Yirmiyahu A Teachers' Guide

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The theme of this chapter is false prophets. The teacher should begin with an introduction of the concepts of true prophets - נביאי אמת - and false prophets - נביאי שקר. The students should learn Devarim 13:2-6 and 18:14-22. They should then learn selections from the Rambam, Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah, chapters 7-10, where the qualifications and job description of the true prophet are spelled out. They should also learn how a prophet felt when he was receiving a prophecy.

The students should become familiar with the definition of a false prophet, and the punishments that he is to receive. They should realize that it might be difficult for the people to distinguish between a true prophet and a false one. This was the predicament in the time of Yirmiyahu.

This chapter helps delineate the differences between the two kinds of prophets, and teaches us how the false prophets of the time operated. It also foretells the ultimate punishment that is to come upon them.

They strengthened the hands of the sinners, by assuring them that only good was going to come to them. They were therefore responsible for the people not doing teshuvah. (Radak)

2. The people and the prophets were equal in their evil acts.(Radak)

The students should note the difference between the Metzudat David and the Malbim in regard to the connection that they see between verses 14 and 15. The former sees it as being a comparison, while the latter sees it as being a contrast.

Hashem will bring many troubles upon them. (Metzudat David)

They flattered themselves by fulfilling all their desires. (Metzudat David)

The reading should be like אל דברי - to the words. (Metzudat David)

The prophets are speaking דברי הבל - nonsense. (Metzudat David)

They fabricate visions from their heart - they never saw these visions. (Metzudat David)

They tell the wicked, who despise Hashem, that no punishment will befall them. (Metzudat David)

Yirmiyahu explains why one shouldn't listen to these prophets: none of these wicked people who claim to be prophets could ever have been privy to the word of Hashem. (Metzudat David)

The students should note the role of the etnachta as support for the division that Metzudat David suggests.

A great storm of terror and dread will come out from Hashem and descend on these wicked people. (Metzudat David)

Hashem's anger will not dissipate until all of these people are punished, and that will be a fulfillment of Hashem's thoughts. (Metzudat David)

This is an important lesson to learn: although we sin, the punishment is not necessarily delivered immediately. See the Principles of Faith of the Rambam, Principle number 11.

2. They ran quickly as if they were sent on a mission from Hashem. (Metzudat David)

They created their own prophecies. (Metzudat David)

If these people really received a prophecy from Hashem, then they should be teaching people the Torah and encouraging them to return to Hashem. Instead they are encouraging them to continue in their bad ways. (Metzudat David)

The teacher should stress that the main job of the prophets is to reproach the people and ensure proper conduct. See Rambam, Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah, chapter 9, halachah 2.

According to the division of the sections (parshiot), verses 16-18 form one section, and verses 19-22 form a separate section. As a review, the students can write a title sentence describing the themes of each one of these sections.

The students should be familiar with the word בתמיה, and how it is used by the commentators.

The students should translate מרחוק according to each of the two views.

2. Even if a person tries to hide, he can't hide from Hashem. (Metzudat David)

3.* There is no distance between Hashem and man, and no barrier. (Malb)

Since Hashem's glory is everywhere, there is no place a person can hide. (Metzudat David)

The teacher should focus on the tenth of the Thirteen Principles of Faith of the Rambam. The teacher can also make copies of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, chapter 3, section 1, which states that one needs to be modest at all times, even when one is getting dressed, for instance, and there is no one else around, since Hashem is found everywhere.

Since Hashem is everywhere, He hears the false prophets publicizing their ordinary dreams as visions from Hashem. (Metzudat David)

The teacher can refer back to the Rambam, Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah, chapter 7, halachah 2, for a description of how a prophet is overcome physically when he receives his prophecy.

The false prophets are deceitful. Although they know their dreams are not a result of true prophetic spirit, they pretend that they are. (Metzudat David)

A prophet who has a dream should relate it as such. (Metzudat David)

One who has a prophecy, though, should relate it as a prophetic vision. (Metzudat David)

The students should make a chart of the משל ונמשל of תבן and ברaccording to the different commentaries:

One could not possibly mistake a dream for a prophetic insight. The latter descends upon a person with force, like a burning fire (See Yirmiyahu 20:9, which describes the force and the feeling which a prophet experiences when receiving a prophecy). (Rashi)

The students should note the difference between Rashi/Metzudat David and the Radak. Rashi and Metzudat David see the verse as speaking about the prophet, and the Radak sees it as speaking of the actual prophecy. The students should match up each component with the משל, according to each commentary.

Chazal in Sanhedrin 34a state that this verse is hinting at the fact that the words of the Torah can be understood on multiple levels, all of which are correct.

Hashem is determined to destroy these false prophets. (Radak)

The false prophets used the phrase נאום ה' so that their words would sound more authentic. (Rashi)

This is a reference to the false prophets who fabricated dreams, pretending they were the words of Hashem. They repeated these words often, as if they were true. They were able, through this flippant behavior, to con the people into believing in them. (Metzudat David)

The Radak notes that in verses 30-32 the word הנני appears three times. He posits that this corresponds to three different types of false prophets who operated at that time. The first group stole actual prophecies that they overheard from true prophets, and used them for their own purposes. The second group had smooth tongues, and were able to convince the people of their agenda. The third group were those who claimed that dreams that they had were visions from Hashem.

Hashem never sent these people, and never gave them any messages to deliver. They never helped the people in any way. Therefore, they should not be considered to be true prophets. (Metzudat David)

The people used to ask Yirmiyahu, in a derisive fashion, what the message of Hashem was. They used the word משא, which is synonymous with prophecy, since it reflected their own feeling that the word of Hashem was burdensome to them. (Metzudat David, Mahari Kra)

Yirmiyahu should respond in kind: When a person has a heavy burden placed on him, he throws it off. Likewise, Hashem will exile the people from the land. (Metzudat David)

These verses teach us a tremendous lesson in the importance of not viewing a Torah lifestyle as a burden. Rather, it is something that should be valued and appreciated. See Drash Moshe by Rav Moshe Feinstein zt"l, Parashat Nitzavim, p. 164, section starting ובחרת בחיים למען תחיה אתה וזרעך .

Those who present the word of Hashem as a burden, will be punished individ. (David)

One should be precise in the language used to refer to the word of Hashem: when the prophecy was in answer to a question, the proper word is ענה; when relating to an unsolicited prophecy, the proper word is דיבר. (Metzudat David)

Even when speaking to prophet directly, you are not to use the word משא, but the words ענה and דיבר. (Metzudat David)

If you continue to use this language of משא even after all these warnings, you will be severely punished. (Metzudat David)

For this sin alone you deserve severe punishment. Hashem will abandon you, like one abandons a heavy burden. (Metzudat David)

Even the city of Jerusalem will be abandoned, and overtaken by enemies. (Metzudat David)

You will be exiled among the enemies for a long time. Such an embarrassment will be so great, that it will not easily be forgotten. (Metzudat David)

As a review, the students should compose three charts that summarize this chapter and organize the information. They should include the verse for each statement. The basis for the information presented here is the commentary of Da'at Mikra, p. 85.

1. Make a list of the points that Yirmiyahu has against the false prophets:

3. List the characteristics of a true prophet:

One can also have the students make a chart comparing the characteristics of a false prophet and a true prophet.

· "אם יסתר איש במסתרים ואני לא אראנו נאם ד' הלוא את השמיים ואת הארץ אני מלא נאום ה'" [כד]

· "מה לתבן את הבר נאום ה'" [כט]

· "הלא כה דברי כאש נאום ה' וכפטיש יפוצץ סלע" [כט]

 Yirmiyahu A Teachers' Guide

Home || Intro || Gen. Intro || 1 || 2:1-29 || 2:30-3:5 || 7:1-28 || 8:13-9:23 || 16:19-17:14 || 19 || 23:13-40 || 26 || 27 || 28 || 29:1-14 || 31:1-19 || 36 || 39 || 40 || 41 || 42 || App.

Project of 613.org - Largest Archive to Date of Jewish Sound and Video on the Internet!