CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Jeremiah 21
Chapter 21 of 52
Chapter Overview
What happens in Jeremiah 21
King Zedekiah sends messengers to Jeremiah, hoping God will save Jerusalem from the Babylonian army. Instead, God says he himself will fight against Judah. The people are told to surrender to Babylon to save their lives.
Scripture
Jeremiah 21
Zedekiah's Request
Study note
As Nebuchadnezzar's army besieges Jerusalem, King Zedekiah sends Pashur and Zephaniah to ask Jeremiah to pray for deliverance. But God declares he will fight against Jerusalem with great anger. Zedekiah himself will be handed over to the king of Babylon.
1 The Lord gave this word to Jeremiah. King Zedekiah sent two men to him. They were Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said, The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
2 "Please ask the Lord about what is happening to us. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking us. Maybe the Lord will do an amazing miracle for us like before, and make Nebuchadnezzar pull back." Inquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
3 Jeremiah told them, "Go say this to Zedekiah:" Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
4 "The Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The weapons you are using to fight the king of Babylon and his army outside your walls — I am about to turn them against you. I will bring those enemy soldiers right inside this city.'" Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
5 "I myself will fight against you with my mighty hand and strong arm. I will burn with anger, fury, and great rage." And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.
6 "I will strike down everyone living in this city — people and animals alike. They will die from a horrible disease." And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
7 "After that," says the Lord, "I will hand over King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and whoever in the city lives through the disease, war, and hunger. I will give them all to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to the enemies who want them dead. He will cut them down with the sword. He will show no mercy, pity, or kindness at all." And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
The Way of Life and Death
Study note
God sets before the people two choices. Those who stay in the city will die by sword, famine, or disease. Those who surrender to the Babylonians will survive. God has decided to hand this city over to Babylon.
8 "Tell the people this too. The Lord says, 'I put two paths before you. One leads to life. One leads to death.'" And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
9 "Anyone who stays in this city will die from war, starvation, or disease. But anyone who goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians besieging you will survive. They will at least escape with their lives." He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.
10 "I have made up my mind to bring harm to this city, not good," says the Lord. "It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it to the ground." For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
Message to the Royal House
Study note
God sends a message to the royal house of Judah. They must practice justice and rescue the oppressed. If they refuse, God's anger will burn like fire that no one can put out.
11 "Deliver this message to the royal family of Judah: 'Listen to what the Lord says.'" And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
12 "Family of David, the Lord says: 'Make sure justice is done every morning. Rescue those who have been cheated and taken advantage of. Otherwise, my anger will explode like fire that nobody can put out, because of the evil things you've done.'" O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
13 "I am against you, Jerusalem — you who sit high above this valley on your rocky plateau," says the Lord. "You who boast, 'Who could ever attack us? Who could break into our stronghold?'" Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?
14 "I will give you exactly the punishment your actions deserve," says the Lord. "I will start a fire in your forest, and it will burn up everything around it." But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.
Key Themes
Themes in Jeremiah 21
God fighting against His own peopleThe choice between life and deathSurrender as the path to survivalRoyal accountability before GodThe consequences of seeking God too late
Apply This Today
Living Jeremiah 21
Sometimes God's answer to our prayers is not what we want to hear. The path to life may look like surrender and humility rather than the victory we imagined. Leaders bear special responsibility before God to practice justice, and delayed obedience may mean that only the harder path remains.
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