Jeremiah 49
Commentary from 4 fathers
Then came all the leaders of the host, and Joanan, and Azarias the son of Maasaeas, and all the people great and small,
(Μασ. ΜΒ´) ΚΑΙ προσῆλθον πάντες οἱ ἡγεμόνες τῆς δυνάμεως καὶ ᾿Ιωανὰν καὶ ᾿Αζαρίας υἱὸς Μαασαίου καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου
Къ сынѡ́мъ а҆ммѡ̑нимъ та́кѡ гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь: є҆да̀ не сꙋ́ть сы́нове і҆и҃лєвы, и҆лѝ наслѣ́дника нѣ́сть и҆̀мъ; почто̀ ᲂу҆̀бо прїѧ̀ наслѣ́дїе мелхо́мъ {ца́рь и҆́хъ} га́да, и҆ лю́дїе є҆гѡ̀ во градѣ́хъ є҆гѡ̀ живѧ́хꙋ;
to Jeremias the prophet, and said to him, Let now our supplication come before thy face, and pray thou to the Lord thy God for this remnant; for we are left few out of many, as thine eyes see.
πρὸς ῾Ιερεμίαν τὸν προφήτην καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· πεσέτω δὴ τὸ ἔλεος ἡμῶν κατὰ πρόσωπόν σου καὶ πρόσευξαι πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου περὶ τῶν καταλοίπων τούτων, ὅτι κατελείφθημεν ὀλίγοι ἀπὸ πολλῶν, καθὼς οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου βλέπουσι·
Сегѡ̀ ра́ди, сѐ, дні́е грѧдꙋ́тъ, гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь, и҆ ѡ҆глашꙋ̀ на равва́ѳъ сынѡ́въ а҆ммѡ́нихъ ра́тный звꙋ́къ, и҆ бꙋ́детъ въ непрохѡ́днаѧ и҆ въ па́гꙋбꙋ, и҆ трє́бища є҆гѡ̀ ѻ҆гне́мъ сожжє́на бꙋ́дꙋтъ, и҆ воспрїи́метъ і҆и҃ль вла́сть свою̀, гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь.
And let the Lord thy God declare to us the way wherein we should walk, and the thing which we should do.
καὶ ἀναγγειλάτω ἡμῖν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τὴν ὁδόν, ᾗ πορευσόμεθα ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ λόγον ὃν ποιήσομεν.
Возопі́й, є҆севѡ́не, ꙗ҆́кѡ поги́бе га́й: возопі́йте, дщє́ри равва̑ѳски, препоѧ́шитесѧ вре́тищами, рыда́йте и҆ бѣ́гайте по забра́лѡмъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ мелхо́мъ во плѣ́нъ ѿведе́тсѧ, свѧще́нницы и҆ кнѧ̑зи є҆гѡ̀ вкꙋ́пѣ.
And Jeremias said to them, I have heard [you]; behold, I will pray for you to the Lord our God, according to your words; and it shall come to pass, [that] whatsoever word the Lord God shall answer, I will declare [it] to you; I will not hide anything from you.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ῾Ιερεμίας· ἤκουσα, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ προσεύξομαι ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν κατὰ τοὺς λόγους ὑμῶν· καὶ ἔσται, ὁ λόγος, ὃν ἂν ἀποκριθήσεται Κύριος ὁ Θεός, ἀναγγελῶ ὑμῖν, οὐ μὴ κρύψω ἀφ’ ὑμῶν ῥῆμα.
Что̀ хва́лишисѧ во ᲂу҆до́лїихъ; стечѐ ᲂу҆до́лїе твоѐ, дщѝ безстꙋ́днаѧ, ᲂу҆пова́ющаѧ на бога̑тства своѧ̑, глаго́лющи: кто̀ прїи́детъ на мѧ̀;
And they said to Jeremias, Let the Lord be between us for a just and faithful witness, if we do not according to every word which the Lord shall send to us.
καὶ αὐτοὶ εἶπαν τῷ ῾Ιερεμίᾳ· ἔστω Κύριος ἐν ἡμῖν εἰς μάρτυρα δίκαιον καὶ πιστόν, εἰ μὴ κατὰ πάντα τὸν λόγον, ὃν ἐὰν ἀποστείλῃ Κύριος πρὸς ἡμᾶς, οὕτως ποιήσωμεν·
Сѐ, а҆́зъ наведꙋ̀ на тѧ̀ стра́хъ, гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь Вседержи́тель, ѿ всѣ́хъ сꙋ́щихъ ѡ҆́крестъ тебє̀: и҆ разсѣ́етесѧ всѝ ѿ лица̀ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ не бꙋ́детъ собира́ющагѡ бѣжа́щихъ.
And whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil, we will hearken to the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, because we shall hearken to the voice of the Lord our God.
καὶ ἐὰν ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἐὰν κακόν, τὴν φωνὴν Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, οὗ ἡμεῖς ἀποστέλλομέν σε πρὸς αὐτόν, ἀκουσόμεθα, ἵνα βέλτιον ἡμῖν γένηται, ὅτι ἀκουσόμεθα τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν. -
И҆ посе́мъ возвращꙋ̀ плѣ́нники сынѡ́въ а҆ммѡ́нихъ, гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь.
And it came to pass after ten days, [that] the word of the Lord came to Jeremias.
Καὶ ἐγενήθη μεθ’ ἡμέρας δέκα ἐγενήθη λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς ῾Ιερεμίαν.
Ко і҆дꙋме́и сїѧ̑ гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь Вседержи́тель: є҆да̀ є҆́сть ктомꙋ̀ мꙋ́дрость во ѳема́нѣ; поги́бе совѣ́тъ ѿ разꙋ́мныхъ, непотре́бна бы́сть мꙋ́дрость и҆́хъ,
And he called Joanan, and the leaders of the host, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,
καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸν ᾿Ιωανὰν καὶ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας τῆς δυνάμεως καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου
попра́но бы́сть мѣ́сто и҆́хъ: сни́дите въ про́пасть къ сѣдѣ́нїю, живꙋ́щїи во деда́нѣ: ꙗ҆́кѡ же́стѡкаѧ сотворѝ: (поги́бель и҆са́ѵлю) наведо́хъ на́нь во вре́мѧ, въ не́же посѣти́хъ є҆го̀.
and he said to them, Thus saith the Lord;
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος·
Ꙗ҆́кѡ ѡ҆б̾има́телїе вїна̀ прїидо́ша на тѧ̀, не ѡ҆ста́вѧтъ тебѣ̀ ѡ҆ста́нкѡвъ: а҆́ки та́тїе въ нощѝ возложа́тъ рꙋ́ки своѧ̑.
Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the Lord: for I am with you, to deliver you, and save you out of their hand.
μὴ φοβηθῆτε ἀπὸ προσώπου βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος, οὗ ὑμεῖς φοβεῖσθε ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, μὴ φοβηθῆτε, φησὶ Κύριος, ὅτι μεθ’ ὑμῶν ἐγώ εἰμι τοῦ ἐξαιρεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς καὶ σῴζειν ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ·
и҆ нѣ́сть ѡ҆ста́тисѧ сиротѣ̀ твое́й, да живе́тъ: а҆́зъ же сотворю̀ жи́ти, и҆ вдови̑цы на мѧ̀ ᲂу҆пова́ша.
And I will grant you mercy, and pity you, and will restore you to your land.
καὶ δώσω ὑμῖν ἔλεος καὶ ἐλεήσω ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐπιστρέψω ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν γῆν ὑμῶν.
Та́кѡ бо гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь: сѐ, и҆̀мже не бѣ̀ зако́на пи́ти ча́шꙋ, пїю́ще и҆спїю́тъ: и҆ ты́ ли а҆́ки непови́нный ѡ҆ста́нешисѧ; не бꙋ́деши непови́ненъ, но пїѧ̀ и҆спїе́ши.
But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, that we may not hearken to the voice of the Lord;
καὶ εἰ λέγετε ὑμεῖς· οὐ μὴ καθίσωμεν ἐν τῇ γῇ ταύτῃ πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἀκοῦσαι φωνῆς Κυρίου,
Собо́ю бо клѧ́хсѧ, гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь, ꙗ҆́кѡ въ пꙋсты́ню и҆ въ порꙋга́нїе и҆ въ посмѣ́хъ и҆ въ проклѧ́тїе бꙋ́деши посредѣ̀ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ всѝ гра́ди є҆гѡ̀ бꙋ́дꙋтъ въ пꙋсты́ню вѣ́чнꙋю.
for we will go into the land of Egypt, and we shall see no war, and shall not hear the sound of a trumpet, and we shall not hunger for bread; and there we will dwell:
ὅτι εἰς γῆν Αἰγύπτου εἰσελευσόμεθα καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδωμεν πόλεμον καὶ φωνὴν σάλπιγγος οὐ μὴ ἀκούσωμεν καὶ ἐν ἄρτοις οὐ μὴ πεινάσωμεν καὶ ἐκεῖ οἰκήσομεν,
Слꙋ́хъ слы́шахъ ѿ гдⷭ҇а, и҆ послѡ́въ во ꙗ҆зы́ки посла̀: собери́тесѧ и҆ и҆ди́те проти́вꙋ є҆мꙋ̀ и҆ воста́ните на ѡ҆полче́нїе.
He used the phrase “he sent messengers to the nations” to mean “command.” It is also likely that by divine command ministering angels stirred up the enemy. Remember that the divine David also says, “He sent forth on them the wrath of his anger; anger, wrath and distress, a dispatch by means of wicked angels.” He calls them “wicked,” not as such by nature but as communicating punishment as a benefit. We, too, are in the habit of calling the calamities that befall us evil. Likewise an angel wiped out the firstborn of the Egyptians. In the same way, other calamities were sent against Israel when David took a census of the people. There are many other such examples you could find in the divine Scripture.
On Jeremiah 9:49.14
then hear the word of the Lord; thus saith the Lord;
διὰ τοῦτο ἀκούσατε λόγον Κυρίου· οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος· ἐὰν ὑμεῖς δῶτε τὸ πρόσωπον ὑμῶν εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ εἰσέλθητε ἐκεῖ κατοικεῖν,
Сѐ, ма́ла да́хъ тѧ̀ во ꙗ҆зы́цѣхъ и҆ порꙋга́ема въ лю́дехъ.
If ye set your face toward Egypt, and go in there to dwell; then it shall be, [that] the sword which ye fear shall find you in the land of Egypt, and the famine to which ye have regard, shall overtake you, [coming] after you in Egypt; and there ye shall die.
καὶ ἔσται, ἡ ρομφαία, ἣν ὑμεῖς φοβεῖσθε ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῆς, εὑρήσει ὑμᾶς ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ὁ λιμός, οὗ ὑμεῖς λόγον ἔχετε ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, καταλήψεται ὑμᾶς ὀπίσω ὑμῶν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἀποθανεῖσθε.
И҆гра́нїе твоѐ прельсти́ тѧ, безстꙋ́дїе се́рдца твоегѡ̀ ѡ҆бита́ше въ разсѣ́линахъ ка́менныхъ, похи́ти крѣ́пость хо́лма высо́кагѡ: є҆гда̀ вознесе́ши ꙗ҆́кѡ ѻ҆ре́лъ гнѣздо̀ своѐ, ѿто́лѣ све́ргꙋ тѧ̀, гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь.
“Fir trees are the home of the heron.” The heron is a mighty bird; they say, too, that it overpowers the eagle and feeds on it. It is not like other birds that build their nests and fly to them in the evening; wherever darkness overtakes the heron, there it sleeps. Allegorically, the monk does not have a cell, but wherever he finds one, there, too, he stays. His battle is with the devil, who reigns in this world; like the heron, he prevails over the eagle, the king of the birds, just as it is written: “Though you go as high as the eagle, from there I will bring you down, says the Lord,” for, according to Ezekiel, the eagle is the devil. “The high mountains are for the stags.” This animal kills serpents and eats them; therefore, the mountains are the right habitat for the slayer of the wise serpent, the serpent that, in the garden or paradise, was wiser than all the beasts, the serpent that deceived Eve. “The cliffs are a refuge for rock badgers.” One who is fearful has a rock fastness for his refuge; the rock, moreover, is Christ.
Homilies on the Psalms 30 (ps 103)
And all the men, and all the strangers who have set their face toward the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall be consumed by the sword, and by the famine: and there shall not one of them escape from the evils which I bring upon them.
καὶ ἔσονται πάντες οἱ ἄνθρωποι καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀλλογενεῖς, οἱ θέντες τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν εἰς γῆν Αἰγύπτου ἐνοικεῖν ἐκεῖ, ἐκλείψουσιν ἐν τῇ ρομφαίᾳ καὶ ἐν τῷ λιμῷ, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται αὐτῶν οὐθεὶς σῳζόμενος ἀπὸ τῶν κακῶν, ὧν ἐγὼ ἐπάγω ἐπ’ αὐτούς.
И҆ бꙋ́детъ і҆дꙋме́а въ запꙋстѣ́нїе, всѧ́къ ходѧ́й чрез̾ ню̀ подиви́тсѧ и҆ позви́ждетъ над̾ всѧ́кою ꙗ҆́звою є҆ѧ̀.
For thus saith the Lord; As my wrath has dropped upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall my wrath drop upon you, when ye have entered into Egypt: and ye shall be a desolation, and under the power of others, and a curse and a reproach: and ye shall no more see this place.
ὅτι οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος· καθὼς ἔσταξεν ὁ θυμός μου ἐπὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, οὕτως στάξει ὁ θυμός μου ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς εἰσελθόντων ὑμῶν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἔσεσθε εἰς ἄβατον καὶ ὑποχείριοι καὶ εἰς ἀρὰν καὶ εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε οὐκέτι τὸν τόπον τοῦτον,
Ꙗ҆́коже превраще́на є҆́сть содо́ма и҆ гомо́рра и҆ сосѣ́ди є҆ѧ̀, гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь, не поживе́тъ та́мѡ мꙋ́жъ, нижѐ пребꙋ́детъ та́мѡ сы́нъ человѣ́чь.
[These are the words] which the Lord has spoken concerning you the remnant of Juda; Enter ye not into Egypt: and now know ye for a certainty,
ἃ ἐλάλησε Κύριος ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς τοὺς καταλοίπους ᾿Ιούδα· μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς Αἴγυπτον. καὶ νῦν γνόντες γνώσεσθε
Сѐ, ꙗ҆́коже ле́въ и҆зы́детъ ѿ среды̀ і҆ѻрда́на на мѣ́сто си́льнагѡ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ско́рѡ сотворю̀ и҆̀мъ бѣжа́ти ѿ негѡ̀, и҆ кто̀ бꙋ́детъ и҆збра́нъ, є҆го́же поста́влю над̾ ни́мъ; кто́ бо подо́бенъ мнѣ̀; и҆ кто̀ противоста́нетъ мѝ; и҆ кто̀ є҆́сть се́й па́стырь, и҆́же сопроти́витсѧ лицꙋ̀ моемꙋ̀;
that ye have wrought wickedness in your hearts, when ye sent me, saying, Pray thou for us to the Lord; and according to all that the Lord shall speak to thee we will do.
ὅτι ἐπονηρεύσασθε ἐν ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν ἀποστείλαντές με λέγοντες· πρόσευξαι περὶ ἡμῶν πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ κατὰ πάντα, ἃ ἐὰν λαλήσῃ σοι Κύριος, ποιήσομεν.
Сегѡ̀ ра́ди слы́шите совѣ́тъ гдⷭ҇ень, є҆го́же совѣща̀ на є҆дѡ́ма, и҆ ᲂу҆мышле́нїе є҆гѡ̀, є҆́же ᲂу҆мы́сли на живꙋ́щихъ во ѳема́нѣ, не све́ргꙋтъ ли и҆̀хъ ма̑лаѧ ѿ ста́дъ, и҆ не разме́тано ли бꙋ́детъ на ни́хъ жили́ще и҆́хъ;
And ye have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord, with which he sent me to you.
καὶ οὐκ ἠκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου, ἧς ἀπέστειλέ με πρὸς ὑμᾶς.
Ѿ гла́са бо паде́нїѧ и҆́хъ потрѧсе́сѧ землѧ̀, и҆ во́пль на мо́ри чермнѣ́мъ слы́шасѧ гла́са и҆́хъ.
Now therefore ye shall perish by sword and by famine, in the place which ye desire to go into to dwell there.
καὶ νῦν ἐν ρομφαίᾳ καὶ ἐν λιμῷ ἐκλείψετε ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, ᾧ ὑμεῖς βούλεσθε εἰσελθεῖν κατοικεῖν ἐκεῖ.
Сѐ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ѻ҆ре́лъ взы́детъ и҆ возлети́тъ и҆ простре́тъ крилѣ̑ своѝ над̾ тверды́ньми є҆гѡ̀: и҆ бꙋ́детъ се́рдце си́льныхъ і҆дꙋме́йскихъ въ то́й де́нь, ꙗ҆́кѡ се́рдце жены̀ родѧ́щїѧ.
If ye will indeed dwell in this land, I will build you, and will not pull [you] down, but will plant you, and in no wise pluck you up: for I have ceased from the calamities which I brought upon you.
ἐὰν καθίσαντες καθίσητε ἐν τῇ γῇ ταύτῃ, οἰκοδομήσω ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐ μὴ καθελῶ καὶ φυτεύσω ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκτίλω, ὅτι ἀναπέπαυμαι ἐπὶ τοῖς κακοῖς, οἷς ἐποίησα ὑμῖν.
Ꙗ҆́кѡ (а҆́зъ) ѡ҆бнажи́хъ и҆са́ѵа, ѿкры́хъ та̑йнаѧ є҆гѡ̀, не возмо́жетъ ᲂу҆таи́тисѧ, поги́бе рꙋко́ю бра́та своегѡ̀ и҆ сосѣ́да своегѡ̀,