Some commentators take this rhetorical question as the words of the adversaries as they question the legitimacy of Jeremiah’s ministry. It seems better however to assume that Jeremiah is asking the question.1 The people have repaid
his good
work of speaking the Lord’s word with evil.
They do evil, says Jeremiah by digging a pit for my life.
This is a common metaphor for plotting to do harm to someone; like a hunter setting a trap for his prey.2 Jeremiah is expressing his frustration to the Lord. Why should his good work of faithfully speaking the Lord’s word be met with evil?
18 Et ils ont dit: Venez, complotons contre Jérémie! Car la loi ne périra pas faute de sacrificateurs, Ni le conseil faute de sages, ni la parole faute de prophètes. Venez, tuons-le avec la langue; Ne prenons pas garde à tous ses discours!