Jeremiah 2:36

“Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? etc.] Or, “by changing thy way”f67; sometimes going one way, and sometimes another; sometimes to Egypt, and then to Assyria; seeking sometimes to the one for help, and sometimes to the other; at one time serving the gods of the one, in order to curry favour with them, and then the gods of the other, like a lascivious woman that gads about from place to place to increase her lovers, and satisfy her lust. The Vulgate Latin version is, “how exceeding vile art thou become, changing thy ways”; and so Jarchi says, the word ylzt signifies “contempt”, or “vileness”: deriving it from lwz, or llz, to be “vile” or “contemptible”; and to this sense are…”

“gaddest--runnest to and fro, now seeking help from Assyria (Ch2 28:16-21), now from Egypt (Jer 37:7-8; Isa 30:3).”

“To change thy way - The rival parties at Jerusalem looked one to Assyria, the other to Egypt, for safety. As one or other for the time prevailed, the nation “changed its way,” sending its embassies now eastward to Nineveh, now westward to Memphis. Thou also ... - literally, also of Egypt “shalt thou be ashamed.” This was literally fulfilled by the failure of the attempt to raise the siege of Jerusalem Jeremiah 37:5. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Why - Why dost thou seek auxiliaries anywhere, rather than cleave to me? Ashamed - Egypt shall stand thee in no more stead than Assyria hath done. Jeremiah 2:37”

“2:36 Judah, in its unfaithfulness to the Lord, chose unreliable and unfaithful allies. The leaders sought political help from neighbors such as Egypt—as false a friend as Assyria had been a century before.”

“gaddest: Jer 2:18, Jer 2:23, Jer 2:33, Jer 31:22; Hos 5:13, Hos 7:11, Hos 12:1 thou also shalt: Jer 37:7; Isa 20:5, Isa 30:1-7, Isa 31:1-3; Lam 4:17, Lam 5:6; Eze 29:7 as thou wast: Ch2 28:16, Ch2 28:20, Ch2 28:21; Hos 5:13, Hos 10:6, Hos 14:3 Jeremiah 2:37”

“Yet in spite of its proud security Judah seeks to assure itself against hostile attacks by the eager negotiation of alliances. This thought is the link between Jer 2:35 and the reproach of Jer 2:36. Why runnest thou to change thy way? תּזלּי for תּאזלי, from אזל, go, with מאד, go impetuously or with strength, i.e., go in haste, run; cf. Sa1 20:19. To change, shift (שׁנּות) one's way, is to take another way than that on which one has hitherto gone. The prophet's meaning is clear from the second half of the verse: "for Egypt, too, wilt thou come to shame, as for Assyria thou hast come to shame." Changing they way, is ceasing to seek help from Assyria in order to form close relations with…”