Jeremiah 21:1

Zedekiah's Request Denied

1 [This is] the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur^[a] son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah^[b] son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah, asking,

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 [This is] the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah, asking,

2 "Ask the Lord on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the Lord will perform for us something like all His [past] wonderful works so that [Nebuchadnezzar] will withdraw from us."

3 But Jeremiah answered, "This is what you are to say to Zedekiah:

4 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will repel the weapons of war in your hands, those you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall, and I will bring them into the center of this city.

5 I will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, rage, and great wrath.

Footnotes

• [a]. Jr 38:1; 1 Ch 9:12; Neh 11:12
• [b]. Jr 29:24-29; 37:3; 52:24-27