Jeremiah 20:8

20:8 For whenever I prophesy, 1  I must cry out, 2 

“Violence and destruction are coming!” 3 

This message from the Lord 4  has made me

an object of continual insults and derision.

Jeremiah 35:10

35:10 We have lived in tents. We have obeyed our ancestor Jonadab and done exactly as he commanded us. 5 

Jeremiah 39:1

39:1 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. The siege began in the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah ruled over Judah. 6 

Jeremiah 51:52

51:52 Yes, but the time will certainly come,” 7  says the Lord, 8 

“when I will punish her idols.

Throughout her land the mortally wounded will groan.

1 tn Heb “speak,” but the speaking is in the context of speaking as a prophet.

2 tn Heb “I cry out, I proclaim.”

3 tn Heb “Violence and destruction.”

sn The words “Violence and destruction…” are a synopsis of his messages of judgment. Jeremiah is lamenting that his ministry up to this point has been one of judgment and has brought him nothing but ridicule because the Lord has not carried out his threats. He appears in the eyes of the people to be a false prophet.

4 tn Heb “the word of the Lord.” For the use of כִּי…כִּי (ki…ki) here in the sense of “for…and” see KBL 432 s.v. כּי 10.

5 tn Heb “We have obeyed and done according to all which our ancestor Jonadab commanded us.”

6 sn 2 Kgs 25:1 and Jer 52:4 give the more precise date of the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year which would have been Jan 15, 588 b.c. The reckoning is based on the calendar that begins the year in the spring (Nisan = March/April).

7 tn Heb “that being so, look, days are approaching.” Here לָכֵן (lakhen) introduces the Lord’s response to the people’s lament (v. 51). It has the force of “yes, but” or “that may be true.” See Judg 11:8 and BDB 486-87 s.v. כֵּן 3.d.

8 tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”