Personal, National and International Vengeance Motif in Jeremiah

Abstract

Vengeance appears numerous times in the Book of Jeremiah, in various contexts. The aim of this article is to understand the reasons for the vengeance motif in the Book of Jeremiah, in relation to the historical and social circumstances in which it was created. A survey of the vengeance motif in the book shows a distinct literary structure of vengeance in the Book of Jeremiah, from personal vengeance, through national vengeance, to international vengeance. The Shaping of this structure is rooted in the psychological and sociological reality of the redactors of the Book of Jeremiah, as a response to the theological and social turmoil caused by the destruction and exile of Judah. The rage and spiritual crisis that followed the harsh events are manifested in the "vengeance scenes" throughout the book. These scenes serve as a way of coping with the disaster and its repercussions.