Matthew’s Quotation from Jeremiah
"THEN was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom the children of Israel did value, and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me." Matt. 27:9, 10. These words are not found in Jeremiah at all, but are quoted from Zech. 11:12, 13. The seeming discrepancy is explained by the following quotation from Dr. Clarke:—
"It was an ancient custom among the Jews, says Dr. Lightfoot, to divide the Old Testament into three parts. The first, beginning with the law, was called 'The Law;' the second, beginning with the Psalms, was called 'The Psalms;' the third, beginning with the prophet in question, was called 'Jeremiah.' Thus, then, the writings of Zechariah, and the other prophets, being included in that division that began with Jeremiah, all quotations from it would go under the name of this prophet. If this be admitted, it solves the difficulty at once. Dr. Lightfoot quotes Baba Bathra and Rabbi David Kimchis preface to the473prophet Jeremiah as his authorities, and insists that the word 'Jeremiah' is perfectly correct as standing at the head of that division from which the evangelist quoted, and which gave its denomination to all the rest."