Calamity for the Jews
Jeremiah answers the men and women by correcting their explanation of Judah's fall. The LORD did not overlook their incense and idolatry; He remembered it, could no longer endure their evil, and therefore made the land desolate. The disaster now visible all around them came because they sinned against the LORD, refused His voice, and would not walk in His law.
T20hen Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him, 21“As for the incense you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem— you, your fathers, your kings, your officials, and the people of the land— did the LORD not remember and bring this to mind? 22So the LORD could no longer endure the evil deeds and detestable acts you committed, and your land became a desolation, a horror, and an object of cursing, without inhabitant, as it is this day. 23Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in His instruction, His statutes, and His testimonies, this disaster has befallen you, as you see today.”
Jeremiah then addresses all Judah in Egypt and tells them to go ahead and fulfill their vows to the Queen of Heaven if that is what they have chosen, but to hear the LORD's oath in return. Because they have confirmed their rebellion with both mouth and hand, the LORD swears that His name will no longer be invoked by any Judean in Egypt; He is watching over them for harm until they are consumed, and only a few who escape the sword will return to Judah and learn whose word truly stands.
24Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear the word of the LORD, all those of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. 25This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands your words: ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Go ahead, then, do what you have promised! Keep your vows! 26Nevertheless, hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah living in Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by My great name, says the LORD, that never again will any man of Judah living in the land of Egypt invoke My name or say, ‘As surely as the Lord GOD lives.’ 27I am watching over them for harm and not for good, and every man of Judah who is in the land of Egypt will meet his end by sword or famine, until they are finished off. 28Those who escape the sword will return from Egypt to Judah, few in number, and the whole remnant of Judah who went to dwell in the land of Egypt will know whose word will stand, Mine or theirs!
As a confirming sign, the LORD promises to punish them in Egypt and to deliver Pharaoh Hophra into the hands of his enemies, just as He delivered Zedekiah into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. Egypt's own ruler will fall, proving that the refugees have placed their hope in a collapsing power and that the LORD's threats of harm will certainly stand.
29This will be a sign to you that I will punish you in this place, declares the LORD, so that you may know that My threats of harm against you will surely stand. 30This is what the LORD says: Behold, I will deliver Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who seek his life, just as I delivered Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who was seeking his life.”