22:2 O king of Judah The address is likely to King Zedekiah (see note on 21:1). The message concerns the same themes and expands on 21:11–14.

22:3 justice and righteousness Represents the ideal standards for legal and ethical behavior and an ideal for kingship modeled on the righteousness of Yahweh (Deut 10:18).

Justice

the immigrant, the orphan, and the widow Immigrants, orphans, and widows were to be protected, not oppressed.

22:4 kings who sit for David on his throne The survival of the Davidic dynasty is conditional on the repentance of the king.

22:5 I swear by myself An oath was validated by invoking a deity as a witness. Yahweh swears on Himself, since there is no other greater power to swear by.

22:6 Gilead A fertile region east of the Jordan River. Metaphorically, Gilead and Lebanon represent desirable and profitable property. See note on Jer 8:22.

the head of the Lebanon A heavily forested mountainous region north of Israel that was famous for its abundance of natural resources (especially timber) and rugged beauty. See Isa 29:17 and note; Isa 60:13 and note.

22:7 they will cut down your choicest cedars Compare 2 Kgs 19:23. Here, Lebanon is a metaphor for Judah, and cutting down the best cedar trees represents the destruction of its most cherished institutions—the royal line of David and the temple of Yahweh.

22:8 has Yahweh done in this manner to this great city Reflects surprise because of the popular belief that the city would be saved because of the presence of a Davidic king.

22:9 they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh their God The promise of blessing for the Davidic line was based on Judah’s obedience to the terms of the covenant. The kings should have been leading the way, bringing Israel back to Yahweh; instead they led Judah astray.

22:10 You must not weep for the dead person Refers to King Josiah, who died in battle with the Egyptians in 609 bc. Josiah’s death brought an end to his nationalistic plan of expansion, which was centered on a reunited Israel free from foreign domination. Jeremiah is subtly indicating that there will be no restoration of the independence of Josiah’s kingdom.

Weep bitterly for the one who goes away Refers to Jehoahaz, who succeeded Josiah as king for three months in 609 bc. He was exiled to Egypt by Pharaoh Neco, who replaced him on the throne with Jehoiakim.

he will not return, or see the land of his birth again Jehoahaz died in Egypt (2 Kgs 23:34). If any political factions in Judah held out hope for his restoration to the throne, Jeremiah is telling them unequivocally that their hope is misplaced; he will not return.

22:11 Shallum, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah The personal name of King Jehoahaz. The name means “payment” or “recompense.” See 1 Chr 3:15; see note on Jer 22:10.

22:13 Woe to the one who builds The Hebrew interjection hoy marks this as a prophetic woe oracle. See note on Ezek 13:3.

22:14 a spacious house with large upper rooms The depiction of Jehoiakim in this section suggests he patterned himself as a ruler like Solomon. He engaged in lavish building projects with forced labor (see 1 Kgs 5:13–18) instead of acting as a just and righteous ruler like his father, Josiah.

paneled with cedar Like Solomon’s palace (see 1 Kgs 7:7). Cedar was a highly prized building material imported from Lebanon (see note on 1 Kgs 5:8).

22:15 because you are competing in cedar A mocking rhetorical question. Using Jehoiakim’s father, Josiah, as a favorable example, Jeremiah asserts that one is a king by virtue of character, not by virtue of construction projects.

22:16 what it means to know me Knowledge of Yahweh comes through emulating Him in the attributes of justice, righteousness, and care for the oppressed and less fortunate. Compare Deut 10:18.

22:17 on shedding the blood of the innocent See Jer 7:6; 22:3.

22:18 Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah Second son of Josiah (see 1 Chr 3:15). He was appointed king in 609 bc by Pharaoh Neco and ruled until 597 bc.

22:19 with the burial of a donkey A dishonorable burial, not one fit for a king. The details of Jehoiakim’s burial are unknown. If he received a typical royal burial, this prophecy could have been fulfilled by a later desecration of his tomb during the Babylonian invasions.

22:20 to Lebanon See note on Jer 22:6.

Bashan A fertile plateau east of the Sea of Galilee and south of Mount Hermon. It was north of the region of Gilead mentioned in v. 6.

Abarim A mountain range northeast of the Dead Sea. See Deut 32:49.

all your lovers are shattered In the metaphor of Israel as an unfaithful wife, her lovers can either be political allies (see Ezek 23:5–9) or foreign deities (Hos 2:1–13).

22:21 from your youth Compare Ezek 23:3.

22:22 your shepherds Refers to the leaders of Judah. See note on Jer 3:15.

22:23 Inhabitants of Lebanon, nestled among the cedars A metaphor for Jerusalem. The reference to cedars alludes to the extensive use of cedar in the building of the royal palace and the temple.

22:24 Coniah In the Hebrew Bible, the name of this king appears in several forms, leading to various English renderings: Jehoiachin, Jeconiah, and Coniah. The name means “Yahweh establishes.”

the seal on my right hand The signet ring was a stamp seal used to mark ownership. It was a symbol of royal authority. The right hand was a symbol of power. See note on Esth 3:10, and note on Gen 41:42. See note on Isa 41:10.

22:25 Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon See note on Jer 21:2.

the Chaldeans The Hebrew text uses “Babylonians” and “Chaldeans” interchangeably. See note on Isa 43:14.

22:26 another country where you were not born Jehoiachin’s punishment is exile in Babylon.

22:27 they will not return Jeremiah addresses the hopes of people who still considered Jehoiachin the rightful king of Judah and looked for his return. Jehoiachin’s exile to Babylon is permanent; there will be no restoration.

22:30 no man from his offspring Not only will Jehoiachin die in exile, but his descendants will not regain the Davidic throne. He may as well have died childless, since his children will not inherit the kingdom.