Jeremiah’s Word to King Zedekiah
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon,34:1 2Kg 25:1; Jr 39:1; 52:4 his whole army, all the kingdoms of the lands under his control,34:1 Jr 1:15 and all other peoples were fighting against Jerusalem and all its surrounding cities:
4“‘Yet hear the Lord’s word, King Zedekiah of Judah. This is what the Lord says concerning you: You will not die by the sword;
6So the prophet Jeremiah related all these words to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem
7while the king of Babylon’s army was attacking Jerusalem and all of Judah’s remaining cities — that is, Lachish and Azekah,34:7 Jos 10:3–35 for they were the only ones left of Judah’s fortified cities.
The People and Their Slaves
8This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah made a covenant with all the people who were in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom34:8 Lv 25:10; Is 61:1; Ezk 46:17 to them.
9As a result, each was to let his male and female Hebrew slaves go free, and no one was to enslave his fellow Judean.34:9 Lv 25:39
10All the officials and people who entered into covenant to let their male and female slaves go free — in order not to enslave them any longer — obeyed and let them go free.
11Afterward, however, they changed their minds and took back their male and female slaves they had let go free and forced them to become slaves again.
13“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant34:13 Jr 31:32 with your ancestors when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, saying,
14‘At the end of seven years, each of you must let his fellow Hebrew who sold himself34:14 Or who was sold to you go. He may serve you six years, but then you must let him go free from your service.’34:14 Ex 21:2–6; Dt 15:12–17 But your ancestors did not obey me or pay any attention.
15Today you repented and did what pleased me, each of you proclaiming freedom for his neighbor. You made a covenant before me34:15 2Kg 23:3 at the house that bears my name.34:15 Jr 7:10–11
16But you have changed your minds34:16 Jr 34:11 and profaned my name.34:16 Lv 19:12; 22:32; Pr 30:9; Ezk 20:9,14,22; 36:20–23; 39:7; Am 2:7; Mal 1:11–12 Each has taken back his male and female slaves who had been let go free to go wherever they wanted, and you have again forced them to be your slaves.
17“Therefore, this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming freedom, each for his fellow Hebrew and for his neighbor.34:17 Is 9:19; Jr 31:34; Zch 7:9–10; Mal 2:10 I hereby proclaim freedom for you34:17 Mt 7:2 — this is the Lord’s declaration — to the sword, to plague, and to famine! I will make you a horror to all the earth’s kingdoms.34:17 2Ch 29:8; Jr 15:4; 24:9; 29:18
18As for those who disobeyed my covenant,34:18 Jos 7:11; 2Kg 18:12 not keeping the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat them like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces.34:18 Gn 15:10,17–18; 1Sm 11:7
19The officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf —
20all these I will hand over to their enemies, to those who intend to take their life. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the sky and for the wild animals of the land.34:20 Dt 28:26; Is 18:6; Jr 7:33
21I will hand King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials over to their enemies, to those who intend to take their lives, to the king of Babylon’s army that is withdrawing.
22I am about to give the command — this is the Lord’s declaration — and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, capture it, and burn it.34:22 Jr 21:10; 34:2; 37:8; 38:18 I will make Judah’s cities a desolation, without inhabitant.”34:22 Jr 4:7; 9:11; 33:10; 44:22; 46:19; 48:9; 51:37
Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard
Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
