Jeremiah 21:1-10

God Rejects Zedekiah’s Request

1 The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said:
2 “Inquire now of the LORD for us because Nebuchadnezzar[a] king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the LORD will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”
3 But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah,
4 ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians[b] who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city.
5 I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath.
6 I will strike down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.
7 After that, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’
8 “Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
9 Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.
10 I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the LORD. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’

Cross References 28

  • 1. 2 Kings 24:18; Jeremiah 52:1
  • 2. S 1 Chronicles 9:12; Jeremiah 38:1
  • 3. S 2 Kings 25:18; Jeremiah 29:25; Jeremiah 37:3
  • 4. S Genesis 25:22; S 2 Kings 22:18; Jeremiah 37:3,7
  • 5. S 2 Kings 25:1
  • 6. S Genesis 10:10
  • 7. Psalms 44:1-4; Jeremiah 32:17
  • 8. Jeremiah 32:5
  • 9. Jeremiah 37:8-10
  • 10. S Joshua 10:14; Ezekiel 5:8
  • 11. S 2 Kings 22:13; S Jeremiah 6:12
  • 12. S Exodus 3:20
  • 13. S Jeremiah 7:20
  • 14. S Jeremiah 14:12
  • 15. S 2 Kings 25:7; Jeremiah 52:9; Ezekiel 12:14
  • 16. Jeremiah 14:12; Jeremiah 27:8
  • 17. S 2 Chronicles 36:10; Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 32:4; Jeremiah 34:3; Jeremiah 37:17; Jeremiah 38:18; Jeremiah 39:5; Ezekiel 29:19
  • 18. S Leviticus 26:17; S Jeremiah 19:9
  • 19. S Jeremiah 11:21
  • 20. S Jeremiah 15:9
  • 21. S 2 Chronicles 36:17; S Jeremiah 15:5; Ezekiel 7:9; Habakkuk 1:6
  • 22. S Deuteronomy 30:15
  • 23. Jeremiah 14:12; Ezekiel 5:12
  • 24. Jeremiah 27:11; Jeremiah 40:9
  • 25. Jeremiah 27:12; Jeremiah 38:2,17; Jeremiah 39:18; Jeremiah 45:5
  • 26. Jeremiah 44:11,27; Amos 9:4
  • 27. S Jeremiah 20:4; Jeremiah 32:28; Jeremiah 38:2-3
  • 28. S 2 Kings 25:9; S 2 Chronicles 36:19; Jeremiah 52:13

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Hebrew "Nebuchadrezzar," of which "Nebuchadnezzar" is a variant; here and often in Jeremiah and Ezekiel
  • [b]. Or "Chaldeans" ; also in verse 9
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