Yirmiyahu 13-14

Perek 13 opens with God's command to Yirmiyahu to perform a symbolic act (1-11). Many biblical prophets were instructed to perform physical tasks in order to visually convey God's messages to the nation (eg. Yirmiyahu 32: 1-15, Yechezkel 4, Hoshea 1). After completing the three stages of the action, God appears to Yirmiyahu and explains its significance . The perek continues with a description of the arrival of the "enemy from the north" who will reach as far as Israel's southern Negev region. Yirmiyahu urges the nation's leaders, who have betrayed their public positions and turned to idol worship, to be humbled by the severe punishment they will soon receive.

Perek 14 opens with a horrifying description of a drought that strikes the kingdom of Yehuda and describes the dire situation of both the humans and animals in the kingdom (1-6). The prophet describes the hopeless state of the nation in pasuk 18: "If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! And if I enter  into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! For both the prophet and the priest are gone about to a land and knew it not." The severe drought motivates the people to turn to God in prayer, to admit their sins, and beg for forgiveness (7-9, 19-22). Yirmiyahu attempts to defend the nation, however, the gates of heaven have already been closed.