9:10 I said, 1
“I will weep and mourn 2 for the grasslands on the mountains, 3
I will sing a mournful song for the pastures in the wilderness
because they are so scorched no one travels through them.
The sound of livestock is no longer heard there.
Even the birds in the sky and the wild animals in the fields
have fled and are gone.”
9:17 The Lord who rules over all 4 told me to say to this people, 5
“Take note of what I say. 6
Call for the women who mourn for the dead!
Summon those who are the most skilled at it!” 7
9:20 I said, 8
“So now, 9 you wailing women, hear what the Lord says. 10
Open your ears to the words from his mouth.
Teach your daughters this mournful song,
and each of you teach your neighbor 11 this lament.
1 tn The words “I said” are not in the text, but there is general agreement that Jeremiah is the speaker. Cf. the lament in 8:18-9:1. These words are supplied in the translation for clarity. Some English versions follow the Greek text which reads a plural imperative here. Since this reading would make the transition between 9:10 and 9:11 easier it is probably not original but a translator’s way of smoothing over a difficulty.
2 tn Heb “I will lift up weeping and mourning.”
3 tn Heb “for the mountains.” However, the context makes clear that it is the grasslands or pastures on the mountains that are meant. The words “for the grasslands” are supplied in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Heb “Yahweh of armies.”
sn For the significance of this title see the notes at 2:19 and 7:3.
5 tn Heb “Thus says Yahweh of armies.” However, without some addition it is not clear to whom the command is addressed. The words are supplied in the translation for clarity and to help resolve a rather confusing issue of who is speaking throughout vv. 16-21. As has been evident throughout the translation, the speaker is not always indicated. Sometimes it is not even clear who the speaker is. In general the translation and the notes have reflected the general consensus in identifying who it is. Here, however, there is a good deal of confusion about who is speaking in vv. 18, 20-21. The Greek translation has the
6 tn Heb “Consider!”
7 tn Heb “Call for the mourning women that they may come and send for the wise/skilled women that they may come.” The verbs here are masculine plural, addressed to the people.
8 tn The words “I said” are not in the text. The text merely has “Indeed, yes.” The words are supplied in the translation to indicate that the speaker is still Jeremiah though he now is not talking about the mourning woman but is talking to them. See the notes on 9:17-18 for further explanation.
9 tn It is a little difficult to explain how the Hebrew particle כִּי (ki) is functioning here. W. L. Holladay (Jeremiah [Hermeneia], 1:311) may be correct in seeing it as introducing the contents of what those who call for the mourning women are to say. In this case, Jeremiah picks up the task as representative of the people.
10 tn Heb “Listen to the word of the
sn In this context the “word of the
11 tn Heb “Teach…mournful song, and each woman her neighbor lady…”