Jeremiah 21:1

1 The word which was made of the Lord to Jeremy (The word of the Lord which was made to Jeremiah), when king Zedekiah sent to him Pashur, the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah, the priest, the son of Maaseiah, and (they) said,

Jeremiah 21:1 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 21:1

The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord
This prophecy stands out of its proper place, being made in the times of Zedekiah, and when Jerusalem was besieged by the king of Babylon; whereas, after this, there are prophecies which were delivered in the times of Jehoiakim and Jeconiah, who both reigned before Zedekiah; see ( Jeremiah 22:11 Jeremiah 22:18 Jeremiah 22:24 ) ( 25:1 ) when King Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah;
this was another Pashur from him that is spoken of in the preceding chapter, and is called "Magormissabib"; he was the son of Immer; this of Melchiah; he was of the sixteenth course of the priesthood; this of the "fifth": and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest;
who was of the "twenty fourth" course; see ( 1 Chronicles 24:9 1 Chronicles 24:14 1 Chronicles 24:18 ) ; in ( Jeremiah 52:24 ) , he is called the "second priest"; he was "sagan", or deputy to the high priest: they were both priests; wherefore the Syriac version renders it in the plural number, "priests". It may be observed, that the foregoing chapter is concluded with the prophet's cursing the day of his birth; and the last clause of it expresses the "shame" he imagined his days would be consumed in; and the next account we have is of an honour done him by the king, in sending two priests to him, with a message from him; whereby he tacitly owned him to be a true prophet of the Lord; as indeed he must now be convinced by facts that he was. Princes and people, who slight the ministers of God in time of prosperity, send to them, and are desirous of their assistance in times of distress: saying;
as follows:

Jeremiah 21:1 In-Context

1 The word which was made of the Lord to Jeremy (The word of the Lord which was made to Jeremiah), when king Zedekiah sent to him Pashur, the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah, the priest, the son of Maaseiah, and (they) said,

2 Ask thou the Lord for us, for Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, fighteth against us; if in hap the Lord do with us by all his marvels, and he go away from us (if perhaps the Lord shall do one of his marvels, or one of his miracles, for us, and he shall go away from us).

3 And Jeremy said to them, Thus ye shall say to Zedekiah,

4 The Lord God of Israel saith these things, Lo! I shall turn (back upon you) the instruments of battle that be in your hands, and with which ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against Chaldees, that besiege you in the compass of [the] walls (and against the Chaldeans, who besiege you all around the walls); and I shall gather those together in the midst of this city.

5 And I shall overcome you in [a] hand stretched forth, and in [a] strong arm (And I shall overcome you with a hand stretched forth, and with a strong arm), and in strong vengeance, and in indignation, and in great wrath;