Jeremiah 2:14-15

Israel’s Reliance on Foreign Alliances (not on God)

2:14 “Israel is not a slave, is he?

He was not born into slavery, was he? ¹ 

If not, why then is he being carried off?

2:15 Like lions his enemies roar victoriously over him;

they raise their voices in triumph. ² 

They have laid his land waste;

his cities have been burned down and deserted. ³ 

[2:14]  ¹ tn Heb “Is Israel a slave? Or is he a house born slave?” The questions are rhetorical, expecting a negative answer.

[2:15]  ² tn Heb “Lions shout over him, they give out [raise] their voices.”

[2:15]  ³ tn Heb “without inhabitant.”