Rachel Weeps
Jeremiah’s prophecy of restoration continues. Just as the Lord had scattered Israel, so he would gather them. In the midst of these uplifting words, he says:
This is what the Lord says:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
Jeremiah 31:15
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
This verse may sound familiar because it is quoted in Matthew 2:18. When King Herod tried to kill the baby Jesus by slaughtering all the baby boys in Bethlehem, Matthew says that incident fulfilled this verse. The context of this verse is the image of the matriarch Rachel weeping because her children have been taken into exile. Interestingly, the phrase “they are no more” is used to describe Joseph (son of Rachel) by his father Jacob in Genesis 42:36. Jeremiah says that despite them being “no more”, they will return (much like Joseph being discovered to be alive). There is still hope (Jeremiah 31:17).
The New Testament writers quoted and applied passages in ways we may feel are a stretch. Is the slaughter of the babies in Bethlehem the original intent of this verse? Clearly from the context, it is about Israel’s exile and restoration. How can this apply to Jesus? They applied Scripture in different ways than we do. Just as Joseph was exiled to Egypt and was “no more”, so the nation was going into exile. Matthew sees a parallel in the life of Jesus as he was “exiled” to Egypt for a time before returning. To strengthen the connection with Rachel, her tomb has traditionally been located near Bethlehem (she died on the way to Bethlehem; see Genesis 35:19-20). The New Testament writers (and the rabbis) did not have any trouble reinterpreting passages in new ways. They saw passages having many facets, like a sparkling diamond.
The New Covenant
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
Jeremiah 31:31
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
Much could be said about the “new covenant”, but I don’t have time to write a lengthy dissertation on that here. The book of Hebrews addresses it extensively. I will leave you with one thought, however. What remains the same between the covenant at Sinai and this new covenant? It is the same law! God’s Torah (commonly translated “law” but better translated “instruction” or “teaching”) will still be around. The difference is where it’s written. The first was on stone tablets. Now it will be placed in their mind (literally “inward parts”, or maybe “guts”) and written on their heart (which in Hebrew thought isn’t just emotions but also thoughts). God’s instructions are supposed to be a core part of our being. Even Moses called the people to this: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts” (Deuteronomy 6:6).
To Ponder…
- Do you believe that God is good? Do you have hope?
- What do you think of how Matthew’s use of Jeremiah 31:15? What does it look like to properly interpret the Bible?
- What does it look like for God’s instructions to be in your guts?
