Biblical Hebrew Forum

[ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)]

On Wed  1 Mar 2006 (09:27:40 +1300), bsr15 AT cantsl.it.canterbury.ac.nz wrote:
> Most English translations render Jeremiah 7:22 something like the
> following which comes from the NRSV
> 
> 7 For in the day that I brought your ancestors out of the land of
> Egypt, I did not speak to them or command them concerning burnt
> offerings and sacrifices.
> 
> Last night I noticed the NIV inserted ``just'' into this verse
> ... I did not just speak ...  thus changing the entire meaning of
> the verse. I see no justification for this in the Hebrew text. It
> looks to me the NIV translators thought they would fix up this
> verse. Anyone care to comment?

 In my opinion, this is part of the "Prophetic Revolt" against the
 "sin now, pay later" idea that you could sin as much as you wanted,
 as long as you brought the appropriate sacrifice to pay your way.
 It must be taken in context with verses 8-15, especially vv 9-10.
 Jesus quoted or alluded to Jeremiah 7:11 in Matthew 21:13 and parallels;
 compare Mark 12:33. The primary command of God to his people at Sinai
 was not to bring sacrifices for sin, but to keep the Law expressed
 in the Decalogue. The sacrifices are what to do when the Law has been
 broken. Better not to break it, than to bring sacrifices. Compare
 Isaiah 1:2-15.

 I would link Jeremiah 7:22-23 with 1 Samuel 15:22
 "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
 as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Surely, to obey is better than
 sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of lambs".

 Hosea 6:6
 "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
 the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings".

 Amos 5:21-24
 "I hate, I despise your festivals,
 and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
 I will not accept them;
 and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
 I will not look upon.
 Take away from ne the noise of your songs;
 I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
 But let justice roll down like waters,
 and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream".

 Micah 6:6-8
 "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high?
 Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
 with ten thousand rivers of oil?
 Shall I give my sirstborn for my transgression,
 the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
 He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
 and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice,
 and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

 Does this make sense?

 Shalom
 Ben
-- 
 Revd Ben Crick, BA CF                                       ZFC Hf
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