The Cup of God’s Wrath: The next oracle centers on the theme of the cup of God’s wrath (see also 49:12; 51:7). Clearly, vv. 15–29 treat this theme explicitly, but there are reasons to connect the remainder of the chapter with this oracle as well.

God commands the prophet to take a cup that represents his wrath to all the people who will receive his punishment (vv. 15–16). Jeremiah obeys and then names the nations to whom he goes. As we follow the list, we see that it includes all the nations of the ancient Near East, beginning with Judah and ending with a reference to Babylon (Sheshach), which will at least initially be the one who will carry out the judgment against the other nations. No one escapes God’s judgment (vv. 17–26). Verses 27–29 record God’s demand that the nations drink the cup…