How we cite our quotes: (Book:Verse)
Quote #7
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. Thus says the Lord: Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for there is a reward for your work, says the Lord: they shall come back from the land of the enemy; there is hope for your future, says the Lord: your children shall come back to their own country (NRSV 31:15-17).
Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border (KJV 31:15-17).
Rachel, the wife of Jacob, is weeping for her offspring: the people of Judah are mainly from the Tribe of Benjamin, and Benjamin was Rachel's son. There's a rabbinic tradition that Jacob buried Rachel on the roadside where she died so that the Jews would pass by her grave on their way to exile. They saw the mention of Rachel in the Book of Jeremiah as a confirmation of this idea. (Source)
Quote #8
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness." (NRSV 33:14-16)
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness (KJV 33:14-16).
When God sends the "Righteous Branch," it will be a great act of mercy, since the people have suffered from inadequate leadership for so long. The ancient Jewish concept of the Messiah is just what God is promising here: a righteous ruler who will unite the people and help them live in safety and peace as an independent nation. This is different from the Christian concept of a savior who redeems people from sin. Christian interpretations of this passage point out Jesus' descent from the line of David.
Quote #9
If you will only remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I am sorry for the disaster that I have brought upon you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, as you have been; do not be afraid of him, says the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to rescue you from his hand. I will grant you mercy, and he will have mercy on you and restore you to your native soil (NRSV 42:10-12).
If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the Lord: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land (KJV 42:10-12).
The people need to remain in exile for a while—it's a test that will ultimately be beneficial to them. If they can endure being aliens in a foreign land, they'll be worthy to inhabit their home country again, and will find God's mercy. Weird to hear God say that he's sorry for what he's done. This is a really intimate relationship he has with these people.