Bible Study Guide/ Jeremiah 20, (24-BSG-20J)/ Questions And Answers.

[1] What do you know about Pashhur, the son of Immer?— (1-2) He was the priest, who was [also] chief officer in the house of the LORD.

[2] What did Pashhur do to Jeremiah? (2) He seized Jeremiah and had him beaten, or flogged with 40 lashes (cf. Deut. 25:2–3). He “put him in the stocks that were at the upper Benjamin Gate by the house of the Lord.”

[3] What were the stocks? — “an instrument of torture with five holes, in which the neck, two hands, and two feet were thrust, the body being kept in a crooked posture (Je 29:26). From a Hebrew root, to “turn,” or “rack.” This marks Pashur’s cruelty.” [Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1:526].

NOTE: Pashhur “maintained order within the sacred precincts. Ironically, Pashhur chooses to maintain order by persecuting the Lord’s prophet rather than deal with the practices defiling the temple (identified by Jeremiah in ch. 7). The opposition endured by all the OT prophets foreshadows the opposition faced by Jesus as the final prophet (Luke 11:49–51).” –[NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible/ Jer. 20:1]

[4] Why would a priest punish someone? (1–2) Priests were at the center of the opposition to Jeremiah (Jer. 11:21) partly because they were one of the targets of his sharpest criticism (Jer. 1:18). They were part of the central power structures in Jerusalem that Jeremiah declared was about to come to an end (Jer. 18:18).

[5] What happened the next day? (3) “The prophet was freed from the torture of the stocks after one night, but this does not mean that he was released from imprisonment at this time. It is evident that Jeremiah spent much time in prison while writing out his messages for King Jehoiakim” (see PK 433; see Jer. 36:5).—(SDA BC 4:431).

[6] What does the word “Magor-missabib” mean? (3) Literally, “terror on every side.” “The same Hebrew words are translated “fear on every side” (Ps. 31:13; Jer. 6:25; 20:10). It is possible that the prophet found comfort in Ps. 31, and that, because of his trust in God as his Deliverer, he applied the words “fear on every side” to his persecutor rather than to himself as did the psalmist (see Ps. 31:9–16).” —(SDA BC 4:431).

[7] When Jeremiah was released from his chains the next day, he refused to change his messages of warning. In fact, he doubled down on the intensity of the looming judgment upon the nation and his persecutors. What did Jeremiah prophesy regarding Pashur? (3-6)

By assigning a new name to Pashhur – “Magor-Missabib,” he was stressing that Pashhur, his family and friends would be surrounded by terror. He proclaimed that the enemy (the Babylonians) would conquer and exile them; Also, He proclaimed that God would allow the enemy to plunder all the wealth of the nation: “all the riches of this city, all the result of its labor, all its precious things; even all the treasures of the kings of Judah!” (v. 5).

[8] Why did Jeremiah accuse God of deception? (7) At first, he thought that God had abandoned him. “The complaints were probably a reaction to the prophet’s distressful night in the stocks (see vs. 2, 3). In his depressed state Jeremiah seems to have considered his work a failure, a failure made more bitter by a haunting fear that God would not fulfill His promises (see Jer. 1:8–10; cf. Jer. 15:10, 17; Jonah 4:1–4).” — (SDA BC 4:431).

[9] What happened when Jeremiah said he would not make mention of the LORD or speak any more in His name? (9) His heart became a burning fire, Shut up in his bones.

NOTE: ”If your goals are truly from the Lord, you will have a feeling deep within that you must accomplish them in order to obey the Lord and to bring benefit to others. You won’t be able to do otherwise.” (NKJV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes/ Life Lessons: Jer. 20:9)

[10] Jeremiah’s friends — all his familiar and trusted friends — started whispering, “Terror on every side.” Why were they whispering such and uttering those defaming words? (10)

“This was the name Jeremiah had given to Pashhur (v. 3). Perhaps some who had heard Jeremiah use it were now mimicking him by using it as a nickname for Jeremiah. The prophet’s message of judgment was so unpopular that the crowds delighted in hounding him. Another view is that Jeremiah described the whispering as the terror he heard wherever he went (on every side).” –[NIV Quest Study Bible/ Jer. 20:20].