“And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?”
My Notes
What Does Jeremiah 2:18 Mean?
God asks Israel why they're pursuing two failed alliances: "What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?" Two directions — Egypt (south) and Assyria (north-east) — and two rivers — Sihor (a branch of the Nile) and the Euphrates. Israel is running in both directions simultaneously, seeking sustenance from waters that belong to foreign powers.
The "waters" metaphor describes what Israel is seeking: the Nile (Egypt's life-source) and the Euphrates (Assyria/Babylon's life-source). Israel is drinking from foreign rivers when they have the fountain of living waters (verse 13). The drinking from foreign sources represents economic, military, and spiritual dependence on nations God hasn't authorized.
The double question — "what hast thou to do?" — challenges the rationale: what business do you have going to Egypt? What reason do you have drinking from the Euphrates? The implied answer: none. You have no business there. The living water is here. The foreign rivers are not your source.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What 'Nile' or 'Euphrates' (unauthorized source of sustenance) are you currently drinking from?
- 2.How does running in two directions simultaneously (Egypt AND Assyria) describe desperate, unfocused seeking?
- 3.What does the fountain of living waters (verse 13) offer that the foreign rivers don't?
- 4.What business do you have on the road to someone else's river when God's fountain is available?
Devotional
What are you doing on the road to Egypt? What are you doing drinking from the Euphrates? God asks Israel two questions that expose the absurdity of seeking sustenance from foreign sources when the fountain of living water is right here.
The two directions — Egypt (south) and Assyria (northeast) — mean Israel is running both ways simultaneously. Not choosing one alliance but pursuing two incompatible ones. The same nation that's courting Egypt for military help is courting Assyria for political security. The two-directional pursuit reveals a nation so desperate for something it's running in every direction at once.
The waters — Sihor (the Nile) and the Euphrates — represent what each empire offers: the sustenance that flows from their power. Drinking from the Nile means depending on Egyptian provision. Drinking from the Euphrates means depending on Assyrian/Babylonian provision. Both rivers sustain massive civilizations. Both rivers are the wrong water for Israel to drink.
The implied contrast (made explicit in verse 13) is devastating: 'they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.' Israel has the fountain — the living, flowing, self-renewing water that comes from God. And they've abandoned it to drink from foreign rivers that belong to foreign powers. The living water is rejected for the river water. The fountain is forsaken for the Nile.
The application transcends ancient geopolitics: where are you 'drinking' — seeking sustenance, security, provision — from sources God didn't authorize? The career-Nile? The relationship-Euphrates? The ideology-river? Whatever foreign water you're drinking, God's question is: what are you doing there? You have a fountain. Why are you drinking from someone else's river?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Thine own wickedness shall correct thee,.... That is, either their wickedness in going to Egypt and Assyria, and the ill…
Sihor - The Nile. To lean upon Egypt was a violation of the principles of theocracy. The two rivers are the two empires,…
The prophet, further to evince the folly of their forsaking God, shows them what mischiefs they had already brought upon…
what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt The thought is the same as that expressed in Isa 30:1-3. Ever since the time…
Cross References
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