Jeremiah 41:5

41:5 eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. ¹  They had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes, and cut themselves to show they were mourning. ²  They were carrying grain offerings and incense to present at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. ³ 

Jeremiah 31:32

31:32 It will not be like the old ⁴  covenant that I made with their ancestors ⁵  when I delivered them ⁶  from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I was like a faithful husband to them,” ⁷  says the Lord. ⁸ 

Jeremiah 38:19

38:19 Then King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Babylonians. ⁹  The Babylonians might hand me over to them and they will torture me.” ¹⁰ 

¹ sn Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria were all cities in the northern kingdom of Israel with important religious and political histories. When Israel was destroyed in 722 b.c., some of the Israelites had been left behind and some of the Judeans had taken up residence in these northern cities. People residing there had participated in the reforms of Hezekiah (2 Chr 30:11) and Josiah (2 Chr 34:9) and were evidently still faithfully following the Jewish calendar. They would have been on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish New Year and the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23:34).

² tn The words “to show they were mourning” are not in the text but are implicit in the acts. They are supplied in the translation for clarification for readers who may not be familiar with ancient mourning customs.

³ tn The words “in Jerusalem” are not in the text but are implicit. They are supplied in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn The word “old” is not in the text but is implicit in the use of the word “new.” It is supplied in the translation for greater clarity.

⁵ tn Heb “fathers.”

⁶ tn Heb “when I took them by the hand and led them out.”

⁷ tn Or “I was their master.” See the study note on 3:14.

⁸ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

⁷ tn Heb “Chaldeans.” See the study note on 21:4 for explanation.

⁸ tn Or “and they will badly abuse me.” For the usage of this verb in the situation presupposed see Judg 19:25 and 1 Sam 31:4.