Jeremiah 37:10

10 ¹For even if you should defeat the whole army of Chaldeans who are fighting against you, and there remained of them only wounded men, every man in his tent, they would rise up and ²burn this city with fire.'"

Jeremiah 37:10 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 37:10

For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that
fight against you
Supposing the whole army of the Chaldeans had been vanquished and slain by the Egyptians, the confederates of the Jews; or should they be slain by them in a second siege of them, excepting a few next mentioned: and there remained [but] wounded men among them;
and supposing that those of them that were left, that were not slain, were everyone of them wounded men, and so disabled for fighting, as might be thought: [yet] should they rise up every man in his tent;
where he was smitten, and lay wounded; or where he was carried to be cured of his wounds; such should rise up like persons from the dead almost, and fight with such strength and spirit, that they should soon take the city, though in such a condition: and burn this city with fire;
this being a thing determined by the Lord, and nothing should hinder it; for it matters not what the instruments are; though ever so impotent and disabled, they shall do the work allotted to them. Wherefore all the hopes of the Jews, founded upon the departure of the Chaldean army, were vain ones.

Jeremiah 37:10 In-Context

8 And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city. They shall capture it and burn it with fire.

9 Thus says the LORD, Do not deceive yourselves, saying, "The Chaldeans will surely go away from us," for they will not go away.

10 For even if you should defeat the whole army of Chaldeans who are fighting against you, and there remained of them only wounded men, every man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire.'"

11 Now when the Chaldean army had withdrawn from Jerusalem at the approach of Pharaoh's army,

12 Jeremiah set out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to receive his portion there among the people.

Cross References

• 1. [Jeremiah 21:4]
• 2. [See ver. 8 above]