# Jeremiah 2

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jeremiah_2
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jeremiah_2.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_2
> Source revision: 1307414128
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Book of Jeremiah, chapter 2}}
{{Bible chapter|letname= Jeremiah 2 |previouslink= Jeremiah 1 |previousletter= chapter 1 |nextlink= Jeremiah 3 |nextletter= chapter 3 |book=[Book of Jeremiah](/source/Book_of_Jeremiah) |biblepart=[Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament) | booknum= 24 |hbiblepart= [Nevi'im](/source/Nevi'im) | hbooknum = 6 |category= [Latter Prophets](/source/Nevi'im) | filename= Aleppo-HighRes2-Neviim6-Jeremiah (page 1 crop).jpg |size=242px |caption=<div style="width: 242px; text-align: center; line-height: 1em">A high resolution scan of the Aleppo Codex showing the [Book of Jeremiah](/source/Book_of_Jeremiah) (the sixth book in Nevi'im).</div>}}
'''Jeremiah 2''' is the second [chapter](/source/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible) of the [Book of Jeremiah](/source/Book_of_Jeremiah) in the [Hebrew Bible](/source/Hebrew_Bible) or the [Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament) of the [Christian](/source/Christianity) [Bible](/source/Bible). This book contains prophecies attributed to the [prophet](/source/Biblical_prophet) [Jeremiah](/source/Jeremiah), and is one of the [Books of the Prophets](/source/Nevi'im). Chapters 2 to [6](/source/Jeremiah_6) contain the earliest preaching of Jeremiah on the apostasy of [Israel](/source/Ancient_Israel).<ref>[Jerusalem Bible](/source/Jerusalem_Bible) (1966), footnote at Jeremiah 2:1</ref> Verses 2:1 to 3:5 dramatize the ending of "marriage" between Yahweh and Israel.{{sfn|O'Connor|2007|p=491}}

== Text ==
The original text of this chapter, as with the rest of the [Book of Jeremiah](/source/Book_of_Jeremiah), was written in the [Hebrew language](/source/Biblical_Hebrew). Since the division of the Bible into [chapters and verses](/source/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible) in the late medieval period, this chapter is divided into 37 verses.

===Textual witnesses===
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language) are of the [Masoretic Text](/source/Masoretic_Text) tradition, which includes the [Codex Cairensis](/source/Codex_Cairensis) (895), [the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets](/source/Codex_Babylonicus_Petropolitanus) (916), [Aleppo Codex](/source/Aleppo_Codex) (10th century), [Codex Leningradensis](/source/Leningrad_Codex) (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=35-37}}

There is also a translation into [Koine Greek](/source/Koine_Greek) known as the [Septuagint](/source/Septuagint), made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the [Septuagint](/source/Septuagint) version include [Codex Vaticanus](/source/Codex_Vaticanus) ('''B'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>B</sup>; 4th century), [Codex Sinaiticus](/source/Codex_Sinaiticus) ('''S'''; [BHK](/source/Biblia_Hebraica_(Kittel)): <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>S</sup>; 4th century), [Codex Alexandrinus](/source/Codex_Alexandrinus) ('''A'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>A</sup>; 5th century) and [Codex Marchalianus](/source/Codex_Marchalianus) ('''Q'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>Q</sup>; 6th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}

==Parashot==
The ''[parashah](/source/parashah)'' sections listed here are based on the [Aleppo Codex](/source/Aleppo_Codex).<ref>As reflected in the [http://mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et0.htm Jewish Publication Society's 1917 edition of the Hebrew Bible in English].</ref> Jeremiah 2 is a part of the ''Second prophecy (Jeremiah 2:1-[3](/source/Jeremiah_3):5)'' in the ''Prophecies of Destruction ([Jeremiah 1](/source/Jeremiah_1)-[25](/source/Jeremiah_25))'' section. {P}: open ''parashah''; {S}: closed ''parashah''.
: {P} 2:1-3 {P} 2:4-28 {S} 2:29-37 [3:1-5 {P}]

==Analysis==
This chapter belongs to a section comprising [Jeremiah 2:1](/source/Jeremiah_2%3A1)–[25:38](/source/Jeremiah_25) about the 'Divine Judgment' on Judah and Jerusalem.{{sfn|Thompson|1980|p=125}} The structure of the chapter is as follows.{{sfn|Thompson|1980|p=125}}
* (i) The faithfulness of Israel’s youth: her ideal status (2:1-3)
* (ii) Israel’s apostasy (2:4-13) 
* (iii) The consequences of Israel‘s apostasy (2:14-19) 
* (iv) The fascination and futility of Baal worship (2:20-28) 
* (v) Israel deserves judgment (2:29-37)

=={{Anchor|Verses 1–3}}The broken marriage between Yahweh and Israel (2:1–3)==
Similar to the theme in [Hosea 1](/source/Hosea_1)[–3](/source/Hosea_3), the relationship between Yahweh and the people of Israel is described using the marriage metaphor, where Yahweh acts as a husband to Judah as his wife.{{sfn|O'Connor|2007|p=491}} The poem in 2:1–3:5 shows the evidence of a broken covenant against Israel, addresses alternately between the two personae of Judah (or Jerusalem) as a female wife (using Hebrew feminine singular grammatical forms in 2:2; 2:17–25; 2:33–3:5) and the "male Israel" (using masculine singular and plural forms in 2:3; 2:4–16; 2:26–32).{{sfn|O'Connor|2007|p=491}} Yahweh accuses Israel of betraying and forsaking him, while he has been generous to bring them into a "plentiful land" (2:7), evoking sympathy for Yahweh who cannot understand this treachery.{{sfn|O'Connor|2007|pp=491-492}}

===Verse 1===
:''Moreover the word of the {{Lord}} came to me, saying,''<ref>{{bibleverse|Jeremiah|2:1|KJV}} [KJV](/source/King_James_Version)</ref>
The opening word ''Moreover'' (in the [King James Version](/source/King_James_Version)) connects Jeremiah's first prophecy with his call as a prophet in {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|1:4-19|KJV}}, using a similar formula of statement as in [Jeremiah 1:4](/source/Jeremiah_1%3A4).{{sfn|O'Connor|2007|p=491}}

=={{Anchor|Verses 4–37}}The unfaithfulness of Israel (2:4–37)==

===Verse 7===
:''And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Jeremiah|2:7|KJV}} KJV</ref>

===Verse 16===
: ''Also the people of Noph and Tahpanhes''
: ''Have broken the crown of your head.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Jeremiah|2:16|KJV}} KJV</ref>
[Egypt](/source/Ancient_Egypt), identified by its two cities, will inevitably hegemonize Israel.{{sfn|O'Connor|2007|p=491}} "[Noph](/source/Noph)" is [Memphis](/source/Memphis%2C_Egypt).<ref>Note [f] on Jeremiah 2:16 in [NKJV](/source/New_King_James_Version).</ref> "[Tahpanhes](/source/Tahpanhes)" was an important fortress city on the northern border of ancient Egypt in the northeastern [Nile](/source/Nile) delta, generally equated with the Greek city of [Daphne](/source/Daphne).<ref>Note on Jeremiah 43:7 in [NET Bible](/source/New_English_Translation)</ref>

"Broken" may be read as "grazed".<ref>Note [g] on Jeremiah 2:16 in NKJV</ref>

===Verse 18===
:''And now why take the road to Egypt,''
:''To drink the waters of Sihor?''
:''Or why take the road to Assyria,''
:''To drink the waters of the River?''<ref>{{bibleref2|Jeremiah|2:18|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>
The futility of relying on Egypt and Assyria was stated by other prophets (cf. {{bibleverse|Isaiah|30:1-5|KJV}}), but here it refers to the two political factions in Judah: the pro-Egyptians and the pro-Assyrians.{{sfn|Thompson|1980|pp=9-27}} This points to the early period of Jeremiah's ministry, when the two nations held the "balance of power in the Middle East"; this ends when Assyria collapsed in 612 BCE.{{sfn|Thompson|1980|pp=174}}
"Sihor" (lit. "blackness") refers to the [Nile](/source/Nile), whereas "the river" refers to the [Euphrates](/source/Euphrates)<ref>Note [a] on Jeremiah 2:18 in the New King James Version</ref> (cf. {{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|1:7|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|1 Kings|4:21|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Isaiah|7:20|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Nehemiah|2:7|KJV}}).{{sfn|Thompson|1980|pp=174}}

===Verse 36===
:''Why do you gad about so much to change your way?''
:''Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.''<ref>{{bibleref2|Jeremiah|2:36|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>
Israel's two lovers will shame her.{{sfn|O'Connor|2007|p=492}}

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [Assyria](/source/Assyria)
* [Baal](/source/Baal) ([Baalim](/source/Baalim))
* [Chittim](/source/Kittim)
* [Egypt](/source/Egypt)
* [Euphrates](/source/Euphrates)
* [Israel](/source/Israel)
* [Jacob](/source/Jacob)
* [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem)
* [Kedar](/source/Qedarite)
* [Noph](/source/Memphis%2C_Egypt)
* [Sihor](/source/Nile)
* [Tahapanes](/source/Tahpanhes)
{{div col end}}
*Related [Bible](/source/Bible) parts: [Isaiah 7](/source/Isaiah_7), [Isaiah 30](/source/Isaiah_30), [Isaiah 31](/source/Isaiah_31), [Jeremiah 1](/source/Jeremiah_1), [Hosea 7](/source/Hosea_7), [Hosea 9](/source/Hosea_9)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book|last=O'Connor | first= Kathleen M. | chapter = 23. Jeremiah | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 487–533 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
* {{cite book |last =Thompson |first= J. A. |title= A Book of Jeremiah
|series=The [New International Commentary on the Old Testament](/source/New_International_Commentary_on_the_Old_Testament) |author-link = J. A. Thompson |edition=illustrated, revised |date= 1980 |publisher= Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |url = https://archive.org/details/bookofjeremiah00thom |url-access =registration |isbn=9780802825308 }}
*{{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | author-link = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year=  1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

==External links==

===Jewish===
*[http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1102.htm Jeremiah 2 Original Hebrew with Parallel English]

===Christian===
*[http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=28&c=2 Jeremiah 2 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate]

{{Book of Jeremiah}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jeremiah 02}}
<!--Category:Jeremiah 2-->
02

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jeremiah 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_2) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_2?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.