This is the first of several symbolic acts that Jeremiah performed to communicate divine messages (cf. 16:1-4; 18:1-12; 19:1-2, 10-11; 27:1-28:17; 32:1-15; 43:8-13; 51:59-64). Other prophets did the same thing (cf. Isa. 20:2-6; Ezek. 4:1-13; 5:1-4). This acted sermon confronted the Judahites with the polluting effect of their associations and the consequences.
13:1-2 The Lord instructed Jeremiah to purchase a linen waistband (or sash, Heb. ezor) and to wear it without first washing it, which he did. Washing it would wear it out to some extent.
13:3-5 Sometime later the Lord told Jeremiah to take his waistband and go to perathahand hide it in a crevice in the rock there, which he did.
The Hebrew word perathdescribes the Euphrates River elsewhere in the Old Testament, and that may be its meaning here (cf. 46:2, 6; 51:63; Gen. 2:14; 15:18; Deut. 1:7; 11:24; 2 Kings 23:29; 24:7). If so, Jeremiah traveled at least 500 miles each way four times. Such a destination is understandable since the Euphrates was the source of the coming invasion of Judah and the destination of the Judahite exiles.
However, several commentators have suggested that the Hebrew word should be read differently, as parah, which refers to a site just four miles northeast of Anathoth, Jeremiah's hometown (cf. Josh. 18:23).232Since Jeremiah's action was symbolic, he may not have made the long trip to the Euphrates to bury his waistband but may have hidden it in a closer place in the general direction of Babylon.
A third view is that this was a vision and Jeremiah never really went anywhere, except in his mind. But there are no clues in the text that this was a vision.
Regardless of where Jeremiah went, the meaning of the prophet's action is clear; it does not depend on our identifying his destination.
13:6-7 Again the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after some time telling him to return to the same site and to retrieve the waistband that he had hidden there. When he did this he discovered that the waistband had become ruined and was of no more use.
13:8-9 Then the Lord told Jeremiah that He would destroy the pride of Judah and Jerusalem as the waistband had been destroyed.
13:10 The people of Judah, pure and untarnished at the time of their call (2:2-3), would be just as worthless as Jeremiah's ruined waistband because they had refused to listen to the Lord. They had been stubborn in their hearts (cf. Deut. 26:17-19) and had pursued idols by serving and worshipping them.
13:11 The Lord had purposed for His chosen people to cling closely to Him and to be an ornament of glory to Him, like a waistband served its wearer. But they did not listen to Him. They had become tarnished and spoiled by contact with polluting influences. Linen was a priestly material (Lev. 16:4), and similarly Israel was to be a priestly nation that was to cling to Yahweh (Exod. 19:6).
