Jeremiah 22:19
He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
Original Language Analysis
וְהַשְׁלֵ֔ךְ
and cast forth
H7993
וְהַשְׁלֵ֔ךְ
and cast forth
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
5 of 8
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
מֵהָ֖לְאָה
beyond
H1973
מֵהָ֖לְאָה
beyond
Strong's:
H1973
Word #:
6 of 8
to the distance, i.e., far away; also (of time) thus far
Historical Context
Ancient kings obsessed over elaborate tombs—pyramids, mausoleums, rock-hewn sepulchers with grave goods and inscriptions ensuring remembrance. Jehoiakim's lavish palace construction (Jeremiah 22:14) suggests he also planned a magnificent tomb. Instead, Nebuchadnezzar's invasion (598 BC) brought ignominious death, his body possibly desecrated by conquering forces.
Questions for Reflection
- What monuments to yourself are you building that death will expose as vanity?
- How does this stark image challenge your assumptions about earthly legacy and honor?
- In what ways might you be living 'like a beast' while maintaining religious appearances?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
He shall be buried with the burial of an ass (קְבוּרַת חֲמוֹר, qevurat chamor)—no phrase could more graphically depict shame and desecration. Donkeys received no burial; their carcasses were simply drawn and cast forth beyond the gates, dragged (Hebrew סָחַב, sachav) like refuse to decompose outside the city walls. For a king who built palaces, this fate represented ultimate humiliation: he would become carrion, unburied and unmourned, his corpse defiling rather than being honored.
The prophecy's fulfillment remains historically debated—2 Kings 24:6 simply states he 'slept with his fathers,' but Josephus and other sources suggest his body was cast outside Jerusalem's walls during Babylon's siege. Whether literal or symbolic, the image conveys divine repudiation: those who live like beasts die like beasts. Jesus warned that what profits gaining the world while forfeiting one's soul (Matthew 16:26)?