Contents:
Summary
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary

Summary:
Ch.16: The people around Jeremiah were to be expelled for not Keeping the Law of Moses. In the Last Days both "Judah" (the Jews) and "Israel" (the Ten Tribes") will return.

Ch. 17: We must trust in the Almighty. He who does not trust is accursed. The Hope of Israel is God. Rabbi Manasseh ben Israel and the Lost Ten Tribes. The Israelite inhabitants of Jerusalem must keep the Sabbath.

Ch.18: If we repent and do good God will have mercy upon us. The Almighty has proven Himself to us. Why should we leave Him? He is the source of all the good we have ever known. He will continue to succor us if we stay with HIM.

Ch. 19: Jeremiah warned the people to cease from sinning. He foretold disaster would come upon them due to their iniquity. There were some amongst the people who desired to do away with Jeremiah. They were practising child sacrifice similar to what abortionists do today.

Ch. 20: Jeremiah was a Prophet. He was bitter that it had fallen to his lot to prophesy about the disaster and destruction that would come upon his own people because of their sins.

Contents:
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary:
Jeremiah 16
[Jeremiah 16:1] THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME ALSO UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:2] THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THEE A WIFE, NEITHER SHALT THOU HAVE SONS OR DAUGHTERS IN THIS PLACE.                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:3] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD CONCERNING THE SONS AND CONCERNING THE DAUGHTERS THAT ARE BORN IN THIS PLACE, AND CONCERNING THEIR MOTHERS THAT BARE THEM, AND CONCERNING THEIR FATHERS THAT BEGAT THEM IN THIS LAND;
 
[Jeremiah 16:4] THEY SHALL DIE OF GRIEVOUS DEATHS; THEY SHALL NOT BE LAMENTED; NEITHER SHALL THEY BE BURIED; BUT THEY SHALL BE AS DUNG UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH: AND THEY SHALL BE CONSUMED BY THE SWORD, AND BY FAMINE; AND THEIR CARCASES SHALL BE MEAT FOR THE FOWLS OF HEAVEN, AND FOR THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH.                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:5] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, ENTER NOT INTO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING, NEITHER GO TO LAMENT NOR BEMOAN THEM: FOR I HAVE TAKEN AWAY MY PEACE FROM THIS PEOPLE, SAITH THE LORD, EVEN LOVING KINDNESS AND MERCIES.                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:6] BOTH THE GREAT AND THE SMALL SHALL DIE IN THIS LAND: THEY SHALL NOT BE BURIED, NEITHER SHALL MEN LAMENT FOR THEM, NOR CUT THEMSELVES, NOR MAKE THEMSELVES BALD FOR THEM:                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:7] NEITHER SHALL MEN TEAR THEMSELVES FOR THEM IN MOURNING, TO COMFORT THEM FOR THE DEAD; NEITHER SHALL MEN GIVE THEM THE CUP OF CONSOLATION TO DRINK FOR THEIR FATHER OR FOR THEIR MOTHER.                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:8] THOU SHALT NOT ALSO GO INTO THE HOUSE OF FEASTING, TO SIT WITH THEM TO EAT AND TO DRINK.                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:9] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; BEHOLD, I WILL CAUSE TO CEASE OUT OF THIS PLACE IN YOUR EYES, AND IN YOUR DAYS, THE VOICE OF MIRTH, AND THE VOICE OF GLADNESS, THE VOICE OF THE BRIDEGROOM, AND THE VOICE OF THE BRIDE.                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:10] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN THOU SHALT SHEW THIS PEOPLE ALL THESE WORDS, AND THEY SHALL SAY UNTO THEE, WHEREFORE HATH THE LORD PRONOUNCED ALL THIS GREAT EVIL AGAINST US? OR WHAT IS OUR INIQUITY? OR WHAT IS OUR SIN THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED AGAINST THE LORD OUR GOD?                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:11] THEN SHALT THOU SAY UNTO THEM, BECAUSE YOUR FATHERS HAVE FORSAKEN ME, SAITH THE LORD, AND HAVE WALKED AFTER OTHER GODS, AND HAVE SERVED THEM, AND HAVE WORSHIPPED THEM, AND HAVE FORSAKEN ME, AND HAVE NOT KEPT MY LAW; 
They did not keep the Law therefore they were to be expelled from the Land. This is a theme that is repeated throughout Scripture.
 
[Jeremiah 16:12] AND YE HAVE DONE WORSE THAN YOUR FATHERS; FOR, BEHOLD, YE WALK EVERY ONE AFTER THE IMAGINATION OF HIS EVIL HEART, THAT THEY MAY NOT HEARKEN UNTO ME:                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:13] THEREFORE WILL I CAST YOU OUT OF THIS LAND INTO A LAND THAT YE KNOW NOT, NEITHER YE NOR YOUR FATHERS; AND THERE SHALL YE SERVE OTHER GODS DAY AND NIGHT; WHERE I WILL NOT SHEW YOU FAVOUR. 
 THERE SHALL YE SERVE OTHER GODS: This was not necessarily to be taken literally rather that they would be forced to serve the worshippers of other gods and it would be as if they themselves were doing the same thing.
 
[Jeremiah 16:14] THEREFORE, BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD, THAT IT SHALL NO MORE BE SAID, THE LORD LIVETH, THAT BROUGHT UP THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT;                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:15] BUT, THE LORD LIVETH, THAT BROUGHT UP THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FROM THE LAND OF THE NORTH, AND FROM ALL THE LANDS WHITHER HE HAD DRIVEN THEM: AND I WILL BRING THEM AGAIN INTO THEIR LAND THAT I GAVE UNTO THEIR FATHERS.
This is referring both to the exiled from the Lost Ten tribes and to the exiled of Judah.
 
[Jeremiah 16:16] BEHOLD, I WILL SEND FOR MANY FISHERS, SAITH THE LORD, AND THEY SHALL FISH THEM; AND AFTER WILL I SEND FOR MANY HUNTERS, AND THEY SHALL HUNT THEM FROM EVERY MOUNTAIN, AND FROM EVERY HILL, AND OUT OF THE HOLES OF THE ROCKS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:17] FOR MINE EYES ARE UPON ALL THEIR WAYS: THEY ARE NOT HID FROM MY FACE, NEITHER IS THEIR INIQUITY HID FROM MINE EYES.                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:18] AND FIRST I WILL RECOMPENSE THEIR INIQUITY AND THEIR SIN DOUBLE; BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEFILED MY LAND, THEY HAVE FILLED MINE INHERITANCE WITH THE CARCASES OF THEIR DETESTABLE AND ABOMINABLE THINGS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:19] O LORD, MY STRENGTH, AND MY FORTRESS, AND MY REFUGE IN THE DAY OF AFFLICTION, THE GENTILES SHALL COME UNTO THEE FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, AND SHALL SAY, SURELY OUR FATHERS HAVE INHERITED LIES, VANITY, AND THINGS WHEREIN THERE IS NO PROFIT.
In the Last Days all peoples will recognize the truth of the One God of Israel.
 
[Jeremiah 16:20] SHALL A MAN MAKE GODS UNTO HIMSELF, AND THEY ARE NO GODS?                     
 
[Jeremiah 16:21] THEREFORE, BEHOLD, I WILL THIS ONCE CAUSE THEM TO KNOW, I WILL CAUSE THEM TO KNOW MINE HAND AND MY MIGHT; AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT MY NAME IS THE LORD.                     
 
 
Jeremiah 17
[Jeremiah 17:1] THE SIN OF JUDAH IS WRITTEN WITH A PEN OF IRON, AND WITH THE POINT OF A DIAMOND: IT IS GRAVEN UPON THE TABLE OF THEIR HEART, AND UPON THE HORNS OF YOUR ALTARS;   
The Prophet continues to prophesy concerning Judah and the events that were to befall Judah in his time.
 
[Jeremiah 17:2] WHILST THEIR CHILDREN REMEMBER THEIR ALTARS AND THEIR GROVES BY THE GREEN TREES UPON THE HIGH HILLS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:3] O MY MOUNTAIN IN THE FIELD, I WILL GIVE THY SUBSTANCE AND ALL THY TREASURES TO THE SPOIL, AND THY HIGH PLACES FOR SIN, THROUGHOUT ALL THY BORDERS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:4] AND THOU, EVEN THYSELF, SHALT DISCONTINUE FROM THINE HERITAGE THAT I GAVE THEE; AND I WILL CAUSE THEE TO SERVE THINE ENEMIES IN THE LAND WHICH THOU KNOWEST NOT: FOR YE HAVE KINDLED A FIRE IN MINE ANGER, WHICH SHALL BURN FOR EVER.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:5] THUS SAITH THE LORD; CURSED BE THE MAN THAT TRUSTETH IN MAN, AND MAKETH FLESH HIS ARM, AND WHOSE HEART DEPARTETH FROM THE LORD.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:6] FOR HE SHALL BE LIKE THE HEATH IN THE DESERT, AND SHALL NOT SEE WHEN GOOD COMETH; BUT SHALL INHABIT THE PARCHED PLACES IN THE WILDERNESS, IN A SALT LAND AND NOT INHABITED.
 
[Jeremiah 17:7] BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT TRUSTETH IN THE LORD, AND WHOSE HOPE THE LORD IS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:8] FOR HE SHALL BE AS A TREE PLANTED BY THE WATERS, AND THAT SPREADETH OUT HER ROOTS BY THE RIVER, AND SHALL NOT SEE WHEN HEAT COMETH, BUT HER LEAF SHALL BE GREEN; AND SHALL NOT BE CAREFUL IN THE YEAR OF DROUGHT, NEITHER SHALL CEASE FROM YIELDING FRUIT.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:9] THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY WICKED: WHO CAN KNOW IT?                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:10] I THE LORD SEARCH THE HEART, I TRY THE REINS, EVEN TO GIVE EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS, AND ACCORDING TO THE FRUIT OF HIS DOINGS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:11] AS THE PARTRIDGE SITTETH ON EGGS, AND HATCHETH THEM NOT; SO HE THAT GETTETH RICHES, AND NOT BY RIGHT, SHALL LEAVE THEM IN THE MIDST OF HIS DAYS, AND AT HIS END SHALL BE A FOOL.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:12] A GLORIOUS HIGH THRONE FROM THE BEGINNING IS THE PLACE OF OUR SANCTUARY.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:13] O LORD, THE HOPE OF ISRAEL, ALL THAT FORSAKE THEE SHALL BE ASHAMED, AND THEY THAT DEPART FROM ME SHALL BE WRITTEN IN THE EARTH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE LORD, THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS.
THE HOPE OF ISRAEL in Hebrew Mikveh Yisroel: Mikveh in Hebrew means both hope and pool of water used for purification. The Rabbis used this play on words to say that God is the ONE who purifies Israel from all their impurities. THE HOPE OF ISRAEL was the title of work written by Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel (1604-1657).  Menasseh was born in Portugal and was descended from Jews who had been forced to convert to Catholicism. He moved to Holland re-affirmed his Judaism and became the leading Rabbi of Holland. He was very learned and acquainted with all the Classical Writers as well as with all aspects of Jewish studies. He was against the philosopher Spinoza who was excommunicated for writing against the Bible. Menasseh corresponded with John Sadler in England who greatly admired him. John Sadler announced in the English Parliament that the English were descended from Israel and he wrote The Rights of the Kingdom tracing Old English laws back to Hebrew sources finding parallels in Talmudic Literature. John Sadler was a friend of Oliver Cromwell who appears to have shared similar views. Oliver Cromwell allowed the Jews to return to England (they had been expelled in 1290) and he brought Menasseh ben Israel over for w visit to England. Menasseh published  THE HOPE OF ISRAEL (in Hebrew Mikveh Yisroel) in 1652. In this book Menasseh speaks of the Lost Ten Tribes. He discusses reports (extant in his day) that the Lost Ten Tribes had been found amongst the Red Indians in North America and amongst the natives of South America. He quotes from Ortellius who related the tradition that Dan and Napthali were in Scythia or Tartary. [The passage from Ortellius was explained and translated in our work The Tribes by Yair Davidy.] On the whole menaseh comes down strongly as declaring that various areas of Scythia were important areas of Exile.
In Isaiah 60;9 it is predicted that the Lost Ten Tribes will return in ships of Tarshish.  Using Talmudic and Biblical sources we explained this to mean that the meaning was ships from the Atlantic Ocean area. Menasseh reached the same conclusion but he suggests that the meaning was from somewhere around the West Indies. It should be remembered that in his time the USA did not exist, the colonization of North America was just beginning and Menasseh was attempting to explain the passage according to the reality of his own time. Menasseh does not try to say anything really definite about the Lost Ten Tribes in his book but discusses various reports and legends. He discusses the possibility that the Lost Ten Tribes are in India, Ethiopia, perhaps in Persia. He identifies the Isles of the Sea linked with the Lost Tribes in Isaiah 11;11 with the Americas.  The purpose of the book was to show that the Jews (including in his definition The Lost Ten Tribes) had been scattered all over the world and that they had to be in every place before the Messiah could come. He quotes from Isaiah 11:12 HE WILL RAISE AN ENSIGN FOR THE NATIONS, AND WILL ASSEMBLE THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, AND GATHER THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH.   Menasseh this verse as meaning that the Lost Ten Tribes are     the OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL who must be at the ends of the earth gathered together in specific areas whereas the Jews (Judah) are THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH i.e. the Jews who are scattered all over the world. Menasseh thought that this verse must be fulfilled literally and that Jews would have to be found in every nation before the Messianic Age.
 The idea was to make the re-entrance of the Jews to England acceptable to the English since it would seem that if the Jews did not return to England the Messiah would be delayed. Menasseh was not interested in this work in saying that the English were descended from Israel since that would defeat the whole purpose of his argument. Nevertheless Menasseh is frequently quoted as being one of the original proponents of the belief in the Hebrew origins of the English people. It may be that the book really was written with this principle in mind but no-where does it say so expressly.  Menasseh was friendly with both Sadler and Cromwell who both appear to have had this belief. In the work The Hope of Israel are several insights of great potential importance to Brit-Am and we will speak of them at another time.  Menasseh wrote other works. He wrote the Conciliator that reconciles apparent contradictions in Scripture and also contains insights and sources of importance to Brit-Am. He also wrote a work on the re-incarnation of the soul in which he believed (as did the ancient Druids and the Pharisees) and other works.
 
[Jeremiah 17:14] HEAL ME, O LORD, AND I SHALL BE HEALED; SAVE ME, AND I SHALL BE SAVED: FOR THOU ART MY PRAISE.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:15] BEHOLD, THEY SAY UNTO ME, WHERE IS THE WORD OF THE LORD? LET IT COME NOW.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:16] AS FOR ME, I HAVE NOT HASTENED FROM BEING A PASTOR TO FOLLOW THEE: NEITHER HAVE I DESIRED THE WOEFUL DAY; THOU KNOWEST: THAT WHICH CAME OUT OF MY LIPS WAS RIGHT BEFORE THEE.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:17] BE NOT A TERROR UNTO ME: THOU ART MY HOPE IN THE DAY OF EVIL.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:18] LET THEM BE CONFOUNDED THAT PERSECUTE ME, BUT LET NOT ME BE CONFOUNDED: LET THEM BE DISMAYED, BUT LET NOT ME BE DISMAYED: BRING UPON THEM THE DAY OF EVIL, AND DESTROY THEM WITH DOUBLE DESTRUCTION.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:19] THUS SAID THE LORD UNTO ME; GO AND STAND IN THE GATE OF THE CHILDREN OF THE PEOPLE, WHEREBY THE KINGS OF JUDAH COME IN, AND BY THE WHICH THEY GO OUT, AND IN ALL THE GATES OF JERUSALEM;                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:20] AND SAY UNTO THEM, HEAR YE THE WORD OF THE LORD, YE KINGS OF JUDAH, AND ALL JUDAH, AND ALL THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, THAT ENTER IN BY THESE GATES:                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:21] THUS SAITH THE LORD; TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES, AND BEAR NO BURDEN ON THE SABBATH DAY, NOR BRING IT IN BY THE GATES OF JERUSALEM;                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:22] NEITHER CARRY FORTH A BURDEN OUT OF YOUR HOUSES ON THE SABBATH DAY, NEITHER DO YE ANY WORK, BUT HALLOW YE THE SABBATH DAY, AS I COMMANDED YOUR FATHERS. 
NEITHER CARRY FORTH A BURDEN OUT OF YOUR HOUSES ON THE SABBATH DAY:  Carrying a burden within a house is permitted. Carrying a burden from one house to another is forbidden unless certain conditions are kept. All this is explained in the Oral Tradition that coincides with niceties of the Hebrew language. None of this was written expressly in the Written Torah only hinted at. Nevertheless Jeremiah is speaking as if these laws with self-obvious and known to all. Otherwise he would not so indignantly condemn people for breaking these laws.
 
[Jeremiah 17:23] BUT THEY OBEYED NOT, NEITHER INCLINED THEIR EAR, BUT MADE THEIR NECK STIFF, THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HEAR, NOR RECEIVE INSTRUCTION.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:24] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, IF YE DILIGENTLY HEARKEN UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD, TO BRING IN NO BURDEN THROUGH THE GATES OF THIS CITY ON THE SABBATH DAY, BUT HALLOW THE SABBATH DAY, TO DO NO WORK THEREIN;                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:25] THEN SHALL THERE ENTER INTO THE GATES OF THIS CITY KINGS AND PRINCES SITTING UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID, RIDING IN CHARIOTS AND ON HORSES, THEY, AND THEIR PRINCES, THE MEN OF JUDAH, AND THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM: AND THIS CITY SHALL REMAIN FOR EVER.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:26] AND THEY SHALL COME FROM THE CITIES OF JUDAH, AND FROM THE PLACES ABOUT JERUSALEM, AND FROM THE LAND OF BENJAMIN, AND FROM THE PLAIN, AND FROM THE MOUNTAINS, AND FROM THE SOUTH, BRINGING BURNT OFFERINGS, AND SACRIFICES, AND MEAT OFFERINGS, AND INCENSE, AND BRINGING SACRIFICES OF PRAISE, UNTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.                     
 
[Jeremiah 17:27] BUT IF YE WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO ME TO HALLOW THE SABBATH DAY, AND NOT TO BEAR A BURDEN, EVEN ENTERING IN AT THE GATES OF JERUSALEM ON THE SABBATH DAY; THEN WILL I KINDLE A FIRE IN THE GATES THEREOF, AND IT SHALL DEVOUR THE PALACES OF JERUSALEM, AND IT SHALL NOT BE QUENCHED.
 
Jeremiah 18
[Jeremiah 18:1] THE WORD WHICH CAME TO JEREMIAH FROM THE LORD, SAYING,                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:2] ARISE, AND GO DOWN TO THE POTTER'S HOUSE, AND THERE I WILL CAUSE THEE TO HEAR MY WORDS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:3] THEN I WENT DOWN TO THE POTTER'S HOUSE, AND, BEHOLD, HE WROUGHT A WORK ON THE WHEELS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:4] AND THE VESSEL THAT HE MADE OF CLAY WAS MARRED IN THE HAND OF THE POTTER: SO HE MADE IT AGAIN ANOTHER VESSEL, AS SEEMED GOOD TO THE POTTER TO MAKE IT.
 
[Jeremiah 18:6] O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, CANNOT I DO WITH YOU AS THIS POTTER? SAITH THE LORD. BEHOLD, AS THE CLAY IS IN THE POTTER'S HAND, SO ARE YE IN MINE HAND, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
Here the Prophet is addressing the House of Israel.  Sometimes House of Israel refers to all 12 Tribes, sometimes to the Northern Tribes as distinct from Judah, and at other times mainly to Judah.
 
[Jeremiah 18:7] AT WHAT INSTANT I SHALL SPEAK CONCERNING A NATION, AND CONCERNING A KINGDOM, TO PLUCK UP, AND TO PULL DOWN, AND TO DESTROY IT;                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:8] IF THAT NATION, AGAINST WHOM I HAVE PRONOUNCED, TURN FROM THEIR EVIL, I WILL REPENT OF THE EVIL THAT I THOUGHT TO DO UNTO THEM.
Through repentance we can always find away back if we really request it. When bad times or distraught comes upon a person he/she should endeavor to better their ways. The same applies to whole communities and nations.
 
[Jeremiah 18:9] AND AT WHAT INSTANT I SHALL SPEAK CONCERNING A NATION, AND CONCERNING A KINGDOM, TO BUILD AND TO PLANT IT;                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:10] IF IT DO EVIL IN MY SIGHT, THAT IT OBEY NOT MY VOICE, THEN I WILL REPENT OF THE GOOD, WHEREWITH I SAID I WOULD BENEFIT THEM.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:11] NOW THEREFORE GO TO, SPEAK TO THE MEN OF JUDAH, AND TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, SAYING, THUS SAITH THE LORD; BEHOLD, I FRAME EVIL AGAINST YOU, AND DEVISE A DEVICE AGAINST YOU: RETURN YE NOW EVERY ONE FROM HIS EVIL WAY, AND MAKE YOUR WAYS AND YOUR DOINGS GOOD.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:12] AND THEY SAID, THERE IS NO HOPE: BUT WE WILL WALK AFTER OUR OWN DEVICES, AND WE WILL EVERY ONE DO THE IMAGINATION OF HIS EVIL HEART.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:13] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD; ASK YE NOW AMONG THE HEATHEN, WHO HATH HEARD SUCH THINGS: THE VIRGIN OF ISRAEL HATH DONE A VERY HORRIBLE THING.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:14] WILL A MAN LEAVE THE SNOW OF LEBANON WHICH COMETH FROM THE ROCK OF THE FIELD? OR SHALL THE COLD FLOWING WATERS THAT COME FROM ANOTHER PLACE BE FORSAKEN? 
In those days people received their water from natural sources. Someone who on a hot day (probably in the course of herding sheep from pasture to pasture) came across cool clear water emerging from a spring amongst the rocks would be inclined to hang around for awhile.
 
[Jeremiah 18:15] BECAUSE MY PEOPLE HATH FORGOTTEN ME, THEY HAVE BURNED INCENSE TO VANITY, AND THEY HAVE CAUSED THEM TO STUMBLE IN THEIR WAYS FROM THE ANCIENT PATHS, TO WALK IN PATHS, IN A WAY NOT CAST UP;
 
[Jeremiah 18:16] TO MAKE THEIR LAND DESOLATE, AND A PERPETUAL HISSING; EVERY ONE THAT PASSETH THEREBY SHALL BE ASTONISHED, AND WAG HIS HEAD.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:17] I WILL SCATTER THEM AS WITH AN EAST WIND BEFORE THE ENEMY; I WILL SHEW THEM THE BACK, AND NOT THE FACE, IN THE DAY OF THEIR CALAMITY.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:18] THEN SAID THEY, COME AND LET US DEVISE DEVICES AGAINST JEREMIAH; FOR THE LAW SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE PRIEST, NOR COUNSEL FROM THE WISE, NOR THE WORD FROM THE PROPHET. COME, AND LET US SMITE HIM WITH THE TONGUE, AND LET US NOT GIVE HEED TO ANY OF HIS WORDS. 
According to tradition they decided to say libelous things about Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a Priest, a Cohen, and part of his sustenance and that of his family was derived from the portion of the harvest given to the Priests and Levites. This portion had to go to the priest  but a person could give it to whatsoever of the priests he chose. Someone with a bad reputation would not be first in line. Sometimes there are those who make false allegations about Brit-Am as well.
 
[Jeremiah 18:19] GIVE HEED TO ME, O LORD, AND HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF THEM THAT CONTEND WITH ME.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:20] SHALL EVIL BE RECOMPENSED FOR GOOD? FOR THEY HAVE DIGGED A PIT FOR MY SOUL. REMEMBER THAT I STOOD BEFORE THEE TO SPEAK GOOD FOR THEM, AND TO TURN AWAY THY WRATH FROM THEM.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:21] THEREFORE DELIVER UP THEIR CHILDREN TO THE FAMINE, AND POUR OUT THEIR BLOOD BY THE FORCE OF THE SWORD; AND LET THEIR WIVES BE BEREAVED OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND BE WIDOWS; AND LET THEIR MEN BE PUT TO DEATH; LET THEIR YOUNG MEN BE SLAIN BY THE SWORD IN BATTLE.
Jeremiah was not actually cursing these people since the bad decree had already gone out against them. Jeremiah had been interceding for them with God but when they began to attack him he no longer could do so and it was as if they were cursing themselves.
 
[Jeremiah 18:22] LET A CRY BE HEARD FROM THEIR HOUSES, WHEN THOU SHALT BRING A TROOP SUDDENLY UPON THEM: FOR THEY HAVE DIGGED A PIT TO TAKE ME, AND HID SNARES FOR MY FEET.                     
 
[Jeremiah 18:23] YET, LORD, THOU KNOWEST ALL THEIR COUNSEL AGAINST ME TO SLAY ME: FORGIVE NOT THEIR INIQUITY, NEITHER BLOT OUT THEIR SIN FROM THY SIGHT, BUT LET THEM BE OVERTHROWN BEFORE THEE; DEAL THUS WITH THEM IN THE TIME OF THINE ANGER
 
Jeremiah 19
[Jeremiah 19:1] THUS SAITH THE LORD, GO AND GET A POTTER'S EARTHEN BOTTLE, AND TAKE OF THE ANCIENTS OF THE PEOPLE, AND OF THE ANCIENTS OF THE PRIESTS;                     
 
[Jeremiah 19:2] AND GO FORTH UNTO THE VALLEY OF THE SON OF HINNOM, WHICH IS BY THE ENTRY OF THE EAST GATE, AND PROCLAIM THERE THE WORDS THAT I SHALL TELL THEE,   
VALLEY OF THE SON OF HINNOM in Hebrew Gai ben Hinom or in short Gai Hinom rendered popularly as Gehinom and given a meaning synonymous with hell.
 
[Jeremiah 19:3] AND SAY, HEAR YE THE WORD OF THE LORD, O KINGS OF JUDAH, AND INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM; THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; BEHOLD, I WILL BRING EVIL UPON THIS PLACE, THE WHICH WHOSOEVER HEARETH, HIS EARS SHALL TINGLE.                     
 
[Jeremiah 19:4] BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORSAKEN ME, AND HAVE ESTRANGED THIS PLACE, AND HAVE BURNED INCENSE IN IT UNTO OTHER GODS, WHOM NEITHER THEY NOR THEIR FATHERS HAVE KNOWN, NOR THE KINGS OF JUDAH, AND HAVE FILLED THIS PLACE WITH THE BLOOD OF INNOCENTS;                     
 
[Jeremiah 19:5] THEY HAVE BUILT ALSO THE HIGH PLACES OF BAAL, TO BURN THEIR SONS WITH FIRE FOR BURNT OFFERINGS UNTO BAAL, WHICH I COMMANDED NOT, NOR SPAKE IT, NEITHER CAME IT INTO MY MIND: 
They used to offer up human sacrifice, especially infants to Baal. This was a Canaanite practice. Carthage in North Africa was founded by Canaanites from the Phoenican cities of Tyre and Sidon. There too archaeologists have discovered evidence of massive human sacrifice of little children. The places concerned are termed tophets. All ancient sculptures appear at some time or other to have practiced human sacrifice. The Druids in Celtic Britain and in Gaul also practiced human sacrifice according to reports on a large scale. The Druids also worshipped baal or Bel as he was referred to. Bel was the Mesopotamian (Assyrian and Babylonian) pronunciation of Baal. Concerning the Celts we have discerned the presence of Israelites in general throughout the Celtic world but especially in the West of Europe where druids and megalithic monuments (dolmens) were present. 
Abortions and euthanasia are also in general similar to forms of human sacrifice. The motivation is often similar and their adherents practice the cult of human immolation with an almost religious dedication.  
Ruth Schechter wrote works in Hebrew on philosophy and national ideologies.  I do not know if her works have ever been translated into English. Some of her claims overlap Brit-Am beliefs, for instance she claimed that the National Ideology of the English was basically Hebraic. [The German nationalist philosopher Walter Sombart described the USA as socially and ideologically a Jewish nation]. Ruth Schechter claimed also that the Nazi destruction of the Jews had the same rationale as human sacrifice.
 
[Jeremiah 19:6] THEREFORE, BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD, THAT THIS PLACE SHALL NO MORE BE CALLED TOPHET, NOR THE VALLEY OF THE SON OF HINNOM, BUT THE VALLEY OF SLAUGHTER.
 
[Jeremiah 19:7] AND I WILL MAKE VOID THE COUNSEL OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM IN THIS PLACE; AND I WILL CAUSE THEM TO FALL BY THE SWORD BEFORE THEIR ENEMIES, AND BY THE HANDS OF THEM THAT SEEK THEIR LIVES: AND THEIR CARCASES WILL I GIVE TO BE MEAT FOR THE FOWLS OF THE HEAVEN, AND FOR THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH.  
 
[Jeremiah 19:8] AND I WILL MAKE THIS CITY DESOLATE, AND AN HISSING; EVERY ONE THAT PASSETH THEREBY SHALL BE ASTONISHED AND HISS BECAUSE OF ALL THE PLAGUES THEREOF.                     
 
[Jeremiah 19:9] AND I WILL CAUSE THEM TO EAT THE FLESH OF THEIR SONS AND THE FLESH OF THEIR DAUGHTERS, AND THEY SHALL EAT EVERY ONE THE FLESH OF HIS FRIEND IN THE SIEGE AND STRAITNESS, WHEREWITH THEIR ENEMIES, AND THEY THAT SEEK THEIR LIVES, SHALL STRAITEN THEM.    
People do eat the flesh of their loved ones in times of famine when besieged by enemies. The Russians in the Second World War during the siege of Leningrad experienced this.
 
[Jeremiah 19:10] THEN SHALT THOU BREAK THE BOTTLE IN THE SIGHT OF THE MEN THAT GO WITH THEE,                     
 
[Jeremiah 19:11] AND SHALT SAY UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; EVEN SO WILL I BREAK THIS PEOPLE AND THIS CITY, AS ONE BREAKETH A POTTER'S VESSEL, THAT CANNOT BE MADE WHOLE AGAIN: AND THEY SHALL BURY THEM IN TOPHET, TILL THERE BE NO PLACE TO BURY.                     
 
[Jeremiah 19:12] THUS WILL I DO UNTO THIS PLACE, SAITH THE LORD, AND TO THE INHABITANTS THEREOF, AND EVEN MAKE THIS CITY AS TOPHET:
TOPHET means the place of human sacrifice where the murdered bodies were consumed.
 
[Jeremiah 19:13] AND THE HOUSES OF JERUSALEM, AND THE HOUSES OF THE KINGS OF JUDAH, SHALL BE DEFILED AS THE PLACE OF TOPHET, BECAUSE OF ALL THE HOUSES UPON WHOSE ROOFS THEY HAVE BURNED INCENSE UNTO ALL THE HOST OF HEAVEN, AND HAVE POURED OUT DRINK OFFERINGS UNTO OTHER GODS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 19:14] THEN CAME JEREMIAH FROM TOPHET, WHITHER THE LORD HAD SENT HIM TO PROPHESY; AND HE STOOD IN THE COURT OF THE LORD'S HOUSE; AND SAID TO ALL THE PEOPLE,                     
 
[Jeremiah 19:15] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; BEHOLD, I WILL BRING UPON THIS CITY AND UPON ALL HER TOWNS ALL THE EVIL THAT I HAVE PRONOUNCED AGAINST IT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE HARDENED THEIR NECKS, THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HEAR MY WORDS.
We should listen when God warns. God speaks to us through events and surroundings. Very often when disaster or misfortune comes upon us we have been warned beforehand either by other people or by previous events that we should have learned from. We are all proud. Pride is a necessary part of the human constitution. Everyone suffers from failures and rejections in their lifetime. This is part of living. Pride helps us overcome the feelings of inadequacy caused by events and weaknesses. Nevertheless pride is an enemy of ours and often prevents us from learning from mistakes and beginning again. True honor means meeting adversity and living as well as we can, i.e. being as good as we can. We should realize that every day is a gift and an opportunity to make life worthwhile.
 
Jeremiah 20
[Jeremiah 20:1] NOW PASHUR THE SON OF IMMER THE PRIEST, WHO WAS ALSO CHIEF GOVERNOR IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, HEARD THAT JEREMIAH PROPHESIED THESE THINGS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:2] THEN PASHUR SMOTE JEREMIAH THE PROPHET, AND PUT HIM IN THE STOCKS THAT WERE IN THE HIGH GATE OF BENJAMIN, WHICH WAS BY THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:3] AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE MORROW, THAT PASHUR BROUGHT FORTH JEREMIAH OUT OF THE STOCKS. THEN SAID JEREMIAH UNTO HIM, THE LORD HATH NOT CALLED THY NAME PASHUR, BUT MAGORMISSABIB.
PASHUR in Hebrew Pashchur of uncertain meaning but maybe Pash-chur i.e. Great Honor. Pashchur and Magor in Hebrew rhyme with each other.  Pash in Hebrew connotes exceed or great but literally means spreading out. MAGORMISSABIB: or  MAGOR-MISSAVIV i.e. Terror all Around. Magor connotes terror but also conveys a gathering inward: I suppose someone who is afraid tightens himself up. The two names thus both rhyme and possess diametrically opposed messages.
 
[Jeremiah 20:4] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, BEHOLD, I WILL MAKE THEE A TERROR TO THYSELF, AND TO ALL THY FRIENDS: AND THEY SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD OF THEIR ENEMIES, AND THINE EYES SHALL BEHOLD IT: AND I WILL GIVE ALL JUDAH INTO THE HAND OF THE KING OF BABYLON, AND HE SHALL CARRY THEM CAPTIVE INTO BABYLON, AND SHALL SLAY THEM WITH THE SWORD.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:5] MOREOVER I WILL DELIVER ALL THE STRENGTH OF THIS CITY, AND ALL THE LABOURS THEREOF, AND ALL THE PRECIOUS THINGS THEREOF, AND ALL THE TREASURES OF THE KINGS OF JUDAH WILL I GIVE INTO THE HAND OF THEIR ENEMIES, WHICH SHALL SPOIL THEM, AND TAKE THEM, AND CARRY THEM TO BABYLON.
 
[Jeremiah 20:6] AND THOU, PASHUR, AND ALL THAT DWELL IN THINE HOUSE SHALL GO INTO CAPTIVITY: AND THOU SHALT COME TO BABYLON, AND THERE THOU SHALT DIE, AND SHALT BE BURIED THERE, THOU, AND ALL THY FRIENDS, TO WHOM THOU HAST PROPHESIED LIES.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:7] O LORD, THOU HAST DECEIVED ME, AND I WAS DECEIVED; THOU ART STRONGER THAN I, AND HAST PREVAILED: I AM IN DERISION DAILY, EVERY ONE MOCKETH ME.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:8] FOR SINCE I SPAKE, I CRIED OUT, I CRIED VIOLENCE AND SPOIL; BECAUSE THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS MADE A REPROACH UNTO ME, AND A DERISION, DAILY.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:9] THEN I SAID, I WILL NOT MAKE MENTION OF HIM, NOR SPEAK ANY MORE IN HIS NAME. BUT HIS WORD WAS IN MINE HEART AS A BURNING FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES, AND I WAS WEARY WITH FORBEARING, AND I COULD NOT STAY. 
Jeremiah would have preferred not to prophesy since much of his prophecy predicted disaster.
 
[Jeremiah 20:10] FOR I HEARD THE DEFAMING OF MANY, FEAR ON EVERY SIDE. REPORT, SAY THEY, AND WE WILL REPORT IT. ALL MY FAMILIARS WATCHED FOR MY HALTING, SAYING, PERADVENTURE HE WILL BE ENTICED, AND WE SHALL PREVAIL AGAINST HIM, AND WE SHALL TAKE OUR REVENGE ON HIM.
 
[Jeremiah 20:11] BUT THE LORD IS WITH ME AS A MIGHTY TERRIBLE ONE: THEREFORE MY PERSECUTORS SHALL STUMBLE, AND THEY SHALL NOT PREVAIL: THEY SHALL BE GREATLY ASHAMED; FOR THEY SHALL NOT PROSPER: THEIR EVERLASTING CONFUSION SHALL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:12] BUT, O LORD OF HOSTS, THAT TRIEST THE RIGHTEOUS, AND SEEST THE REINS AND THE HEART, LET ME SEE THY VENGEANCE ON THEM: FOR UNTO THEE HAVE I OPENED MY CAUSE.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:13] SING UNTO THE LORD, PRAISE YE THE LORD: FOR HE HATH DELIVERED THE SOUL OF THE POOR FROM THE HAND OF EVILDOERS.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:14] CURSED BE THE DAY WHEREIN I WAS BORN: LET NOT THE DAY WHEREIN MY MOTHER BARE ME BE BLESSED.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:15] CURSED BE THE MAN WHO BROUGHT TIDINGS TO MY FATHER, SAYING, A MAN CHILD IS BORN UNTO THEE; MAKING HIM VERY GLAD.
 
[Jeremiah 20:16] AND LET THAT MAN BE AS THE CITIES WHICH THE LORD OVERTHREW, AND REPENTED NOT: AND LET HIM HEAR THE CRY IN THE MORNING, AND THE SHOUTING AT NOONTIDE;                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:17] BECAUSE HE SLEW ME NOT FROM THE WOMB; OR THAT MY MOTHER MIGHT HAVE BEEN MY GRAVE, AND HER WOMB TO BE ALWAYS GREAT WITH ME.                     
 
[Jeremiah 20:18] WHEREFORE CAME I FORTH OUT OF THE WOMB TO SEE LABOUR AND SORROW, THAT MY DAYS SHOULD BE CONSUMED WITH SHAME?
 

Jeremiah chs. 11 to 15

Jeremiah chs. 21 to 24

See also:
Biblical Proofs
http://www.britam.org/Proof/ProofsIntro.html
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