In this closing section (Jeremiah 6:27–30) of the extended description of the Lord’s judgment on Judah in Jeremiah 4:5–6:30 we return to Jeremiah’s role as the Lord’s prophet. The Lord has appointed him as a tester of metals (bahon).1 The phrase I have made you
reminds the reader of Jeremiah 1:5: I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.
His role as metal tester is an extension of his role as prophet.2 He is a a tester of metal among my people
so that he may know and test their ways.
It is through his preaching as the Lord’s prophet that this testing will happen. How they respond to the Lord’s word will put them to the test. It is of course the Lord himself who is ultimately testing their ways
through his prophet.
27 Je t'avais établi en observation parmi mon peuple, Comme une forteresse, Pour que tu connaisses et sondes leur voie.