Jeremiah 34

1 verbum quod factum est ad Hieremiam a Domino quando Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis et omnis exercitus eius universaque regna terrae quae erant sub potestate manus eius et omnes populi bellabant contra Hierusalem et contra omnes urbes eius dicens

2 haec dicit Dominus Deus Israhel vade et loquere ad Sedeciam regem Iuda et dices ad eum haec dicit Dominus ecce ego tradam civitatem hanc in manu regis Babylonis et succendet eam igni

3 et tu non effugies de manu eius sed conprehensione capieris et in manu eius traderis et oculi tui oculos regis Babylonis videbunt et os eius cum ore tuo loquetur et Babylonem introibis

4 attamen audi verbum Domini Sedecia rex Iuda haec dicit Dominus ad te non morieris in gladio

5 sed in pace morieris et secundum conbustiones patrum tuorum regum priorum qui fuerunt ante te sic conburent te et vae domine plangent te quia verbum ego locutus sum dicit Dominus

6 et locutus est Hieremias propheta ad Sedeciam regem Iuda universa verba haec in Hierusalem

7 et exercitus regis Babylonis pugnabat contra Hierusalem et contra omnes civitates Iuda quae reliquae erant contra Lachis et contra Azeca haec enim supererant de civitatibus Iuda urbes munitae

8 verbum quod factum est ad Hieremiam a Domino postquam percussit rex Sedecias foedus cum omni populo in Hierusalem praedicans

9 ut dimitteret unusquisque servum suum et unusquisque ancillam suam hebraeum et hebraeam liberos et nequaquam dominarentur eis id est in Iudaeo et fratre suo

10 audierunt ergo omnes principes et universus populus qui inierant pactum ut dimitteret unusquisque servum suum et unusquisque ancillam suam liberos et ultra non dominarentur in eis audierunt igitur et dimiserunt

11 et conversi sunt deinceps et retraxerunt servos et ancillas suas quos dimiserant liberos et subiugaverunt in famulos et in famulas

12 et factum est verbum Domini ad Hieremiam a Domino dicens

13 haec dicit Dominus Deus Israhel ego percussi foedus cum patribus vestris in die qua eduxi eos de terra Aegypti de domo servitutis dicens

14 cum conpleti fuerint septem anni dimittat unusquisque fratrem suum hebraeum qui venditus est ei et serviet tibi sex annis et dimittes eum a te liberum et non audierunt patres vestri me nec inclinaverunt aurem suam

15 et conversi estis vos hodie et fecistis quod rectum est in oculis meis ut praedicaretis libertatem unusquisque ad amicum suum et inistis pactum in conspectu meo in domo in qua invocatum est nomen meum super eam

16 et reversi estis et commaculastis nomen meum et reduxistis unusquisque servum suum et unusquisque ancillam suam quos dimiseratis ut essent liberi et suae potestatis et subiugastis eos ut sint vobis servi et ancillae

17 propterea haec dicit Dominus vos non audistis me ut praedicaretis libertatem unusquisque fratri suo et unusquisque amico suo ecce ego praedico libertatem ait Dominus ad gladium et pestem et famem et dabo vos in commotionem cunctis regnis terrae

18 et dabo viros qui praevaricantur foedus meum et non observaverunt verba foederis quibus adsensi sunt in conspectu meo vitulum quem ceciderunt in duas partes et transierunt inter divisiones eius

19 principes Iuda et principes Hierusalem eunuchi et sacerdotes et omnis populus terrae qui transierunt inter divisiones vituli

20 et dabo eos in manu inimicorum suorum et in manu quaerentium animam eorum et erit morticinum eorum in escam volucribus caeli et bestiis terrae

21 et Sedeciam regem Iuda et principes eius dabo in manu inimicorum suorum et in manu quaerentium animam eorum et in manu exercituum regis Babylonis qui recesserunt a vobis

22 ecce ego praecipio dicit Dominus et reducam eos in civitatem hanc et proeliabuntur adversum eam et capient eam et incendent igni et civitates Iuda dabo in solitudinem eo quod non sit habitator

Jeremiah 34 Commentary

Chapter 34

Zedekiah's death at Babylon foretold. (1-7) The Jews reproved for compelling their poor brethren to return to unlawful bondage. (8-22)

Verses 1-7 Zedekiah is told that the city shall be taken, and that he shall die a captive, but he shall die a natural death. It is better to live and die penitent in a prison, than to live and die impenitent in a palace.

Verses 8-22 A Jew should not be held in servitude above seven years. This law they and their fathers had broken. And when there was some hope that the siege was raised, they forced the servants they had released into their services again. Those who think to cheat God by dissembled repentance and partial reformation, put the greatest cheat upon their own souls. This shows that liberty to sin, is really only liberty to have the sorest judgments. It is just with God to disappoint expectations of mercy, when we disappoint the expectations of duty. And when reformation springs only from terror, it is seldom lasting. Solemn vows thus entered into, profane the ordinances of God; and the most forward to bind themselves by appeals to God, are commonly most ready to break them. Let us look to our hearts, that our repentance may be real, and take care that the law of God regulates our conduct.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 34

In this chapter is a prophecy of the taking and burning of Jerusalem; of the captivity of Zedekiah king of Judah; and of the destruction of the whole land, because of their breach of covenant to let servants go free. The time of this prophecy is observed, Jer 34:1,6,7; the taking and burning of the city, Jer 34:2; the carrying captive the king, who yet should not die a violent death, but in peace, and should have an honourable funeral, Jer 34:3-5; the covenant the king, princes, and people entered into, to let their servants go free, according to the law of God, which was at first observed, and afterwards retracted, Jer 34:8-11; which conduct is taken notice of and resented, Jer 34:13-16; and they are threatened with the sore judgments of God, sword, famine, pestilence, and captivity, the king, princes, priests, and people; and with the destruction, not on of Jerusalem, but of the rest of the cities of Judah, Jer 34:17-22.