Jerusalem Will Fall to Babylon
This section begins with the Babylonian siege of...
This section begins with the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 588 BC (see Jeremiah 52:1–23; 2 Kings 24:18–25:21; 2 Chronicles 36:11–21). The Lord spoke to Judah through his messenger Jeremiah.
From this point in the book of Jeremiah,...
From this point in the book of Jeremiah, you will find details about the last kings of Judah, especially Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. The stories are mostly in prose and not always in order.
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said, 2“Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzar† king of Babylon is waging war against us. Perhaps the LORD will perform for us something like all His past wonders, so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdraw from us.”
The Lord gave King Zedekiah's messengers a legal...
The Lord gave King Zedekiah's messengers a legal decision (see study note on Jeremiah 2:2). Resisting the Babylonians would be pointless because the Lord opposed Jerusalem.
3But Jeremiah answered, “You are to tell Zedekiah that 4this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will turn against you the weapons of war in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans† who besiege you outside the wall, and I will assemble their forces in the center of this city. 5And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath. 6I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’
7‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’
The Lord decided to destroy Jerusalem, but people...
The Lord decided to destroy Jerusalem, but people could choose life, likely as slaves in Babylon, or death by Babylonian swords (see Deuteronomy 20:10–13).
8Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war. 10For I have set My face against this city to bring disaster and not good, declares the LORD. It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.’
A Message to the House of David
The Lord told the royal family of Judah...
The Lord told the royal family of Judah to treat people fairly or face His anger.
Instead of performing a miracle for David's dynasty,...
Instead of performing a miracle for David's dynasty, God planned to hold them accountable for their sins.
11Moreover, tell the house of the king of Judah to hear the word of the LORD. 12O house of David, this is what the LORD says:
‘Administer justice every morning,and rescue the victim of robberyfrom the hand of his oppressor,or My wrath will go forth like fireand burn with no one to extinguish itbecause of their evil deeds.
The people in Jerusalem trusted completely in the...
The people in Jerusalem trusted completely in the city's strong fortress, believing it was unbeatable (see 2 Kings 18:35–37; 2 Chronicles 32:20–23; Isaiah 37:36–38). The Lord had protected the city before, but now the Lord opposed it.
I will kindle a fire in your forest: See Isaiah 6:13.
The people in Jerusalem trusted completely in the city's strong fortress, believing it was unbeatable (see 2 Kings 18:35–37; 2 Chronicles 32:20–23; Isaiah 37:36–38). The Lord had protected the city before, but now the Lord opposed it.
I will kindle a fire in your forest: See Isaiah 6:13.