Chapter 21

1 Zedekiah sendeth to Jeremiah to enquire the event of Nebuchadrezzar’s war. 3 Jeremiah foretelleth a hard siege and miserable captivity. 8 He counselleth the people to fall to the Chaldeans, 11 and upbraideth the king’s house.

1. The word. Chapter 21 is not in chronological sequence with the following chapters, but belongs in the reign of Zedekiah. Very probably the events here described occurred at the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s final siege of Jerusalem, 588 b.c. (see Vol. II, p. 98; Vol. III, p. 92). Seeing Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian armies closing in upon Jerusalem, Zedekiah, in fear over the threatening outlook, sends two leaders to Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord.

Pashur. Not the one mentioned in ch. 20 (see on ch. 20:1).

Zephaniah. “The second priest” (Jer. 52:24; cf. 2 Kings 25:18), the one next to the high priest.

2. Nebuchadrezzar. This spelling, which occurs frequently in Jeremiah, is closer to the Babylonian NabuЖ-kudurri-usur than is the common English form Nebuchadnezzar (see on Dan. 1:1).

If so be. Although the messengers came to make inquiry as to the course the king should take, they suggested, and so expected, an answer favorable to Zedekiah. They desired that the Lord would perform “his wondrous works” in delivering the city from its danger. In view of God’s miraculous destruction of the army of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19; Isa. 37), this action may have been one of assumed reverence, having as its purpose the luring of the prophet to join those resisting the Babylonians. Later there was another attempt to win over Jeremiah to the king’s side (Jer. 37:3).

Go up from us. That is, raise the siege.

4. I will turn back. Jeremiah informs the king’s representatives that their efforts are in vain. God will not turn aside the punishment of His people. The Babylonians will come closer and closer, advancing irresistibly, until finally they come “into the midst of this city.”

5. I myself will fight. Many times in their history Israel had faced superior armies with confidence, trusting that the Lord was with them. But now the “God of Israel” (v. 4) declares that He is on the side of the invading Chaldeans. Israel’s cause is hopeless.

7. I will deliver Zedekiah. The fearlessness of Jeremiah was strikingly demonstrated by these words regarding a king still on his throne, and one who was being strongly urged by his princes to defy Nebuchadnezzar’s power (see ch. 38:1–6).

He shall smite them. This was literally fulfilled (see ch. 52:8–11, 24–27).

8. Behold, I set before you. Here Jeremiah speaks in the literal sense of either finding “the way of life” by surrendering to the Chaldeans or going “the way of death” by resisting them. Elsewhere similar words have been used to convey a higher spiritual meaning (see Deut. 11:26–28; 30:15, 19).

9. He that goeth out. Jeremiah’s enemies could easily interpret this statement to mean that the prophet was advocating either treachery or desertion. In spite of all the opposition to the prophet, there were many who heeded his words, and as a result saved their lives (see chs. 39:9; 52:15).

For a prey. See chs. 38:2; 39:18; 45:5.

10. He shall burn it. Although the capture of besieged cities often brought upon these places destruction by fire, it is also true that many of them escaped this fate, according to the whim of the conqueror. The divine inspiration of Jeremiah’s prophecies is indicated by their accurate fulfillment (Jer. 52:12, 13; cf. 2 Kings 25:8, 9; 2 Chron. 36:19).

12. O house of David. A reference to the various ruling officials who belonged to the royal family. The judicial functions of the state seem to have been taken over largely by the members of the royal house.

In the morning. Apparently one of the best ways for an Eastern ruler to hold the favor of his subjects was to arise in the early hours of the day and go to the city gate (see on Gen. 19:1) to hear the complaints and pleas of those who had been wronged. David’s apparent neglect of this wise procedure opened the way for Absalom’s rebellion (see 2 Sam. 15:2–6), whereas Solomon’s attention to the needs of the people contributed to the king’s fame as a wise man (see 1 Kings 3:16–28). To wait until a later time of the day, when the heat became oppressive, would result in the loss of this opportunity to dispense needed justice to the people (see 2 Sam. 4:5; Eccl. 10:16, 17).

Spoiled. Heb. gazal, “to tear away,” “to seize,” or “to rob.”

13. Inhabitant. Literally, “inhabitress.” In the Hebrew the feminine gender is used, as in the case of the “daughter of Zion” (Jer. 4:31; 6:2, 23; Ps. 9:14). Possibly this is a reference to the lower part of the city of Jerusalem.

Rock. Heb.sur, “a large rock.” With a false sense of security the leaders of Jerusalem thought of their city as impregnable.

Who shall come down? Like the Jebusites of old, the people of Judah trusted in what they mistakenly considered to be the impregnable strength of Jerusalem’s natural position (see on 2 Sam. 5:6, 7).

14. In the forest thereof. This phrase has been understood to mean either (1) the literal forests (see 1 Sam. 23:15), or (2) the royal building, which, because of its cedar columns, was called “the house of the forest of Lebanon” (1 Kings 7:2; 10:21; see 2 Sam. 7:2, 7; see on Jer. 22:6, 7). One of the destructive acts of an invading army, like that of Nebuchadnezzar, was the cutting down of “the tall cedar trees” and “the choice fir trees” (2 Kings 19:23). Repeated desolations of the timber of the land furnish a partial reason for the comparative scarcity of trees in modern Palestine.

Ellen G. White comments

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