Jeremiah 44

I have many thoughts on this extended word against the return to Egypt, but I will share them only under duress. What completes? What is the sign? Why this extensive diatribe? What does Egypt represent? Why the extended jealousy? Why such intransigence in the people? Why address initially only the women?

Jeremiah's language in this chapter has had ripple effects on my glosses in Micah, Psalms, Job, Deuteronomy, and Genesis. Did he speak the same language? Some of these sentences are contorted especially around the mid verse rest.

Jeremiah 44		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ אֶ֚ל כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הַיֹּשְׁבִ֤ים בְּמִגְדֹּל֙ וּבְתַחְפַּנְחֵ֣ס וּבְנֹ֔ף וּבְאֶ֥רֶץ פַּתְר֖וֹס לֵאמֹֽר	1		The word that happened to Jeremiah, to all the Judeans, those settled in the land of Egypt, those settled in Migdol and Taxpanxes and in Noph and in the land of Patros, saying,	3e	4C	26 19
כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֗ם אֵ֤ת כָּל־הָֽרָעָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֵבֵ֙אתִי֙ עַל־יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְעַ֖ל כָּל־עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וְהִנָּ֤ם חָרְבָּה֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין בָּהֶ֖ם יוֹשֵֽׁב	2		Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, you yourselves have seen all the evil that I have brought over Jerusalem and over all the cities of Judah, and behold them deserted this day and there is no inhabitant in them.	3e	4C	42 15
מִפְּנֵ֣י רָעָתָ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשׂוּ֙ לְהַכְעִסֵ֔נִי לָלֶ֣כֶת לְקַטֵּ֔ר לַעֲבֹ֖ד לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יְדָע֔וּם הֵ֖מָּה אַתֶּ֥ם וַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם	3		From the face of their evil that they did to grieve me: to go, to burn incense, to do service to other gods, that they did not know, they or their ancestors.	3e	4C	29 15
וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֲלֵיכֶם֙ אֶת־כָּל־עֲבָדַ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים הַשְׁכֵּ֥ים וְשָׁלֹ֖חַ לֵאמֹ֑ר אַל־נָ֣א תַעֲשׂ֗וּ אֵ֛ת דְּבַֽר־הַתֹּעֵבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂנֵֽאתִי	4		And I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending, to say, Please, you will not do this abominable thing that I hate.	3d	4C	22 19
וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ וְלֹא־הִטּ֣וּ אֶת־אָזְנָ֔ם לָשׁ֖וּב מֵרָֽעָתָ֑ם לְבִלְתִּ֥י קַטֵּ֖ר לֵאלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים	5		And they did not hear and they did not bend their ear to return from their evil, without burning incense to other gods.	3e	4C	16 11
וַתִּתַּ֤ךְ חֲמָתִי֙ וְאַפִּ֔י וַתִּבְעַר֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבְחֻצ֖וֹת יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַתִּהְיֶ֛ינָה לְחָרְבָּ֥ה לִשְׁמָמָ֖ה כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה	6		So my heat and my anger were poured forth, and were kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they were deserted, a desolation as on this day.	3d	4C	25 14
וְעַתָּ֡ה כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָה֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לָמָה֩ אַתֶּ֨ם עֹשִׂ֜ים רָעָ֤ה גְדוֹלָה֙ אֶל־נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵכֶ֔ם לְהַכְרִ֨ית לָכֶ֧ם אִישׁ־וְאִשָּׁ֛ה עוֹלֵ֥ל וְיוֹנֵ֖ק מִתּ֣וֹךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה לְבִלְתִּ֛י הוֹתִ֥יר לָכֶ֖ם שְׁאֵרִֽית	7		And now thus says Yahweh, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, Why would you do great evil to your integrity, to cut off your man, or woman, progeny and suckling, from the midst of Judah, that no residue be left for you.	3c	4C	55 10
לְהַכְעִסֵ֙נִי֙ בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְדֵיכֶ֔ם לְקַטֵּ֞ר לֵאלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם בָּאִ֖ים לָג֣וּר שָׁ֑ם לְמַ֙עַן֙ הַכְרִ֣ית לָכֶ֔ם וּלְמַ֤עַן הֱיֽוֹתְכֶם֙ לִקְלָלָ֣ה וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה בְּכֹ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ	8		To grieve me in the deeds of your hands, to burn incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have come to reside, so that you cut yourselves off and so that you may become a slight, and a reproach, among all the nations of the earth.	3e	4C	35 26
הַֽשְׁכַחְתֶּם֩ אֶת־רָע֨וֹת אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֜ם וְאֶת־רָע֣וֹת ׀ מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה וְאֵת֙ רָע֣וֹת נָשָׁ֔יו וְאֵת֙ רָעֹ֣תֵכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת רָעֹ֣ת נְשֵׁיכֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשׂוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבְחֻצ֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם	9		Have you forgotten the hurt of your ancestors, and the hurt of the kings of Judah, and the hurt of their wives, and your hurt, and the hurt of your wives, that was done in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.	3e	4C	38 17
לֹ֣א דֻכְּא֔וּ עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְלֹ֣א יָרְא֗וּ וְלֹֽא־הָלְכ֤וּ בְתֽוֹרָתִי֙ וּבְחֻקֹּתַ֔י אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תִּי לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם וְלִפְנֵ֥י אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם	10	B	They are not crushed to this day, and they do not fear and they have not rushed to my instruction, and my statutes, that I gave in your presence and in the presence of your ancestors.	3e	4C	8 31
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנְנִ֨י שָׂ֥ם פָּנַ֛י בָּכֶ֖ם לְרָעָ֑ה וּלְהַכְרִ֖ית אֶת־כָּל־יְהוּדָֽה	11		Therefore thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, Note me well. I set my face among you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.	3d	4C	26 8
וְלָקַחְתִּ֞י אֶת־שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֨מוּ פְנֵיהֶ֜ם לָב֣וֹא אֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם֮ לָג֣וּר שָׁם֒ וְתַ֨מּוּ כֹ֜ל בְּאֶ֧רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם יִפֹּ֗לוּ בַּחֶ֤רֶב בָּֽרָעָב֙ יִתַּ֔מּוּ מִקָּטֹן֙ וְעַד־גָּד֔וֹל בַּחֶ֥רֶב וּבָרָעָ֖ב יָמֻ֑תוּ וְהָיוּ֙ לְאָלָ֣ה לְשַׁמָּ֔ה וְלִקְלָלָ֖ה וּלְחֶרְפָּֽה	12		And I will take the residue of Judah that have set their faces to come to the land of Egypt to reside there, and they will all be completed in the land of Egypt. They will fall by the sword in scarcity. They will be completed from the least and to the greatest. By the sword, and by famine they will die, and will be for a censure, for a desolation, and for a denial, and for a reproach.	3c	4C	65 16
וּפָקַדְתִּ֗י עַ֤ל הַיּֽוֹשְׁבִים֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר פָּקַ֖דְתִּי עַל־יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם בַּחֶ֥רֶב בָּרָעָ֖ב וּבַדָּֽבֶר	13		And I will visit the settlers in the land of Egypt as I have visited at Jerusalem, by the sword, in scarcity, and by pestilence.	3e	4C	24 10
וְלֹ֨א יִהְיֶ֜ה פָּלִ֤יט וְשָׂרִיד֙ לִשְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה הַבָּאִ֥ים לָגֽוּר־שָׁ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלָשׁ֣וּב ׀ אֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֜מָּה מְנַשְּׂאִ֤ים אֶת־נַפְשָׁם֙ לָשׁוּב֙ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת שָׁ֔ם כִּ֥י לֹֽא־יָשׁ֖וּבוּ כִּ֥י אִם־פְּלֵטִֽים	14		And there will be neither security nor survivor for the residue of Judah that come to reside there in the land Egypt, that they should return to the land of Judah, as if they are partial for themselves to return, to settle there, for they will not return, except those that are secured.	3e	4C	27 33
וַיַּעֲנ֣וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ כָּל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הַיֹּֽדְעִים֙ כִּֽי־מְקַטְּר֤וֹת נְשֵׁיהֶם֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְכָל־הַנָּשִׁ֥ים הָעֹמְד֖וֹת קָהָ֣ל גָּד֑וֹל וְכָל־הָעָ֛ם הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֖יִם בְּפַתְר֥וֹס לֵאמֹֽר	15		And they answered Jeremiah, all the persons who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, and all the women standing by, a great congregation, and all the people, those settled in the land of Egypt in Patros, saying,	3d	4C	42 17
הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֥רְתָּ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁמְעִ֖ים אֵלֶֽיךָ	16		The thing that you have spoken to us in the name of Yahweh, none of us will pay heed to you.	3d	4B	15 8
כִּ֩י עָשֹׂ֨ה נַעֲשֶׂ֜ה אֶֽת־כָּל־הַדָּבָ֣ר ׀ אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֣א מִפִּ֗ינוּ לְקַטֵּ֞ר לִמְלֶ֣כֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם֮ וְהַסֵּֽיךְ־לָ֣הּ נְסָכִים֒ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשִׂ֜ינוּ אֲנַ֤חְנוּ וַאֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ מְלָכֵ֣ינוּ וְשָׂרֵ֔ינוּ בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבְחֻצ֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַנִּֽשְׂבַּֽע־לֶ֙חֶם֙ וַנִּֽהְיֶ֣ה טוֹבִ֔ים וְרָעָ֖ה לֹ֥א רָאִֽינוּ	17	~	For we will do every thing that goes out from our mouth, to burn incense for the queen of the heavens, and to spill out libations for her, as we have done, we and our ancestors, our kings, and our nobility, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and we were sated with bread, and we were well off, and evil we did not see.	3e	4C	69 17
וּמִן־אָ֡ז חָדַ֜לְנוּ לְקַטֵּ֨ר לִמְלֶ֧כֶת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהַסֵּֽךְ־לָ֥הּ נְסָכִ֖ים חָסַ֣רְנוּ כֹ֑ל וּבַחֶ֥רֶב וּבָרָעָ֖ב תָּֽמְנוּ	18		And from then, when we refrained from burning incense for the queen of the heavens, and spilling out libations for her, we have been lacking in everything, and by the sword and by famine, we have been completed.	3c	4B	26 10
וְכִֽי־אֲנַ֤חְנוּ מְקַטְּרִים֙ לִמְלֶ֣כֶת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּלְהַסֵּ֥ךְ לָ֖הּ נְסָכִ֑ים הֲמִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י אֲנָשֵׁ֗ינוּ עָשִׂ֨ינוּ לָ֤הּ כַּוָּנִים֙ לְהַ֣עֲצִבָ֔ה וְהַסֵּ֥ךְ לָ֖הּ נְסָכִֽים	19		But when we burned incense for the queen of the heavens and spilled out libations for her, was it apart from our men that we made for her preparations to idolize her, and to spill out libations for her?	3e	4C	20 28
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֑ם עַל־הַגְּבָרִ֤ים וְעַל־הַנָּשִׁים֙ וְעַל־כָּל־הָעָ֔ם הָעֹנִ֥ים אֹת֛וֹ דָּבָ֖ר לֵאמֹֽר	20		And Jeremiah said to all the people, concerning the valiant men and concerning the women, and concerning all the people that had answered him a word, saying,	3d	4C	11 23
הֲל֣וֹא אֶת־הַקִּטֵּ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר קִטַּרְתֶּ֜ם בְּעָרֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ וּבְחֻצ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם אַתֶּ֧ם וַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם מַלְכֵיכֶ֥ם וְשָׂרֵיכֶ֖ם וְעַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ אֹתָם֙ זָכַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַֽתַּעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־לִבּֽוֹ	21	B	Did not the incense that you made burn with smoke in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your ancestors, your kings, and your nobility, and the people of the land... them, did Yahweh remember? and did it come up against his heart?	3c	4C	43 13
וְלֹֽא־יוּכַל֩ יְהוָ֨ה ע֜וֹד לָשֵׂ֗את מִפְּנֵי֙ רֹ֣עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם מִפְּנֵ֥י הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם וַתְּהִ֣י אַ֠רְצְכֶם לְחָרְבָּ֨ה וּלְשַׁמָּ֧ה וְלִקְלָלָ֛ה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵׁ֖ב כְּהַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה	22		And Yahweh was not able any more to bear the presence of the evil of your wantonness, the presence of the abominations that you constructed, and your land became deserted, and a desolation, and a denial, without inhabitant as at this day.	3c	4B	27 24
מִפְּנֵי֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר קִטַּרְתֶּ֜ם וַאֲשֶׁ֧ר חֲטָאתֶ֣ם לַיהוָ֗ה וְלֹ֤א שְׁמַעְתֶּם֙ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֔ה וּבְתֹרָת֧וֹ וּבְחֻקֹּתָ֛יו וּבְעֵדְוֺתָ֖יו לֹ֣א הֲלַכְתֶּ֑ם עַל־כֵּ֞ן קָרָ֥את אֶתְכֶ֛ם הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה	23		In the face of your burning incense, and that you sinned against Yahweh, and you did not hear with the voice of Yahweh, and in his instruction and in his statutes and in his testimonies you did not walk, so this evil has encountered you as on this day.	3c	4C	40 15
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֔ם וְאֶ֖ל כָּל־הַנָּשִׁ֑ים שִׁמְעוּ֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־יְהוּדָ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם	24		And Jeremiah said to all the people, and to the women, Hear the word of Yahweh, all Judah that is in the land of Egypt.	3e	4C	17 18
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָֽה־צְבָאוֹת֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לֵאמֹ֗ר אַתֶּ֨ם וּנְשֵׁיכֶ֜ם וַתְּדַבֵּ֣רְנָה בְּפִיכֶם֮ וּבִידֵיכֶ֣ם מִלֵּאתֶ֣ם ׀ לֵאמֹר֒ עָשֹׂ֨ה נַעֲשֶׂ֜ה אֶת־נְדָרֵ֗ינוּ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָדַ֙רְנוּ֙ לְקַטֵּר֙ לִמְלֶ֣כֶת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּלְהַסֵּ֥ךְ לָ֖הּ נְסָכִ֑ים הָקֵ֤ים תָּקִ֙ימְנָה֙ אֶת־נִדְרֵיכֶ֔ם וְעָשֹׂ֥ה תַעֲשֶׂ֖ינָה אֶת־נִדְרֵיכֶֽם	25		Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, You and your wives, you are speaking with your mouths, and with your hands you fulfill, saying, We will undertake to make our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense for the queen of the heavens, and to spill out libations for her. You will arise to place your vows, and you will undertake to make your vows.	3e	4C	68 20
לָכֵן֙ שִׁמְע֣וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־יְהוּדָ֕ה הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הִנְנִ֨י נִשְׁבַּ֜עְתִּי בִּשְׁמִ֤י הַגָּדוֹל֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אִם־יִהְיֶה֩ ע֨וֹד שְׁמִ֜י נִקְרָ֣א ׀ בְּפִ֣י ׀ כָּל־אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֗ה אֹמֵ֛ר חַי־אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם	26		Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, all Judah settled in the land of Egypt, Note me well. I have sworn by my great name, says Yahweh, that my name will not any more be proclaimed in the mouth of any person of Judah, saying, My Lord Yahweh lives, in all the land of Egypt.	3d	4C	21 43
הִנְנִ֨י שֹׁקֵ֧ד עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם לְרָעָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א לְטוֹבָ֑ה וְתַמּוּ֩ כָל־אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֛יִם בַּחֶ֥רֶב וּבָרָעָ֖ב עַד־כְּלוֹתָֽם	27		Note me well, I will be vigilant over them for evil and not for good, and they will be completed, everyone of Judah that is in the land of Egypt, by the sword and by famine, until they are consumed.	3c	4B	15 26
וּפְלִיטֵ֨י חֶ֜רֶב יְשֻׁב֨וּן מִן־אֶ֧רֶץ מִצְרַ֛יִם אֶ֥רֶץ יְהוּדָ֖ה מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֑ר וְֽיָדְע֞וּ כָּל־שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֗ה הַבָּאִ֤ים לְאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לָג֣וּר שָׁ֔ם דְּבַר־מִ֥י יָק֖וּם מִמֶּ֥נִּי וּמֵהֶֽם	28		But they who are secured from sword, will turn again from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, men counted. And all the residue of Judah that entered into the land of Egypt to reside there will know whose word is upheld, mine or theirs.	3c	4C	22 32
וְזֹאת־לָכֶ֤ם הָאוֹת֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי־פֹקֵ֥ד אֲנִ֛י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בַּמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה לְמַ֙עַן֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּ כִּי֩ ק֨וֹם יָק֧וּמוּ דְבָרַ֛י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם לְרָעָֽה	29		And this for you is the sign, an oracle of Yahweh. For I myself will visit concerning you in this place, so that you may know that arisen, upheld, are my words concerning you, for evil.	3c	4C	22 19
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה הִנְנִ֣י נֹ֠תֵן אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֨ה חָפְרַ֤ע מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ בְּיַ֣ד אֹֽיְבָ֔יו וּבְיַ֖ד מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י נַפְשׁ֑וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֜תִּי אֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה בְּיַ֨ד נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֧ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל אֹיְב֖וֹ וּמְבַקֵּ֥שׁ נַפְשֽׁוֹ	30	B	Thus says Yahweh, Note me well giving Pharaoh Chophra, the king of Egypt, into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of those who seek his very self, as I gave Zedekiah, king of Judah, into the hand of Nebukadretsar, king of Babel, his enemy, and he sought his very self.	3c	4C	29 34