Jerusalem Will Fall to Nebuchadnezzar
Jer 21:1 The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said:
Jer 21:2 “Inquire now of the LORD for us because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the LORD will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”
Jer 21:3 But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah,
Jer 21:4 ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city.
Jer 21:5 I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath.
Jer 21:6 I will strike down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.
Jer 21:7 After that, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’
Jer 21:8 “Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
Jer 21:9 Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.
Jer 21:10 I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the LORD. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’
Message to the House of David
Jer 21:11 “Moreover, say to the royal house of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the LORD.
Jer 21:12 This is what the LORD says to you, house of David: “‘Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it.
Jer 21:13 I am against you, Jerusalem, you who live above this valley on the rocky plateau, declares the LORD— you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our refuge?”
Jer 21:14 I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forests that will consume everything around you.'”
1 Zedekiah sends to Jeremiah to enquire the event of Nebuchadrezzar’s war. 3 Jeremiah foretells an hard siege and miserable captivity. 8 He counsels the people to fall to the Chaldeans, 11 and upbraids the king’s house.
Jerusalem Will Fall to Nebuchadnezzar
Jer 21:1 The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said:
The word.
Chapter 21 is not in chronological sequence with the following chapters but belongs in the reign of Zedekiah. Very probably the events here described occurred at the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s final siege of Jerusalem, 588 b.c. Seeing Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian armies closing in upon Jerusalem, Zedekiah, in fear over the threatening outlook, sends two leaders to Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord.
Pashur. Not the one mentioned in ch. 20 (see on ch. 20:1).
Zephaniah. “The second priest” (Jer. 52:24; cf. 2 Kings 25:18), the one next to the high priest.
Jer 21:2 “Inquire now of the LORD for us because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the LORD will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”
Nebuchadrezzar. This spelling, which occurs frequently in Jeremiah, is closer to the Babylonian Nabû-kudurri-uṣur than is the common English form Nebuchadnezzar (see on Dan. 1:1).
Although the messengers came to make inquiry as to the course the king should take, they suggested, and so expected an answer favourable to Zedekiah.
They desired that the Lord would perform “his wondrous works” in delivering the city from its danger. In view of God’s miraculous destruction of the army of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19; Isa. 37), this action may have been one of assumed reverence, having as its purpose the luring of the prophet to join those resisting the Babylonians. Later there was another attempt to win over Jeremiah to the king’s side (Jer. 37:3).
Jer 21:4 ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city.
Jeremiah informs the king’s representatives that their efforts are in vain. God will not turn aside the punishment of His people. The Babylonians will come closer and closer, advancing irresistibly, until finally they come “into the midst of this city.”
Jer 21:5 I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath.
Many times, in their history Israel had faced superior armies with confidence, trusting that the Lord was with them. But now the “God of Israel” (v. 4) declares that He is on the side of the invading Chaldeans. Israel’s cause is hopeless.
Jer 21:7 After that, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’
The fearlessness of Jeremiah was strikingly demonstrated by these words regarding a king still on his throne, and one who was being strongly urged by his princes to defy Nebuchadnezzar’s power (see ch. 38:1–6).
He shall smite them. This was literally fulfilled (see ch. 52:8–11, 24–27).
Jer 21:8 “Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
I am setting before you.
Here Jeremiah speaks in the literal sense of either finding “the way of life” by surrendering to the Chaldeans or going “the way of death” by resisting them. Elsewhere similar words have been used to convey a higher spiritual meaning (see Deut. 11:26–28; 30:15, 19).
Jer 21:9 Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.
Jeremiah’s enemies could easily interpret this statement to mean that the prophet was advocating either treachery or desertion. Despite all the opposition to the prophet, there were many who heeded his words, and as a result saved their lives (see chs. 39:9; 52:15).
Jer 21:10 I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the LORD. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.
Although the capture of besieged cities often brought upon these destruction by fire, it is also true that many of them escaped this fate, according to the whim of the conqueror. The divine inspiration of Jeremiah’s prophecies is indicated by their accurate fulfillment (Jer. 52:12, 13; cf. 2 Kings 25:8, 9; 2 Chron. 36:19).
Jer 21:12 This is what the LORD says to you, house of David: “‘Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it.
A reference to the various ruling officials who belonged to the royal family. The judicial functions of the state seem to have been taken over largely by the members of the royal house.
Every morning.
Apparently one of the best ways for an Eastern ruler to hold the favor of his subjects was to arise in the early hours of the day and go to the city gate (see on Gen. 19:1) to hear the complaints and pleas of those who had been wronged. David’s apparent neglect of this wise procedure opened the way for Absalom’s rebellion (see 2 Sam. 15:2–6), whereas Solomon’s attention to the needs of the people contributed to the king’s fame as a wise man (see 1 Kings 3:16–28).
Jer 21:13 I am against you, Jerusalem, you who live above this valley on the rocky plateau, declares the LORD— you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our refuge?”
With a false sense of security, the leaders of Jerusalem thought of their city as impregnable. Jer 21:14 I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forests that will consume everything around you.'”