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NASB | Jeremiah 34:18 'I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not fulfilled the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts-- |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Jeremiah 34:18 'The men who have violated My covenant, who have not kept the terms of the solemn pledge which they made before Me when they split the [sacrificial] calf in half, and then afterwards walked between its separated pieces [sealing their pledge to Me by placing a curse on themselves should they violate the covenant--those men I will make like the calf]! [Gen 15:9, 10, 17] |
Bible Question:
As I read this passage vv 18-20, and compare it to the reference given (AMP Gen 15:9,10 17), in Gen it is the LORD who is confirming His covenant and yet in Jer, the AMP indicates that walking between the cut calf was Israel's pledge to the Lord. Are there any other instances in Scripture where something like this took place? Something about this situation - a human attempt to re-create a God-thing - bothers me. (Do we do this?) Reading Jer 34:13-16 I see a parallel between Israel's release from the bondage of Egypt - the Lord had them walk between the parted waters of the Red Sea! Yet notice the serious result of Israel's failure to keep their commitment to the Lord in veerse 16 - the Lord declared: "you turned and profaned My name." Comments? |
Bible Answer: Hi Mommapbs, I agree that the comparison of Jeremiah 34:18 when they cut the calf in two and Genesis 15:10 where all those animals were brought to Him and were cut in two is appropriate and noteworthy. I believe that another comparison of interest is Jeremiah 34:12 and Genesis 15:1. Here we read that "the word of the Lord came to" both Jeremiah and Abram respectively. It is important that when we have heard the word of the Lord that we obey Him and continually incline our ears to Him, Jeremiah 34:14. It is important also to be not only hearers but doers of the word. An appropriate reference in my Study Bible for your verse is Romans 2:8, "but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation." The breakers of covenants were to expect wrath, indignation, and judgment. Romans 2:2, "And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. And do you suppose, O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such things, and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?" Romans 3:6 says that God will judge the world and Romans 2:16 says that God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. You have quoted Jeremiah 34:16, where they have "turned and profaned My name". Could we not as Christians today apply this Scripture to our lives? If we have heard the word of the Lord and know what is expected of us let us do it, and continue to do it. If we know His will we need to teach others and teach ourselves so that we do not turn and profane His name. Romans 2:18-21 and Jeremiah 34:16. From the heart, Ray |