- Since the children of Judah are going to die from deadly diseases, war, and famine, God tells Jeremiah to be celibate and to never get married or have kids.
- He also prohibits Jeremiah from visiting people to mourn or celebrate with them..
- All happiness and merry-making and wedding celebrations are cancelled.
- When the people ask Jeremiah why all this is happening, he's to say that it's because they followed the evil practices of their ancestors.
- But wait. There's a light at the end of the tunnel: God says that eventually people will praise him not only for bringing them out of Egypt but also out of the kingdom in the north (Babylon).
- The invaders God's sending now are like hunters and fishermen trying to kill and catch the people of Judah. He'll punish them for their love of idolatry.
- The nations of the earth will eventually all gather to worship God. But first he's gonna teach everyone a lesson.