Here I want to show how similar ancient Israel was to what we are today. Note verse 13. Every one is involved in the extortion, the seeking of gain, even the prophet and the priest. Even the professor.
It is so difficult not to say things that are false or that may be true but are unsubstantiated, i.e. they risk being without substance. At least with a written record, we can cite sources and illustrate our observations to support our claims. But no, sometimes claims are made that should not be made without substantiation. Claims about God for instance. How dare anyone claim to be able to compare one infinite unknown with another, unless you are George Cantor and are dealing with countable and uncountable infinities. Better not to claim 'my invisible god is better than your invisible god' at all but rather to do justice.
Both this chapter and chapter 8 (which I have made slight corrections to from this one) speak to our need for shame and humiliation that we might avoid the hubris of (so called) knowledge. We build ourselves up and are terrified of correction. But correction, the voice of the referee, we need. Especially for our religious opinions, justified by the knowledge or ignorance of our cultural preferences.
Verse 16 is as explicit as I can imagine. נפשׁ is not your individual soul here. It is you plural with nephesh singular. It is the collective integrity of your in-group. It is the prejudice that you surround yourself with. This way is not the everlasting way. It is not the good way. But we cannot see and we refuse. This is what the prophet is saying. Get with the program. We have to care for others who are not like us even if we think their G-d is deficient.
And if we have any inkling of what is unknown, what is unknowable, what is beyond our intellect, our epistemology, our philosophy, then, for the sake of the holy, let us not be quick to judge that other who flees to us for refuge. Even if that may lead to our own demise. We are obligated to take the right risk.
Verse 17 - another direct refusal from the people of God. Can't hear warnings. Sorry.
| Jeremiah 6 | Fn | Min | Max | Syll | ||
| הָעִ֣זוּ ׀ בְּנֵ֣י בִניָמִ֗ן מִקֶּ֙רֶב֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וּבִתְק֙וֹעַ֙ תִּקְע֣וּ שׁוֹפָ֔ר וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית הַכֶּ֖רֶם שְׂא֣וּ מַשְׂאֵ֑ת כִּ֥י רָעָ֛ה נִשְׁקְפָ֥ה מִצָּפ֖וֹן וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל | 1 | Retire, children of Benjamin, from within Jerusalem. And in Tekoa, sound a shophar. And on the house of the vineyard, lift up what is lifted up. For evil looks down from the north, and a great shattering. | 3d | 4B | 33 14 | |
| הַנָּוָה֙ וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָ֔ה דָּמִ֖יתִי בַּת־צִיּֽוֹן | 2 | To the homely and the delicate, I have likened the daughter of Zion. | 3e | 3g | 14 | |
| אֵלֶ֛יהָ יָבֹ֥אוּ רֹעִ֖ים וְעֶדְרֵיהֶ֑ם תָּקְע֨וּ עָלֶ֤יהָ אֹהָלִים֙ סָבִ֔יב רָע֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־יָדֽוֹ | 3 | To her will come shepherds and their troops. They will stick their tents by her round about. They will graze, each by their own means. | 3d | 4C | 11 16 | |
| קַדְּשׁ֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה ק֖וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם א֥וֹי לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּי־פָנָ֣ה הַיּ֔וֹם כִּ֥י יִנָּט֖וּ צִלְלֵי־עָֽרֶב | 4 | Sanctify war against her. Arise and let us go up at noon. Woe to us for the facing day. For stretched out are the shadows of evening. | 3e | 4C | 19 15 | |
| ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַלָּ֔יְלָה וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ | 5 | C | Arise, and let us go up in the night. And let us destroy her citadels. | 3e | 4C | 18 |
| כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת כִּרְת֣וּ עֵצָ֔ה וְשִׁפְכ֥וּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם סֹלְלָ֑ה הִ֚יא הָעִ֣יר הָפְקַ֔ד כֻּלָּ֖הּ עֹ֥שֶׁק בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ | 6 | B | Because thus says Yahweh of hosts, Cut timber and pour out against Jerusalem a ramp. She is the city to be visited. A consuming end of oppression is within her. | 3e | 4C | 23 12 |
| כְּהָקִ֥יר בַּ֙יִר֙ מֵימֶ֔יהָ כֵּ֖ן הֵקֵ֣רָה רָעָתָ֑הּ חָמָ֣ס וָ֠שֹׁד יִשָּׁ֨מַע בָּ֧הּ עַל־פָּנַ֛י תָּמִ֖יד חֳלִ֥י וּמַכָּֽה | 7 | As a cistern spurts its waters, so she spurts her evil. Violence and devastation will be heard in her. To my face continually is my illness and gash. | 3c | 4B | 15 18 | |
| הִוָּסְרִי֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם פֶּן־תֵּקַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֖י מִמֵּ֑ךְ פֶּן־אֲשִׂימֵ֣ךְ שְׁמָמָ֔ה אֶ֖רֶץ ל֥וֹא נוֹשָֽׁבָה | 8 | Be warned, Jerusalem, lest my integrity be unseated from you, lest I set you desolate, a land not inhabited. | 3e | 4B | 14 13 | |
| כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת עוֹלֵ֛ל יְעוֹלְל֥וּ כַגֶּ֖פֶן שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הָשֵׁב֙ יָדְךָ֔ כְּבוֹצֵ֖ר עַל־סַלְסִלּֽוֹת | 9 | C | Thus says Yahweh of hosts, They will glean as a grape vine the residue of Israel. Turn back your hand as a grape-gatherer over suspended baskets. | 3d | 4C | 23 11 |
| עַל־מִ֨י אֲדַבְּרָ֤ה וְאָעִ֙ידָה֙ וְיִשְׁמָ֔עוּ הִנֵּה֙ עֲרֵלָ֣ה אָזְנָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יוּכְל֖וּ לְהַקְשִׁ֑יב הִנֵּ֣ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה הָיָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם לְחֶרְפָּ֖ה לֹ֥א יַחְפְּצוּ־בֽוֹ | 10 | To whom will I speak and give witness that they may hear? Behold, fore-skinned is their ear, and they are not able to pay attention. Behold, the word of Yahweh is for them a reproach. They do not delight in it. | 3d | 4C | 27 17 | |
| וְאֵת֩ חֲמַ֨ת יְהוָ֤ה ׀ מָלֵ֙אתִי֙ נִלְאֵ֣יתִי הָכִ֔יל שְׁפֹ֤ךְ עַל־עוֹלָל֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְעַ֛ל ס֥וֹד בַּחוּרִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־גַם־אִ֤ישׁ עִם־אִשָּׁה֙ יִלָּכֵ֔דוּ זָקֵ֖ן עִם־מְלֵ֥א יָמִֽים | 11 | So with the heat of Yahweh I am filled. I am exasperated with abiding from pouring out over the progeny in the street, and over the council of the chosen together. For even man with woman will be caught, the old with one who is full of days. | 3d | 4C | 29 17 | |
| וְנָסַ֤בּוּ בָֽתֵּיהֶם֙ לַאֲחֵרִ֔ים שָׂד֥וֹת וְנָשִׁ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־אַטֶּ֧ה אֶת־יָדִ֛י עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה | 12 | And their houses will be turned round to others, fields and women as one, for I will stretch out my hand to the inhabitants of the land. An oracle of Yahweh. | 3c | 4C | 18 15 | |
| כִּ֤י מִקְּטַנָּם֙ וְעַד־גְּדוֹלָ֔ם כֻּלּ֖וֹ בּוֹצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וּמִנָּבִיא֙ וְעַד־כֹּהֵ֔ן כֻּלּ֖וֹ עֹ֥שֶׂה שָּֽׁקֶר | 13 | C | For from the least of them and to the greatest of them, every one, extortion, seeking gain, from prophet and to priest, every one dealing falsehood. | 3e | 4C | 16 14 |
| וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ אֶת־שֶׁ֤בֶר עַמִּי֙ עַל־נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁל֣וֹם ׀ שָׁל֑וֹם וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֽוֹם | 14 | And they have healed the shattering of my people with a slight, saying, Peace, peace. And there is no peace. | 3e | 4C | 18 4 | |
| הֹבִ֕ישׁוּ כִּ֥י תוֹעֵבָ֖ה עָשׂ֑וּ גַּם־בּ֣וֹשׁ לֹֽא־יֵב֗וֹשׁוּ גַּם־הַכְלִים֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ לָכֵ֞ן יִפְּל֧וּ בַנֹּפְלִ֛ים בְּעֵת־פְּקַדְתִּ֥ים יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה | 15 | Were they ashamed when they did abomination? even ashamed? They were not ashamed and humiliation they do not know. Therefore they will fall with the fallen. At the time of their visitation they will stumble, says Yahweh. | 3c | 4B | 9 31 | |
| כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה עִמְדוּ֩ עַל־דְּרָכִ֨ים וּרְא֜וּ וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ ׀ לִנְתִב֣וֹת עוֹלָ֗ם אֵי־זֶ֨ה דֶ֤רֶךְ הַטּוֹב֙ וּלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּמִצְא֥וּ מַרְגּ֖וֹעַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נֵלֵֽךְ | 16 | B | Thus says Yahweh, Stand over trodden ways, and see, and beg for everlasting pathways. Where is this good way? And walk in it and you will find a moment of ease for your group. And they say, We will not go. | 3e | 4C | 41 6 |
| וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ צֹפִ֔ים הַקְשִׁ֖יבוּ לְק֣וֹל שׁוֹפָ֑ר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַקְשִֽׁיב | 17 | And I will raise lookouts over you. Pay attention to the voice of a shophar. And they say, We will not pay attention. | 3e | 4C | 17 6 | |
| לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וּדְעִ֥י עֵדָ֖ה אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־בָּֽם | 18 | Therefore hear O nations, and know, O assembly, what is in them. | 3e | 4B | 7 8 | |
| שִׁמְעִ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מֵבִ֥יא רָעָ֛ה אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה פְּרִ֣י מַחְשְׁבוֹתָ֑ם כִּ֤י עַל־דְּבָרַי֙ לֹ֣א הִקְשִׁ֔יבוּ וְתוֹרָתִ֖י וַיִּמְאֲסוּ־בָֽהּ | 19 | Hear O earth. Behold, I myself, I will bring evil to this people, the fruit of their machinations, for to my words they do not pay attention, nor my instruction, but they refuse it. | 3d | 4C | 25 18 | |
| לָמָּה־זֶּ֨ה לִ֤י לְבוֹנָה֙ מִשְּׁבָ֣א תָב֔וֹא וְקָנֶ֥ה הַטּ֖וֹב מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֶרְחָ֑ק עֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ לֹ֣א לְרָצ֔וֹן וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם לֹא־עָ֥רְבוּ לִֽי | 20 | Why this frankincense for me, coming from Sheba? And the good calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices are not sweet to me. | 3e | 4C | 21 16 | |
| לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֥י נֹתֵ֛ן אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה מִכְשֹׁלִ֑ים וְכָ֣שְׁלוּ בָ֠ם אָב֨וֹת וּבָנִ֥ים יַחְדָּ֛ו שָׁכֵ֥ן וְרֵע֖וֹ וְאָבָֽדוּ | 21 | Therefore thus says Yahweh, Note me well giving to this people stumbling-blocks, And they will stumble among them, parents and children as one, neighbour and friend. And they will perish. | 3d | 4C | 19 20 | |
| כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֛ה עַ֥ם בָּ֖א מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֑וֹן וְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל יֵע֖וֹר מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ | 22 | C | Thus says Yahweh, Behold, a people comes from a northern land, and a great nation is roused from the flanks of the earth. | 3d | 4C | 14 12 |
| קֶ֣שֶׁת וְכִיד֞וֹן יַחֲזִ֗יקוּ אַכְזָרִ֥י הוּא֙ וְלֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ קוֹלָם֙ כַּיָּ֣ם יֶהֱמֶ֔ה וְעַל־סוּסִ֖ים יִרְכָּ֑בוּ עָר֗וּךְ כְּאִישׁ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָלַ֖יִךְ בַּת־צִיּֽוֹן | 23 | B | Bow and scale will be encouraged. Vicious it is and without compassion. Their voice like the sea murmurs, and on horses they ride, arranged as men for war over you, daughter of Zion. | 3e | 4B | 33 14 |
| שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ אֶת־שָׁמְע֖וֹ רָפ֣וּ יָדֵ֑ינוּ צָרָה֙ הֶחֱזִיקַ֔תְנוּ חִ֖יל כַּיּוֹלֵדָֽה | 24 | We have heard its report. Our hands slacken. Anguish resolves us, writhing, as if giving birth. | 3e | 4B | 11 12 | |
| אַל־תֵּֽצְאוּ֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וּבַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אַל־תֵּלֵ֑כוּ כִּ֚י חֶ֣רֶב לְאֹיֵ֔ב מָג֖וֹר מִסָּבִֽיב | 25 | You will not go out to the field, and in the way do not walk, because of the sword of the enemy. Terror is on every side. | 3e | 4C | 14 11 | |
| בַּת־עַמִּ֤י חִגְרִי־שָׂק֙ וְהִתְפַּלְּשִׁ֣י בָאֵ֔פֶר אֵ֤בֶל יָחִיד֙ עֲשִׂ֣י לָ֔ךְ מִסְפַּ֖ד תַּמְרוּרִ֑ים כִּ֣י פִתְאֹ֔ם יָבֹ֥א הַשֹּׁדֵ֖ד עָלֵֽינוּ | 26 | O daughter of my people, attire in sackcloth, and wallow in ash. Lament together. Make for yourself bitter wailing. For suddenly devastation has come upon us. | 3e | 4C | 25 11 | |
| בָּח֛וֹן נְתַתִּ֥יךָ בְעַמִּ֖י מִבְצָ֑ר וְתֵדַ֕ע וּבָחַנְתָּ֖ אֶת־דַּרְכָּֽם | 27 | A test, I have made you in my people, an enclosure, that you may know and test their way. | 3d | 4A | 11 10 | |
| כֻּלָּם֙ סָרֵ֣י סֽוֹרְרִ֔ים הֹלְכֵ֥י רָכִ֖יל נְחֹ֣שֶׁת וּבַרְזֶ֑ל כֻּלָּ֥ם מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה | 28 | All of them revolt, rebellious, walking scandal-mongers, brass and iron, all of them. They are destructive. | 3e | 4B | 16 7 | |
| נָחַ֣ר מַפֻּ֔חַ מֵאֵ֖שׁ תַּ֣ם עֹפָ֑רֶת לַשָּׁוְא֙ צָרַ֣ף צָר֔וֹף וְרָעִ֖ים לֹ֥א נִתָּֽקוּ | 29 | Bellows parched from fire. Lead is completed. In vain the refiner refines, and evil is not snapped. | 3e | 4B | 11 13 | |
| כֶּ֣סֶף נִמְאָ֔ס קָרְא֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־מָאַ֥ס יְהוָ֖ה בָּהֶֽם | 30 | B | Silver refused they will call them, for Yahweh has refused them. | 3e | 4B | 8 6 |
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