Jeremiah 21:1-11

1 verbum quod factum est ad Hieremiam a Domino quando misit ad eum rex Sedecias Phassur filium Melchiae et Sophoniam filium Maasiae sacerdotem dicens

2 interroga pro nobis Dominum quia Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis proeliatur adversum nos si forte faciat Dominus nobiscum secundum omnia mirabilia sua et recedat a nobis

3 et dixit Hieremias ad eos sic dicetis Sedeciae

4 haec dicit Dominus Deus Israhel ecce ego convertam vasa belli quae in manibus vestris sunt et quibus vos pugnatis adversum regem Babylonis et Chaldeos qui obsident vos in circuitu murorum et congregabo ea in medio civitatis huius

5 et debellabo ego vos in manu extenta et brachio forti et in furore et in indignatione et in ira grandi

6 et percutiam habitatores civitatis huius homines et bestiae pestilentia magna morientur

7 et post haec ait Dominus dabo Sedeciam regem Iuda et servos eius et populum eius et qui derelicti sunt in civitate hac a peste et gladio et fame in manu Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis et in manu inimicorum eorum et in manu quaerentium animam eorum et percutiet eos in ore gladii et non movebitur neque parcet nec miserebitur

8 et ad populum hunc dices haec dicit Dominus ecce ego do coram vobis viam vitae et viam mortis

9 qui habitaverit in urbe hac morietur gladio et fame et peste qui autem egressus fuerit et transfugerit ad Chaldeos qui obsident vos vivet et erit ei anima sua quasi spolium

10 posui enim faciem meam super civitatem hanc in malum et non in bonum ait Dominus in manu regis Babylonis dabitur et exuret eam igni

11 et domui regis Iuda audite verbum Domini

Jeremiah 21:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 21

This chapter contains Jeremiah's answer to King Zedekiah's message to him; in which he assures him of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, and gives advice both to the people and the king. The names of the persons sent to him are mentioned, Jer 21:1; and the errand they were sent upon, to desire the prophet to pray to the Lord, that the king of Babylon might be obliged to depart from Jerusalem, Jer 21:2; the answer from the Lord by him is, that their opposition to the king of Babylon should be fruitless; that he should be so far from quitting the siege, that he should enter the city, Jer 21:3,4; yea, that the Lord himself would fight against them, and destroy men and beast with the pestilence; and that such who escaped the sword, famine, and pestilence, should fall into the hands of the king of Babylon, Jer 21:5-7; and then some advice is given to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to go out and give up themselves to the Chaldeans; which was the best way to save their lives, since the city would certainly fall into their hands, and be burnt by them, Jer 21:8-10; and as for the royal family, they are advised to do justice and deliver the oppressed; the not doing of which, it is suggested, was the cause of their ruin, Jer 21:11,12; and the chapter is closed with a denunciation of destruction upon the city, notwithstanding the vain trust and confidence of the inhabitants of it, Jer 21:13,14.