Yirmeyah 27:12

12 I spoke also to Tzidkiyah Melech Yehudah according to all these Devarim, saying, Bring your tzavarot (necks) under the yoke of Melech Bavel, and serve Him and his people, and live.

Yirmeyah 27:12 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 27:12

I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah
At the same time that he delivered the above message from the Lord to the ambassadors of several nations, who were then residents in Zedekiah's court, or however in Jerusalem: according to all these words;
the same things, and much in the same language, he said to the king of Judah, as to the messengers of the nations: saying;
as follows: bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon;
you, O king, your nobles, and your people. Zedekiah was set upon the throne by the king of Babylon, was a tributary to him, and had took an oath to be faithful to him; and yet was now meditating rebellion against him; and was consulting and entering into a confederacy with the neighbouring nations to throw off the yoke, and be independent on him: wherefore the sense of this advice must be to bring themselves, he and his people, to a cheerful submission to it, and a patient bearing it, and not attempt to shake it off: and serve him and his people, and live:
the king of Babylon, and the Chaldeans, by faithfully paying the tribute, and acknowledging subjection to him; and so "live" in their own land, enjoying all other civil and religious privileges.

Yirmeyah 27:12 In-Context

10 For they prophesy sheker unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.
11 But the Goyim that bring their tzavar (neck) under the yoke of the Melech Bavel, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own adamah, saith Hashem; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.
12 I spoke also to Tzidkiyah Melech Yehudah according to all these Devarim, saying, Bring your tzavarot (necks) under the yoke of Melech Bavel, and serve Him and his people, and live.
13 Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the cherev, by the ra’av (famine), and by the dever, as Hashem hath spoken against the goy (nation) that will not serve Melech Bavel?
14 Therefore do not pay heed unto the devarim of the nevi’im that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve Melech Bavel; for they prophesy sheker unto you.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.