Summary
The chapter opens with a vivid description of Judah’s misery—dry land, empty vessels, and failed agriculture—setting a tone of desolation. Jeremiah, the chosen prophet, hears the Lord’s decree that Israel’s prayers and fasting will not be accepted; instead, calamity will descend. The Lord condemns false prophets who promise safety yet speak of doom, asserting that they prophesy in deceitful visions. The narrative shifts to the people’s lament, highlighting their suffering from famine, disease, and loss of life, and their acknowledgment of ancestral sin. Amid the bleak prophecy, the Lord commands Jeremiah to repeat the message of impending disaster and the failure of prophets. The passage ends with an appeal for remembrance and covenantal faithfulness, underscoring the need for repentance and divine intervention.