Jeremiah 21:2-12

2 Please inquire of the LORD for us; for Nevukhadretztzar king of Bavel makes war against us: peradventure the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.

3 Then said Yirmeyahu to them, Thus shall you tell Tzidkiyahu:

4 Thus says the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Bavel, and against the Kasdim who besiege you, without the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city.

5 I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation.

6 I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and animal: they shall die of a great pestilence.

7 Afterward, says the LORD, I will deliver Tzidkiyahu king of Yehudah, and his servants, and the people, even such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nevukhadretztzar king of Bavel, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life: and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

8 To this people you shall say, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

9 He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out, and passes over to the Kasdim who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be to him for a prey.

10 For I have set my face on this city for evil, and not for good, says the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Bavel, and he shall burn it with fire.

11 Touching the house of the king of Yehudah, hear you the word of the LORD:

12 House of David, thus says the LORD, Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Jeremiah 21:2-12 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.