Sorry for taking so long to get back with you:Absolutely.
So...how about have a look:
Jeremiah 19:5 They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal--something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it ever enter My mind.
"nor did it enter my mind"
Now, a person having fully read through all the books of the Old Testament (a good way to get some context, right?) will be able to recall (especially if they really paid attention as they read) this one:
Deuteronomy 12:31 You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
Or in the English Standard Version
You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
Which is indeed earlier in time.... so.... It did definitely enter God's mind that it was possible for Israel to do the great evil of child sacrifice....
Definitely, as a absolute certainty.
There's some context, yes?
But....
He says: Jeremiah 19:5 They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal--something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it ever enter My mind.
So, what's the meaning you hear in Jer 19:5 then? -- regarding whether God foresaw this instance of this particular evil (burning children in fire, an 'abomination' labeled "even", marking it above most or all others) being done at that moment by Israel?
He did already commanded they not do it.
I take it then that Jer 19:5 implies exactly what it sounds like at first glance -- He did not anticipate they would do this particular great evil at this moment in time.
But, He definitely anticipated they might do this evil at some point in time -- unknown as to if and when -- and commanded them not to do it.
A point of view not just a speculative idea, but instead from reading scripture, and using context.
Jer. 19:5 is interesting put it first could be explained as a hyperbole, since he goes on to say: 8 I will devastate this city and make it an object of horror and scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff because of all its wounds. 9 I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh because their enemies will press the siege so hard against them to destroy them.
Second: When did “nor did it ever enter My mind”, this “horror” first enters the mind of God at some point, since the Jews worked up to this abomination over time?
There is a “before time began” period where individuals were not considered yet, but a general plan was in God’s mind and in that general plan this horror of God’s chosen people, may not have been considered as a real option.
Once human time begins God can know as pure history all human future historic events.
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