Jeremiah 21:7

7 And after that, says the Lord, I will give up Zedekiah, king of Judah, and his servants and his people, even those in the town who have not come to their end from the disease and the sword and from need of food, into the hands of Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, and into the hands of their haters, and into the hands of those desiring their death: he will put them to the sword; he will not let anyone get away, he will have no pity or mercy.

Jeremiah 21:7 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 21:7

And afterwards, saith the Lord God
After there should be so great a mortality among men and beasts: I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants;
the king himself shall not escape; though he shall not die by the pestilence, or famine, or sword, yet he shall fall into the hands of the Chaldeans, and also "his servants", his courtiers, and counsellors: and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence,
from the sword, and from the famine;
such of the inhabitants of the city, as well as those at court, that died not by the sword, famine, and pestilence: these should be delivered into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon;
who was now with his army without the walls of the city besieging it: and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that
seek their life;
the Chaldeans, who were their implacable enemies, and cruel, and whom nothing would satisfy but their lives: he shall smite them with the edge of the sword;
that is, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, or, however, the army under his command; for what was done by the one is ascribed to the other: this is to be understood of such that fell into their hands upon taking the city, and who endeavoured to make their escape; see ( Jeremiah 39:4-6 ) ; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy;
they had no regard to rank or figure, to age or sex; the sons of the king were slain before his eyes, and then his eyes were put out; princes were hanged up by the hand; and no compassion shown to old or young, man or maiden; see ( Jeremiah 52:10 Jeremiah 52:11 ) ( Lamentations 5:12 Lamentations 5:13 ) ( 2 Chronicles 36:17 ) . This verse is remarkably long.

Jeremiah 21:7 In-Context

5 And I myself will be fighting against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even with angry feeling and passion and in great wrath.

6 And I will send a great disease on the people living in this town, on man and on beast, causing their death.

7 And after that, says the Lord, I will give up Zedekiah, king of Judah, and his servants and his people, even those in the town who have not come to their end from the disease and the sword and from need of food, into the hands of Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, and into the hands of their haters, and into the hands of those desiring their death: he will put them to the sword; he will not let anyone get away, he will have no pity or mercy.

8 And to this people you are to say, The Lord has said, See, I put before you the way of life and the way of death.

9 He who keeps in this town will come to his death by the sword and through need of food and through disease; but he who goes out and gives himself up to the Chaldaeans who are shutting you in, will go on living, and will keep his life safe.