Jer 2:23-25 | NET2full | STEP | “ How can you say , ‘I have not made myself unclean . I have not paid allegiance to the gods called Baal .’ Just look at the way you have behaved in the Valley of Hinnom! Think about the things you have done there! You are like a flighty , young female camel that rushes here and there, crisscrossing its path .

Jeremiah 2:23-25

23 “How can you say, ‘I have not made myself unclean.
I have not paid allegiance to ^{▼▼tn Heb “I have not gone/followed after.” See the translator’s note on 2:5 for the meaning and usage of this idiom.} the gods called Baal.’
Just look at the way you have behaved in the Valley of Hinnom! ^{▼▼tn Heb “Look at your way in the valley.” The valley is an obvious reference to the Valley of Hinnom where Baal and Molech were worshiped and child sacrifice was practiced.}
Think about the things you have done there!
You are like a flighty, young female camel
that rushes here and there, crisscrossing its path. ^{▼▼sn The metaphor is intended to depict Israel’s lack of clear direction and purpose without the Lord’s control.}
24 You are like a wild female donkey brought up in the wilderness.
In her lust she sniffs the wind to get the scent of a male. ^{▼▼tn The words “to get the scent of a male” are implicit and are supplied in the translation for clarification.}
No one can hold her back when she is in heat.
None of the males need wear themselves out chasing after her.
At mating time she is easy to find. ^{▼▼sn The metaphor is intended to depict Israel’s irrepressible desire to worship other gods.}
25 Do not chase after other gods until your shoes wear out
and your throats become dry. ^{▼▼tn Heb “Refrain your feet from being bare and your throat from being dry/thirsty.”}
But you say, ‘It is useless for you to try and stop me
because I love those foreign gods ^{▼▼tn Heb “It is useless! No!” For this idiom, see Jer 18:12; NEB “No; I am desperate.”} and want to pursue them!’