--- title: "Clarke" description: "Verse Jeremiah 21:1. The word which came unto Jeremiah — The chapters in the remaining parts of this prophecy seem strangely interchanged. This subject ha" image: "/images/missing.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/jeremiah/21" --- Verse [Jeremiah 21:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/1). ***The word which came unto Jeremiah*** — The chapters in the remaining parts of this prophecy seem strangely *interchanged*. This subject has been mentioned in the *introduction*, and some *tables* given; and to these the critical reader is requested to refer. The discourse here was delivered about the *ninth* year or the reign of Zedekiah. This chapter, observes Dr. *Blayney*, contains the first of those prophecies which were delivered by Jeremiah, *subsequent* to the revolt of Zedekiah, and the breaking out of the war thereupon; and which are continued on to the *taking of Jerusalem*, related in [Jeremiah 39:1-2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/1-2), in the following order: - [Jeremiah 21](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21), [Jeremiah 34](../../../kjv/jeremiah/34), [Jeremiah 37](../../../kjv/jeremiah/37), [Jeremiah 32](../../../kjv/jeremiah/32), [Jeremiah 33](../../../kjv/jeremiah/33), [Jeremiah 38](../../../kjv/jeremiah/38), [Jeremiah 39](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39). ***Pashur the son of Melchiah*** — There can be little doubt that this Pashur was a different person from him who was called the son of *Immur* in the preceding chapter. Verse [Jeremiah 21:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/2). ***Inquire, I pray thee*** — See whether God intends to deliver us *into* or *out of* the hand of the Chaldeans. Verse [Jeremiah 21:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/4). ***I will turn back the weapons*** — Every attempt you make to repel the Chaldeans shall be unsuccessful. ***I will assemble them into the midst of this city.*** — I will deliver the city into their hands. Verse [Jeremiah 21:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/6). ***They shall die of a great pestilence.*** — The *sword* may appear to be that of *man*, though I have given the Chaldeans their commission; but the *pestilence* shall appear to be the immediate act of GOD. Verse [Jeremiah 21:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/7). ***Nebuchadrezzar*** — This name is spelt as above in *twenty-six* places of this book; and in *ten* places it is spelt *Nebuchadnezzar*, which is the common orthography. The difference is only a ר *resh* for a נ *nun*; but the MSS. are various on this point. It is the same person who is intended by both names; and here all the *Versions*, except the *Arabic*, which omits the name, have it in the usual form. Verse [Jeremiah 21:8](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/8). ***Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way**********of death.*** — Meaning *escape* or *destruction* in the *present* instance. This is explained in the next verse. Verse [Jeremiah 21:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/10). ***He shall burn it with fire.*** — What a heavy message to all; and especially to them who had any fear of God, or reverence for the temple and its sacred services! Verse [Jeremiah 21:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/12). ***Execute judgment in the morning*** — Probably the time for dispensing judgment was *the morning*, when the people were going to their work; but the words may mean, Do justice *promptly*, do not *delay*. Let justice be administered *as soon* as required. Verse [Jeremiah 21:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/13). ***O inhabitant of the valley*****, and*****rock of the plain*** — Dr. *Blayney* translates: "O thou inhabitant of the levelled hollow of a rock." With all his explanation I cannot see the good sense of this translation. Jerusalem itself, though partly on *two hills*, was also extended in the valley; and *Zion*, the *city of David*, was properly *a rock*, strongly fortified both by nature and art; and by its ancient possessors, the *Jebusites*, was deemed impregnable. ***Who shall come down against us?*** — Probably the words of those *courtiers* who had persuaded Zedekiah to rebel against the king of Babylon. Verse [Jeremiah 21:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/14). ***I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof*** — I will send destruction into its *centre*, that shall spread to every part of the *circumference*, and so consume the whole. The beginning of the *thirty-fourth* chapter should follow here. See the arrangement on [Jeremiah 21:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/1). ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/jeremiah/21#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Clarke's Commentary - Jeremiah 21"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/jeremiah/21#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/jeremiah/21","name":"Clarke's Commentary - Jeremiah 21","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/jeremiah/21#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Verse Jeremiah 21:1. 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