Matthew quoted from Jeremiah 31 to speak to the current situation with Herod. Jeremiah 31 is actually a chapter of great hope and looks ahead to the ultimate future salvation of Israel. This full salvation and restoration, however, will take place within the context of the intensity of exile. Jeremiah 31:1-14 presents the hope for the future of Israel and previous chapters have pointed to the hope of the Messiah (Jeremiah 23:5).
Jeremiah 31:15—“Thus says the Lord,
‘A voice is heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
She refuses to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.’”
Weeping and crying is emblematic of the suffering of exile. Weeping transcends Jeremiah’s present historical situation and characterizes the whole period of Israel’s exile. Since Israel is still in exile into the time of Jesus, the weeping of mothers in horror and despair is the expected norm of that era.
What happened next in Jeremiah?
Jeremiah 31:16—“Thus says the LORD,
‘Restrain your voice from weeping
And your eyes from tears;
For your work will be rewarded,’ declares the LORD,
‘And they will return from the land of the enemy.”
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