“Before those days,
There were no wages
For people.
There were no wages
For animals.
There was no safety
From the foe
For those who went out
Or came in.
I set them all
Against one another.”
Yahweh, via Zechariah, explained their terrible situation. There were no wages for humans or animals, since they were not compensated for their work. No one was safe coming or going out of their homes. Yahweh had set them all against each other.
“At that time,
I will search Jerusalem
With lamps.
I will punish
The people
Who rest complacently
On their dregs.
I will punish
Those who say
In their hearts,
‘Yahweh will not do good.
Nor will he do harm.’
Their wealth
Shall be plundered.
Their houses laid waste.
Though they build houses,
They shall not inhabit them.
Though they plant vineyards,
They shall not drink wine
From them.”
On the day of Yahweh, Yahweh was going to search through Jerusalem with lamps. He would punish the complacent people, those who had drunk too much of the dregs of their wine casks. Yahweh was going to punish those who said that they didn’t care about Yahweh, because he had no effect on their lives, either for good or bad. Yahweh was going to take the wealth of these rich people by plundering their belongings and destroying their homes. If they were planning to build a house, they would never live in it. If they were planting vineyards, they would never enjoy the wine from those vines. Wealth would not save them from the Day of Yahweh.
“Another section,
Twenty-five thousand cubits long,
Ten thousand cubits wide,
Shall be
For the Levites
Who minister
At the temple,
As their possession,
For cities to live in.”
The other half of this large holy land space was for the Levites who were not Zadok priests. They would do the menial tasks around the Temple. Thus, they had the other half of the 25,000 by 10,000-cubit area. They would minister at the Temple, but they also had their homes in little cities in this sacred portion of the holy land.
“Thus says Yahweh.
‘For the sake of your lives,
Take care
That you do not bear a burden
On the Sabbath day!
Do not bring it in
By the gates of Jerusalem!
Do not carry a burden
Out of your houses
On the Sabbath!
Do not do any work!
But keep the Sabbath day holy!
As I commanded your ancestors,
Yet they did not listen.
They did not incline their ear.
They stiffened their necks.
They would not hear.
They would not receive instruction.”
Here Jeremiah has Yahweh insist on the observance of the Sabbath that had not been followed by their ancestors. This insistence on the Sabbath observance was a strong post-exilic theme, not a pre-exilic emphasis. They were not to bear any burden on the Sabbath. Certainly, they should not bring anything in through the gates of Jerusalem. They should not even carry a heavy burden from their homes. In fact, they should not do any work on the Sabbath at all, but rather keep it holy. Yahweh had given this same commandment to their ancestors, but they never listened since they did not like instructions.
“Curse the gossips!
Curse the double-tongued!
They destroy the peace of many.
Slander has shaken many.
Slander has scattered them
From nation to nation.
Slander has destroyed strong cities.
Slander has overturned
The houses of the great.
Slander has driven virtuous women
From their homes.
Slander has deprived them
Of the fruit of their toil.
Whoever pays heed to slander
Will not find rest.
They will not settle down in peace.”
The gossips, the whisperers, the double-tongued, and the slanders are all to be cursed because they destroy the peace of many people. In particular, Sirach singles out slander, the slurring of other people and their reputation. Slander has shaken and scattered many people in various countries. It has destroyed cities and different rulers. Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes. It has deprived people of the results of their work. If you listen to slander, you will not find rest. You will not settle in peace.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 