Daily Tanach Wednesday 30th Tishreiy Sefer Yirmiyah Chapter 11: The Challenges of Judah and Divine Warnings

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Chapter 11: The Challenges of Judah and Divine Warnings

1.      Covenant Warnings and Consequences

  • Hashem’s instructions to Yirmiyahu:
  • Yirmiyahu is to proclaim the words of the covenant to the men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem (11:1-2).
  • He is to emphasize the curse upon those who refuse to heed the covenant’s words (11:3).
  • A historical reminder of the covenant first established during the exodus from Egypt:
  • Hashem commanded the forefathers to obey His voice and follow His commands, promising to be their Hashem and make them His people (11:4).
  • The covenant was part of fulfilling the oath to give them a land flowing with milk and honey (11:5).
  • Renewed warnings to listen to the covenant’s words, proclaimed in Judah’s cities and Jerusalem’s streets (11:6).
  • Hashem’s continuous warnings from the exodus until the present, urging the people to hearken to His voice, were largely ignored as they followed their evil hearts (11:7-8).

2.      The Conspiracy of Judah

  • Hashem reveals a conspiracy among the men of Judah and Jerusalem’s inhabitants (11:9).
  • They have reverted to the sinful ways of their forefathers, refusing to listen to Hashem’s words and worshipping other deities (11:10).

3.      The Pronouncement of Inescapable Judgment

  • God declares that He will bring calamity upon Judah and Jerusalem from which they cannot escape; even if they cry out to Him, He will not listen.
  • The people will turn to idol gods for help, but these false gods will not save them in their time of distress.
  • Judah’s widespread idolatry is condemned, with as many altars to Baal as there are cities and streets in Jerusalem.

4.       The Futility of Intercession

  • God commands Jeremiah not to pray or plead for the people, as He will not heed their cries during their punishment.
  • Despite their rituals and sacrifices, the people rejoice in evil, making their acts of worship meaningless in God’s eyes.
  • God compares Israel and Judah to a beautiful olive tree whose branches are broken and burned because of their unfaithfulness.

5.      The Prophet’s Suffering and Divine Justice

  • God reveals to Jeremiah the evil plots against him by his own townspeople in Anathoth, who seek to silence his prophecy.
  • Jeremiah describes himself as an innocent lamb led to slaughter, unaware of the schemes against him.
  • He appeals to God, the just Judge who knows the heart, to bring vengeance on his persecutors.
  • God promises retribution against the conspirators: they will suffer sword and famine, and there will be no survivors among them.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.