Jeremiah, Lamentations

Tremper Longman III

Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Understanding the Bible Commentary Series

General Editors

W. Ward Gasque

Robert L. Hubbard Jr.

Robert K. Johnston

© 2008 by Tremper Longman III

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

Previously published jointly in 2008, in the United States by Hendrickson Publishers, and in the United Kingdom by the Paternoster Press.

Baker Books edition published 2012

ISBN 978-0-8010-4695-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the original edition as follows:

Longman, Tremper.

Jeremiah, Lamentations / Tremper Longman III.

(Old Testament series New International biblical commentary)

p. cm.

“Based on the New International Version”

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN 978-1-56563-224-0 (pbk.)

1. Bible. O.T. Jeremiah—Commentaries. 2. Bible. O.T. Lamentations—Commentaries. I. Title. II. Series.

BS1525.53.L66 2008

224′.207—dc22

2007037715

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

to Alan Groves (1952–2007)

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Abbreviations

Jeremiah

Introduction: Jeremiah

§1 The Superscription (Jer. 1:1–3)

§2 Jeremiah’s Call (Jer. 1:4–19)

§3 Former Bliss (Jer. 2:1–3)

§4 A Case against God’s People (Jer. 2:4–13)

§5 The Way of the Lord or the Way of the Nations (Jer. 2:14–19)

§6 Like a Whore (Jer. 2:20–28)

§7 Israel Accuses God; God Accuses Israel (Jer. 2:29–37)

§8 Like a Nomad in the Desert (Jer. 3:1–5)

§9 Israel More Righteous Than Judah (Jer. 3:6–11)

§10 Future Restoration (Jer. 3:12–4:4)

§11 A Lion from the North (Jer. 4:5–10)

§12 Scorching Wind (Jer. 4:11–18)

§13 My Anguish (Jer. 4:19–22)

§14 Chaos Will Reign (Jer. 4:23–28)

§15 The Devastated One (Jer. 4:29–31)

§16 Poor and Great, All of Jerusalem Depraved (Jer. 5:1–9)

§17 Destroy the Vineyard (Jer. 5:10–13)

§18 Fire to the Wood (Jer. 5:14–19)

§19 A Foolish and Senseless People (Jer. 5:20–31)

§20 Jerusalem Attacked! (Jer. 6:1–8)

§21 The Gleaning of Israel (Jer. 6:9–15)

§22 Refusal to Walk on the Ancient Paths (Jer. 6:16–21)

§23 Attack from the North (Jer. 6:22–26)

§24 Jeremiah, Metal Tester (Jer. 6:27–30)

§25 Jeremiah’s Temple Sermon (Jer. 7:1–15)

§26 Do Not Pray (Jer. 7:16–20)

§27 Obedience, Not Sacrifice (Jer. 7:21–29)

§28 The Valley of Topheth (Jer. 7:30–34)

§29 Exposed Bones (Jer. 8:1–3)

§30 My Stubborn People (Jer. 8:4–7)

§31 The Deceit of the Religious Leaders (Jer. 8:8–12)

§32 Gather into ...