Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Jeremiah 2

Jer 2:1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

the word of the Lord

The general character of the first message from Jehovah to Judah by Jeremiah is threefold:

1. He reminds Israel of the days of blessing and deliverance, e.g. Jer 2:1-7;
2. He reproaches them with forsaking Him, e.g. Jer 2:13;
3. He accuses them of choosing other, and impotent, gods, e.g. Jer 2:10-12, 26-28.

All these messages are to be thought of as inspired sermons, spoken to the people and subsequently written. Cf. Jer 36:1-32.

Jer 2:2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

thy youth

Eze 16:8, 22, 60; 23:3, 8, 19; Hos 2:15.

wentest after me in the wilderness

Deu 2:7.

Jer 2:3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

Israel was holiness unto the LORD

Exo 19:5, 6.

Jer 2:5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

What iniquity have your fathers found in me

Isa 5:4; Mic 6:3.

Jer 2:6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

brought us up out of the land of Egypt

Isa 63:9, 11, 13; Hos 13:4.

Jer 2:7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

a plentiful country

Or, the land of Carmel. Num 13:27; 14:7, 8; Deu 8:7-9.

Jer 2:9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.

I will yet plead with you

Eze 20:35, 36; Mic 6:2.

Jer 2:10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

isles

i.e. coasts.

Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

fountain of living waters

Jer 17:13; 18:14; Psa 36:9; Jhn 4:14.

Jer 2:16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.

Tahapanes

Jer 43:7-9.

Jer 2:17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

he led thee

Deu 32:10.

Jer 2:18 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

Sihor

Jos 13:3.

Jer 2:20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

thou saidst, I will not transgress

Exo 19:8; Jos 24:18; Jdg 10:16; 1Sa 12:10.

upon every high hill

Jer 3:6; Deu 12:2; Isa 57:5, 7.

Jer 2:21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

the degenerate plant of a strange vine

Deu 32:32; Isa 1:21; 5:4.

Jer 2:22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

thine iniquity is marked

Deu 32:34; Job 14:17; Hos 13:12.

Jer 2:28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

where are thy gods

Deu 32:37; Jdg 10:14.

Jer 2:29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

Wherefore will ye plead with me?

Jer 2:23, 35.

Jer 2:30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

your own sword hath devoured your prophets

2Ch 36:16; Neh 9:26; Mat 23:29; Act 7:52; 1Th 2:15.

Jer 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

my people have forgotten me

Jer 13:25; Psa 106:21; Hos 8:14.

Jer 2:36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

Why gaddest thou about

Jer 2:18; Jer 31:22; Hos 5:13; 12:1.