1.
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
Jeremiah's Fourteenth Prophecy, Jeremiah 21:1-10 , and a new division of the book (see book comments for Jeremiah).
Note the reigns: Jeremiah 21 : Zedekiah (the last king of Judah). Jeremiah 21 : his three predecessors, Shallum (or Jehoahaz), Jehoiakim, and Coniah (or Jechoniah, or Jehoiachin). Jeremiah 25 , Jeremiah 26 , Jeremiah 27 , Jehoiakim. Jeremiah 28 , Zedekiah again, and the last days of Jerusalem. This order is logical, which is more important than chronological, for the severity of Jeremiah 21 is shown to be justified by the chapters which follow. Compare Jeremiah 25:3-5 , and see App-83 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
sent unto him. Contrast the mission of Hezekiah to Isaiah (2 Kings 19:2 .Isaiah 37:2; Isaiah 37:2 ).
Pashur. Not the Pashur of Jeremiah 20:1 . This prophecy is nineteen years later; the deportation in the reign of Jehoiachin had taken place, and a worse set of men were the rulers. This Pashur was a priest, if Melchiah is the same Melchiah as in 1 Chronicles 9:12 .
Zephaniah, &c. He is mentioned again (Jeremiah 29:25 ; Jeremiah 37:3 ; Jeremiah 52:24 ). The Hebrew accents read "Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah."
2.
Inquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
Nebuchadrezzar. First occurrence in Jeremiah.
go up from us: i.e. raise the siege.
3.
Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
Zedekiah. The last king of Judah.
4.
Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
the LORD God of Israel = Jehovah the Elohim of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 11:3 , and App-4 .
Behold. Figure of speech. Asterismos . App-6 .
5.
And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.
outstretched hand. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:6 )
strong = strong (for holding fast).
6.
And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
7.
And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
from. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and from", thus forming the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
he shall not spare. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:50 ).
8.
And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
I set before you, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 30:19 ).
life . . . death. Note the' Introversion in Jeremiah 21:9 , "die . . . live".
9.
He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.
he that goeth out, &c. Many acted on this promise (Jeremiah 39:9 ; Jeremiah 52:15 ).
falleth = shall fall.
he shall live. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "then (or so) shall he live".
be unto him for a prey: i.e. he shall save his life, but it will be dearly bought. Compare Jeremiah 38:2 ; Jeremiah 39:18 ; Jer 45:6 . The phrase occurs only in Jeremiah.
10.
For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
I have set, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 17:10 ). Compare Ezekiel 15:7 .
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
11.
And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
12.
O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
house of David. Occurs only here in Jeremiah.
in the morning = betimes.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
your. Some codices, with seven early printed editions, read "their".
13.
Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?
inhabitant = inhabitress: i.e. Zion.
rock of the plain. Figure of speech Periphrasis , for Zion.
14.
But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.
kindle a fire, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:22 ). App-92 .
the forest thereof = her forest. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the timber from Lebanon used in the buildings.
it shall devour. Fulfilled in Jeremiah 52:13 .