Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 11

The prophecy contained in Jeremiah 11–12 seems to belong to an early period of Jeremiah’s life. The covenant (Jeremiah 11:2) was that renewed by Josiah in his 18th year, after the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple (2 Kings 23:3); while Jeremiah 11:13 apparently refers to the public establishment of idolatry by Manasseh (Jeremiah 21:3).

The people took no hearty part in Josiah’s reformation, and the prophet therefore sets before them the consequences that will inevitably follow upon their disloyalty to their covenant-God. The prophecy was probably called forth by the conspiracy of the men of Judah and of his own relatives of Anathoth to murder Jeremiah (Jeremiah 11:18–23; Jeremiah 12:1–6), for such deeds, which all too well represented the nation’s whole course, punishment must come, if they did not repent.

The words of this covenant - The phrase used (2 Kings 23:3) to describe the contents of the Book of the Law.

From the iron furnace - Rather, out of the iron furnace, Egypt . The constant reference to Deuteronomy shows how great had been the effect upon Jeremiah’s mind of the public recitation of the Book of the covenant found in the temple.

As it is this day – God had kept the terms of the covenant. Whether the promised land would permanently remain the property of the Jews would depend upon their observance of their part of the covenant.

So be it, O Lord – Or, “Amen, Yahweh.” The prophet was literally obeying the command given in (Deuteronomy 27:14–26), and the same word should be kept in both places.

Proclaim ... - Probably Jeremiah accompanied Josiah in his progress (2 Kings 23:15–20), and everywhere read to the people the words of the newly-found book.