אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בְּבֵ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
(8) Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold on him, saying: ‘Thou shalt surely die. (9) Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying: This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without an inhabitant?’ And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
1. Which groups are involved in arresting ירמיהו and deciding he needs to die?
Vayitbishu Oto- they arrest Yirmiyahu.... then they tell him he will die
everyone is united (kohanim, neviim, and nation) against Yirmiyahu
Yirmiyahu asks why? on what charges?
2. What specifically is their complaint/ why are they upset with him? Prove it from the פסוקים (please quote).
how can you say this city will be like Shiloh and that the land will be totally desolate?
CHarges: speaking against Beit Hamikdash and the land of Israel--> they accuse yirmiyahu of being a false prophet!!
(יט) וְהָיָ֗ה הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִשְׁמַע֙ אֶל־דְּבָרַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְדַבֵּ֖ר בִּשְׁמִ֑י אָנֹכִ֖י אֶדְרֹ֥שׁ מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃ (כ) אַ֣ךְ הַנָּבִ֡יא אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָזִיד֩ לְדַבֵּ֨ר דָּבָ֜ר בִּשְׁמִ֗י אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־צִוִּיתִיו֙ לְדַבֵּ֔ר וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר יְדַבֵּ֔ר בְּשֵׁ֖ם אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וּמֵ֖ת הַנָּבִ֥יא הַהֽוּא׃ (כא) וְכִ֥י תֹאמַ֖ר בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ אֵיכָה֙ נֵדַ֣ע אֶת־הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־דִבְּר֖וֹ יְהוָֽה׃ (כב) אֲשֶׁר֩ יְדַבֵּ֨ר הַנָּבִ֜יא בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֗ה וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֤ה הַדָּבָר֙ וְלֹ֣א יָב֔וֹא ה֣וּא הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־דִבְּר֖וֹ יְהוָ֑ה בְּזָדוֹן֙ דִּבְּר֣וֹ הַנָּבִ֔יא לֹ֥א תָג֖וּר מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ (ס)
The Laws of the False Prophet
(19) And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not listen to My words which he (the true prophet) shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. (20) But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ (21) And if you say in your heart: ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?’ (22) When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken; the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of him.
reason for why yirmiyahu is on trial (based on devarim)= Navi Sheker
1. Do you think the trial is legitimate or not? What does it depend on? Argue both sides.
yes- if they truly believe hes a false prophet, it gives us hope for Bnei Yisrael becausse it shows they still care for God's laws, etc. they might be confused now but they still have some connection to God at this point- they honestly believe he is a false prophet and are trying to do the right thing by following Devarim and its rules on dealing with false prophets
no- this is their excuse to get rid of him (like Queen Izevel and Navot) and just want to stop him.
either way, he'll be put on trial for his life (officially for talking about the B"H and follow the trial in Devarim
1. Why have the princes come?
they are the judges
2. It says they are sitting by the שער. This is an important detail- consider מגילת רות. See Chapter 4.
the gate is where the trials are held
(יא) וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים וְהַנְּבִאִים֙ אֶל־הַשָּׂרִ֔ים וְאֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִשְׁפַּט־מָ֙וֶת֙ לָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֤י נִבָּא֙ אֶל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם בְּאָזְנֵיכֶֽם׃
(11) Then spoke the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying: ‘This man is worthy of death; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.’
1. Compare the actors in this פסוק to פסוק ח. What's different?
here- priests and prophets accuse Yirmiyahu to people/princes. there, kohanim neviim and nation were one, united group
2. How can you resolve/ explain the difference?
maybe neviim and kohanim are reps of the nation but still all on the same side.
maybe the people backed out (changed their minds)
malbim addresses this:
everyone wants to kill yirmiyahu , its just a question of how and why.
Nation- dont want to listen to these prophecies anymore, kill him legal or not,
neviim and kohanim- honestly believe he is a false prophet and want to put him to death legally
Malbim thinks they are sincere and are doing this for the right reasons
(ח) ויתפשו אותו הכהנים והנביאים וכל העם, תחלה השתתפו גם העם עם הכהנים להמיתו, ולא בעבור שחשבו שהוא נביא שקר ושבדה הנבואה מלבו, כי באמת האמינו שה' שלחו וא''כ אין לו משפט מות כפי הדין, רק שרצו להמיתו שלא ע''פ הדין כדי שלא ימצא מוכיח להוכיחם ולהודיעם דברי ה', שאחר שלא רצו לשמוע לדברי ה' רצו שלא ימצא נביא שלוח אליהם ומתרה בם, וז''ש
(ט) מות תמות :
(א) מדוע נבאת בשם ה', שהגם שהנבואה אמת לא היה לך לנבאות נגד רצוננו, כי אין אנו רוצים בנבואה כזאת הגם שהיא מאת ה' :
(א) וישמעו שרי יהודה, אמנם השרים באו לבחון הדבר אם הוא חייב מיתה ע''פ הדין, כי להשרים לא יאות להמית נקי חנם, ואז נסתלקו העם, כי העם האמינו שהוא שליח מאת ה', וא''א להמיתו ע''פ המשפט והדין :
(א) ויאמרו הכהנים והנביאים אל השרים ואל כל העם, אמנם הכהנים והנביאים לא האמינו בנבואתו ורצו להרגו מצד שמנבא שקר בשם ה' (כי נביאי השקר היו מכחישים נבואתו והיו מנבאים בהפך), וע''כ טענו הם אל השרים ואל העם ואמרו
(ב) משפט מות לאיש הזה היינו שיש להמיתו ע''פ המשפט והדין,
(ג) כי נבא על העיר הזאת כאשר שמעתם באזניכם והיא נבואת שקר כי לא שלחו ה', ובפרט זה לא הסכימו העם לפ''ז הנביאים רצו להרגו כפי המשפט מצד שהוא נביא שקר, ורצו שהשרים ידונו אותו בדין, והעם לא הסכימו על פרט זה ובכל זה רצו להרגו אף שהוא נביא אמת כדי לסלק הנזק שיש להם מנבואתו שמנבא פורעניות :
And the priests, prophets and nation grabbed hold of him. In the beginning, the nation was with the priests to kill him, and not because they thought he was a false prophet who came up with the prophecy from his heart, because in truth they believed that God sent him and if so he doesn't deserve the death penalty. Rather, they just wanted to kill him not according to the law so that they wouldn't have someone rebuking them and trying to make them know the word of God because they didn't want to listen to the word of God. That's why they say He shall surely die. Why did you prophecize in the name of God? because even if the prophecy was true, you shouldn't have prophecized it against our wills, because we don't want to hear these kinds of prophecies. And the officers of Yehudah heard. They came to investigate the matter and see whether he deserves the death penalty according to the law because they didn't want to execute someone who is innocent, and so the nation was silent because the nation believed that he really was sent by God and if so it's not possible to execute him according to the law. And the priests and prophets said to the officers and the nation, but the priests and officers did NOT believe his prophecy was true and so they wanted to kill him because he was falsely prophecizing. They felt that he deserved the death penalty in accordance with the law because he prophecized about this city as you heard with your own ears and this is a false prophecy because God did not send him, and with this detail the nation did not agree with them and so the prophets wanted to kill him according to the law since he's a Navi Sheker and they wanted the officers to judge him accordingly but the nation did not agree but still wanted to kill him even if he was a Navi Emet.
An alternative, peshat-based explanation offered by Rabbi Lau is that the people are simply wishy-washy and flip flop between whoever is more persuasive. When impressed and overawed by the Kohanim and Neviim, they follow them. When Yirmiyahu is persuasive, they follow him. They just go along with whoever is the most persuasive person at that moment in time.
(יב) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־כָּל־הַשָּׂרִ֔ים וְאֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר יְהוָ֣ה שְׁלָחַ֗נִי לְהִנָּבֵ֞א אֶל־הַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ וְאֶל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שְׁמַעְתֶּֽם׃ (יג) וְעַתָּ֗ה הֵיטִ֤יבוּ דַרְכֵיכֶם֙ וּמַ֣עַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם וְשִׁמְע֕וּ בְּק֖וֹל יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם וְיִנָּחֵ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (יד) וַאֲנִ֖י הִנְנִ֣י בְיֶדְכֶ֑ם עֲשׂוּ־לִ֛י כַּטּ֥וֹב וְכַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ (טו) אַ֣ךְ ׀ יָדֹ֣עַ תֵּדְע֗וּ כִּ֣י אִם־מְמִתִ֣ים אַתֶּם֮ אֹתִי֒ כִּי־דָ֣ם נָקִ֗י אַתֶּם֙ נֹתְנִ֣ים עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וְאֶל־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֖את וְאֶל־יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ כִּ֣י בֶאֱמֶ֗ת שְׁלָחַ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם לְדַבֵּר֙ בְּאָזְנֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (ס)
(12) Then spoke Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying: ‘The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. (13) Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and hearken to the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent Him of the evil that He hath pronounced against you. (14) But as for me, behold, I am in your hand; do with me as is good and right in your eyes. (15) Only know ye for certain that, if ye put me to death, ye will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof; for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.’
1. What is ירמיהו clarifying in front of the nation in terms of his status as a נביא?
he is not a navi sheker. i am a navi emet and you are all wrong.
he is speaking to princes and nation, not kohanim (he knows princes were not there- they might not realize want is happening). he is working on persuading these two groups
2. What is the significance of the פסוק saying his audience is the שרים and the עם? Who is being left out and why is that important?
3. What is his attitude towards facing death? How could this be informed by the promise God made Him in פרק א?
hashem made him a promise in perek aleph that He'll protect yirmiyahu and save him
4. What are some of the possible feelings ירמיהו might have in this situation?
betrayed, angry, angry, opportunity to speak
(טז) וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ הַשָּׂרִים֙ וְכָל־הָעָ֔ם אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְאֶל־הַנְּבִיאִ֑ים אֵין־לָאִ֤ישׁ הַזֶּה֙ מִשְׁפַּט־מָ֔וֶת כִּ֗י בְּשֵׁ֛ם יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֵֽינוּ׃
(16) Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets: ‘This man is not worthy of death; for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.’
1. What do the שרים and the עם believe at this point?
they believe Yimiryahu is a true prophet and therefore will to kill him
why all of the sudden to they believe him? maybe because he isn't afraid and seems calm and saying they should all repent, if he really was in fear of dying he would beg for his life and be scared
2. Do you think the כהנים and נביאים are persuaded?
if they are the prophets of Baal, they wont believe he is speaking the truth--> not convinced
(יז) וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ אֲנָשִׁ֔ים מִזִּקְנֵ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֶל־כָּל־קְהַ֥ל הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃ (יח) מיכיה [מִיכָה֙] הַמּ֣וֹרַשְׁתִּ֔י הָיָ֣ה נִבָּ֔א בִּימֵ֖י חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־כָּל־עַם֩ יְהוּדָ֨ה לֵאמֹ֜ר כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת צִיּ֞וֹן שָׂדֶ֤ה תֵֽחָרֵשׁ֙ וִירוּשָׁלַ֙יִם֙ עִיִּ֣ים תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וְהַ֥ר הַבַּ֖יִת לְבָמ֥וֹת יָֽעַר׃
(17) Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying: (18) ’Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Zion shall be plowed as a field, And Jerusalem shall become heaps, And the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.
1. Why are the elders speaking? (What still doesn't seem to have been determined?)
if theyre still letting the elders talk, not everyone is convinced yirmiyahu is innocent
they look at precedence. Chizkiyahu (good king)- in his reign, michah the prophet prophesized the destruction of zion/yerushalayim. we need to see how chizkiyahu reacted to michah and determinewhat to do to yirmiyahu based on that
2. What is the relevance of מיכה's prophecy here? (How does it connect to the current circumstance)?
(יט) הֶהָמֵ֣ת הֱ֠מִתֻהוּ חִזְקִיָּ֨הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֜ה וְכָל־יְהוּדָ֗ה הֲלֹא֮ יָרֵ֣א אֶת־יְהוָה֒ וַיְחַל֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־הָרָעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֣ר עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ עֹשִׂ֛ים רָעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה עַל־נַפְשׁוֹתֵֽינוּ׃
(19) Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and entreat the favour of the LORD, and the LORD repented Him of the evil which He had pronounced against them? Thus might we perform great evil against our own souls.’
1. How did חזקיהו treat this מיכה?
he does not kill michah. rather, he and his people repent in order to have God push off the destruction
2. What does this argument from precedent suggest about how they should treat ירמיהו?
so we should not kill yirmiyahu either! need to repent instead
3. What does the last part of their statement mean?
great evil against their souls--> killing yirmiyahu would be wrong, immoral, and it wont benefit us- they'll just get in trouble
(כ) וְגַם־אִ֗ישׁ הָיָ֤ה מִתְנַבֵּא֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה אֽוּרִיָּ֙הוּ֙ בֶּֽן־שְׁמַעְיָ֔הוּ מִקִּרְיַ֖ת הַיְּעָרִ֑ים וַיִּנָּבֵ֞א עַל־הָעִ֤יר הַזֹּאת֙ וְעַל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את כְּכֹ֖ל דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָֽהוּ׃ (כא) וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־יְ֠הוֹיָקִים וְכָל־גִּבּוֹרָ֤יו וְכָל־הַשָּׂרִים֙ אֶת־דְּבָרָ֔יו וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הֲמִית֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע אוּרִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וַיִּרָ֔א וַיִּבְרַ֖ח וַיָּבֹ֥א מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (כב) וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ יְהוֹיָקִ֛ים אֲנָשִׁ֖ים מִצְרָ֑יִם אֵ֣ת אֶלְנָתָ֧ן בֶּן־עַכְבּ֛וֹר וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אִתּ֖וֹ אֶל־מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (כג) וַיּוֹצִ֨יאוּ אֶת־אוּרִיָּ֜הוּ מִמִּצְרַ֗יִם וַיְבִאֻ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יְהוֹיָקִ֔ים וַיַּכֵּ֖הוּ בֶּחָ֑רֶב וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֙ אֶת־נִבְלָת֔וֹ אֶל־קִבְרֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃
(20) And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah; (21) and when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt; (22) and Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him, into Egypt; (23) and they fetched forth Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the children of the people.
1. What's the significance of אוריה's prophecy to these proceedings? (What's the connection with ירמיהוs view?)
prophecy agsint the land of israel (just like yirmiyahu and Michah)
2. Under which king did this occur?
Yehoyakim--> he tries to kill Uriah for saying these bad things
4. Does this argument from precedent work for or against ירמיהו?
this isn't good for yirmiyahu because he was killed by the king for saying these prophecies
5. What's the real difference between חזקיהו and יהויקים?
Chizkiyahu was a righteous king and Yehoyakim was bad so based on this, Bnei Yisrael should follow Chizkiyahu and repenet (not like Yehoyakim and kill the prophet). but we don't know if Bnei Yisrael knew Chizkiyahu was good and Yehoyakim was bad. Based on this conflict, they don't know what to do.
(כד) אַ֗ךְ יַ֚ד אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁפָ֔ן הָיְתָ֖ה אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ לְבִלְתִּ֛י תֵּת־אֹת֥וֹ בְיַד־הָעָ֖ם לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ (פ)
(24) Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
1. Who saves ירמיהו?
Achikam son of Shaphan
2. Where have we seen the name שפן before (hint: it was back in מלכים)? What does this tell us about that family?
shafanw as a scribe--> righteous family (found torah scroll in Beit Hamkidash)
3. Who wants to kill ירמיהו based on this פסוק?
Bnei Yisrael!!!
Based on Malbim:
They didn't care if he was good or bad-> just wanted to kill him
kohanim and neviim realize he is good
Based on Pshat:
Bnei Yisrael were still not convinced, for pesukim below, they just change their mind based on who is convincing them and they end up saying to kill him because they were still not convinced by the end of the trial that he was a navi emet)
Malbim:
Pasuk:
Chet-everyone wants to kill Yirmiyahu (kohanim and neviim say its becasue he is a navi sheker-- really believe this, nation just wants him dead and believe he is a true prophet)
Yud Aleph: kohanim and neviim say to kill him
Tet Zayin- princes say he doesnt deserve death on basis of being a navi sheker (nation say we should still kill him to shut him up)
yud zayin-chuf gimmel: elders bring precendence to determine if yirmiyahu is good or not
Chuf Daled- the nation still wants to kill Yirmiyahu!!
Project Time!
In groups (arranged around people who have Macs and thus iMovie) you are going to create a trailer of this פרק. You will either perform them realistically OR use scenes from one movie or TV show (you get to choose) to represent this storyline and redub them to make sense with the פרק. If redubbing, one character should match up to one character in this storyline (so if you're using Vampire Diaries, maybe Elena is Yirmiyahu in your rendition). You may get other people outside of this class to perform the voices for the characters. Please click here for more information, project instructions and rubric.
To watch an example, please see below.