Disaster Predicted
The LORD tells Jeremiah not to take a wife or have children in this place, because those born here will die by disease, sword, and famine without mourning or burial. Their bodies will lie exposed like refuse and become food for birds and beasts.
T1hen the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“You must not marry or have sons or daughters in this place.” 3For this is what the LORD says concerning the sons and daughters born in this place, and the mothers who bore them, and the fathers who fathered them in this land: 4“They will die from deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried, but will lie like dung on the ground. They will be finished off by sword and famine, and their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth.”
Jeremiah must not enter houses of mourning or feasting, because the LORD has removed His peace, loving devotion, and compassion from this people. Great and small alike will die unmourned, and the sounds of joy, bride, and bridegroom will be taken away before the people's eyes.
5Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal. Do not go to mourn or show sympathy, for I have removed from this people My peace, My loving devotion, and My compassion,” declares the LORD. 6“Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them. 7No food will be offered to comfort those who mourn the dead; not even a cup of consolation will be given for the loss of a father or mother. 8You must not enter a house where there is feasting and sit down with them to eat and drink. 9For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to remove from this place, before your very eyes and in your days, the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom.
When the people ask why the LORD has announced such great disaster, Jeremiah is to answer that their fathers forsook the LORD for other gods and that they themselves have done even more evil by following stubborn hearts. Therefore the LORD will cast them into a foreign land where they will serve other gods without favor.
10When you tell these people all these things, they will ask you, ‘Why has the LORD pronounced all this great disaster against us? What is our iniquity? What is the sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?’ 11Then you are to answer them: ‘It is because your fathers have forsaken Me, declares the LORD, and followed other gods, and served and worshiped them. They abandoned Me and did not keep My instruction. 12And you have done more evil than your fathers. See how each of you follows the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying Me. 13So I will cast you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your fathers have known. There you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.’