Jeremiah 6:16

Yahweh commanded the Judahites to compare the paths in which they could walk. Then they should ask their leaders to direct them in the good old paths, the teachings of the Mosaic Covenant, or perhaps the ways of the patriarchs. [Note: Keil, 1:142, took the old paths to refer to the ways in which Israel’s godly ancestors had walked, "the patriarchs’ manner of thinking and acting."] Then they should walk in those ways and so experience rest (cf. Isaiah 28:12; Matthew 11:28-29). But the people refused to follow those old paths. Probably they confused the ancient ways with obsolete ways, as many in our day do.

"The importance of the covenant for Jeremiah cannot be overrated. For him the covenant was fundamental to Israel’s very life, involving as it did the acknowledgment of Yahweh as Israel’s only sovereign Lord, and the glad acceptance of the covenant obligations. When Israel took this way she followed the ancient paths, the good way, and found rest. It was a theme to which Jeremiah returned again and again (Jeremiah 7:22-23; Jeremiah 11:1-13; etc.)." [Note: Thompson, p. 261.]