Discovery BoxJeremiah 31:28 
Context31:28 In the past I saw to it that they were uprooted and torn down, that they were destroyed and demolished. But now I will see to it that they are built up and firmly planted. 1 I, the Lord, affirm it!” 2
Jeremiah 31:40
Context31:40 The whole valley where dead bodies and sacrificial ashes are thrown 3 and all the terraced fields 4 out to the Kidron Valley 5 on the east as far north 6 as the Horse Gate 7 will be included within this city that is sacred to the Lord. 8 The city will never again be torn down or destroyed.”
1 tn Heb “Just as I watched over them to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and demolish, so I will watch over them to build and to plant.” The words here repeat those of 1:10 and 1:12.
2 tn Heb “Oracle of the
3 sn It is generally agreed that this refers to the Hinnom Valley which was on the southwestern and southern side of the city. It was here where the people of Jerusalem had burned their children as sacrifices and where the
4 tc The translation here follows the Qere and a number of Hebrew
5 sn The Kidron Valley is the valley that joins the Hinnom Valley in the southeastern corner of the city and runs northward on the east side of the city.
6 tn The words “on the east” and “north” are not in the text but are supplied in the translation to give orientation.
7 sn The Horse Gate is mentioned in Neh 3:28 and is generally considered to have been located midway along the eastern wall just south of the temple area.
8 tn The words “will be included within this city that is” are not in the text. The text merely says that “The whole valley…will be sacred to the
sn The area that is here delimited is larger than any of the known boundaries of Jerusalem during the OT period. Again, this refers to the increase in population of the restored community (cf. 31:27).
