Jeremiah 21 Study Notes: Zedekiah Asks for a Miracle
King Zedekiah sends messengers asking Jeremiah to seek the LORD's help against Babylon. The LORD answers that He Himself will fight against Jerusalem, offers the people life through surrender, and calls the royal house of David to do justice or face His fiery anger.
General
What answer did the LORD give Zedekiah about the war with Babylon (Jeremiah 21:4-7)?
Answer: He would fight against Jerusalem with the power once used for Israel
Instead of promising rescue, the LORD said He would turn Judah’s own weapons back against them and gather the Chaldeans (the Babylonians) inside the city (21:4). He Himself would fight against Jerusalem with His hand stretched out and His arm mighty, in burning anger, and strike its people and animals with a deadly plague (21:5-6). Zedekiah, his officials, and the survivors would be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar, who would show them no pity (21:7). The same pair of images, God’s strong hand and stretched-out arm, had described how God brought Israel out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 26:8). Now that power was turned against His rebellious people. Isaiah too describes the LORD turning to fight against His people when they rebelled (Isaiah 63:10), and Lamentations mourns the Lord acting like an enemy toward Judah (Lamentations 2:5).
- Jeremiah 21:4-5 (BSB)“this 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. And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath.”The LORD says He will turn Judah’s weapons back and fight against the city Himself.
- Jeremiah 21:7 (BSB)“‘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.’”Zedekiah and the survivors will be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar.
- Deuteronomy 26:8 (BSB)“Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders.”Similar language described the LORD bringing Israel out of Egypt.
- Isaiah 63:10 (BSB)“But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.”Isaiah says the LORD became the enemy of His rebellious people and fought them.
- Lamentations 2:5 (BSB)“The Lord is like an enemy; He has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for the Daughter of Judah.”Lamentations describes the Lord acting like an enemy against Judah.
Theological
How does the LORD’s reply in Jeremiah 21:4-7 reverse the exodus language of His mighty acts?
Answer: He would fight against Jerusalem with the power once used for Israel
The reply inverts the exodus. The LORD will turn Judah’s weapons back on itself and gather the Chaldeans into the heart of the city (21:4); He Himself will fight against Jerusalem with His hand outstretched and His arm strong, in fury and fierce wrath, striking man and beast with plague (21:5-6); and Zedekiah with the survivors will be given to Nebuchadnezzar, who will show no compassion (21:7). The mighty hand and outstretched arm that once redeemed Israel from Egypt (Deuteronomy 26:8) now execute covenant judgment. Isaiah describes the same reversal, the LORD becoming the enemy of a rebellious people (Isaiah 63:10), and Lamentations looks back on it (Lamentations 2:5).
- Jeremiah 21:4-5 (BSB)“this 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. And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath.”The LORD says He will turn Judah’s weapons back and fight against the city Himself.
- Jeremiah 21:7 (BSB)“‘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.’”Zedekiah and the survivors will be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar.
- Deuteronomy 26:8 (BSB)“Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders.”Similar language described the LORD bringing Israel out of Egypt.
- Isaiah 63:10 (BSB)“But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.”Isaiah says the LORD became the enemy of His rebellious people and fought them.
- Lamentations 2:5 (BSB)“The Lord is like an enemy; He has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for the Daughter of Judah.”Lamentations describes the Lord acting like an enemy against Judah.
General
True or False: The LORD told the royal house of David to judge fairly each morning and rescue people who had been robbed, or His anger would burn like a fire no one could put out (Jeremiah 21:11-12).
Answer: True
This is true. The LORD addressed the king’s household, David’s royal family, and commanded them to judge fairly every morning and to rescue anyone robbed from the person oppressing him; otherwise His anger would go out like a fire that no one could put out, on account of their wicked deeds (21:11-12). The kings of Judah were meant to defend the weak, as the psalm for the king prays (Psalm 72:4), and the same command is repeated in the next chapter (22:3). The LORD also rebuked those in the city who felt secure on their high rocky ground, asking who could ever come against them; He would punish them as their deeds deserved and set their forest on fire (21:13-14). Edom showed the same proud confidence (Obadiah 1:3).
- Jeremiah 21:11-12 (BSB)“Moreover, tell the house of the king of Judah to hear the word of the LORD. O house of David, this is what the LORD says: ‘Administer justice every morning, and rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor, or My wrath will go forth like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it because of their evil deeds.”The LORD commands the house of David to administer justice or face His wrath.
- Jeremiah 21:13-14 (BSB)“Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley, atop the rocky plateau—declares the LORD—you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our dwellings?” I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forest that will consume everything around you.’””The LORD opposes those who think their high city cannot be attacked.
- Psalm 72:4 (BSB)“May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.”The psalm prays that Israel’s king will defend the afflicted and crush the oppressor.
- Jeremiah 22:3 (BSB)“This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.”The LORD repeats the command to do justice and rescue the robbed.
- Obadiah 1:3 (BSB)“The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks whose habitation is the heights, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’”Edom also trusted in its heights and asked who could bring it down.
Theological
True or False: In Jeremiah 21:11-12 the LORD charges the house of David with daily justice and the rescue of the oppressed, warning that otherwise His wrath will burn unquenchably.
Answer: True
This is true. The oracle to the house of David (21:11-12) makes royal justice the condition of the dynasty’s safety: judgment administered every morning and the robbed rescued from the oppressor, or the LORD’s wrath will break out like unquenchable fire on account of their wicked deeds. This is the ideal of the Davidic king who defends the afflicted (Psalm 72:4), repeated in 22:3. The closing word strips away Jerusalem’s sense of security on its rocky plateau, the boast that no one could come against it; the LORD will repay their deeds and set their forest ablaze (21:13-14). Edom voiced the same proud confidence in its heights (Obadiah 1:3).
- Jeremiah 21:11-12 (BSB)“Moreover, tell the house of the king of Judah to hear the word of the LORD. O house of David, this is what the LORD says: ‘Administer justice every morning, and rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor, or My wrath will go forth like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it because of their evil deeds.”The LORD commands the house of David to administer justice or face His wrath.
- Jeremiah 21:13-14 (BSB)“Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley, atop the rocky plateau—declares the LORD—you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our dwellings?” I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forest that will consume everything around you.’””The LORD opposes those who think their high city cannot be attacked.
- Psalm 72:4 (BSB)“May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.”The psalm prays that Israel’s king will defend the afflicted and crush the oppressor.
- Jeremiah 22:3 (BSB)“This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.”The LORD repeats the command to do justice and rescue the robbed.
- Obadiah 1:3 (BSB)“The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks whose habitation is the heights, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’”Edom also trusted in its heights and asked who could bring it down.
General
The LORD set before the people of Jerusalem two paths, one leading to life and one to death. What did He say was the way to live (Jeremiah 21:8-10)?
Answer: Going out and surrendering to the Chaldeans outside
The LORD told Jeremiah to set two ways before the people of Jerusalem (21:8). Anyone who stayed in the city would die by sword, famine, or plague, while anyone who went out and surrendered to the Chaldeans (the Babylonians) would live, escaping with his life as his only prize (21:9). The reason was that the LORD had set His face against the city for disaster; it would be given to Babylon’s king and burned (21:10). The wording recalls Moses setting life and death before Israel (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19), but now life meant yielding to the judgment God had sent. Jeremiah later repeated the same message to the people and to Zedekiah himself (38:2, 17).
- Jeremiah 21:8-9 (BSB)“Furthermore, 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. Whoever 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.”The LORD sets life and death before the people: stay and die, or surrender and live.
- Jeremiah 21:10 (BSB)“For 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.’”The LORD has set His face against the city, which will be burned.
- Deuteronomy 30:15 (BSB)“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, as well as death and disaster.”Moses set life and death before Israel in the covenant.
- Deuteronomy 30:19 (BSB)“I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,”Moses urged Israel to choose life.
- Jeremiah 38:2 (BSB)““This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live.”Jeremiah repeats the promise of life to those who surrender.
- Jeremiah 38:17 (BSB)“Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive.”Jeremiah later offers Zedekiah himself life if he surrenders.
Theological
In Jeremiah 21:8-10, what does the LORD say is the path to life for the besieged people?
Answer: Going out and surrendering to the Chaldeans outside
The LORD sets two paths before the people, one of life and one of death (21:8), an echo of Moses’ covenant choice (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19), now applied to the siege. Remaining in the city means death by sword, famine, and plague; going out and surrendering to the Chaldeans means life, with life itself as their only plunder (21:9). The ground is the LORD’s settled purpose: He has set His face against the city for harm, and it will be given to Babylon and burned (21:10). To submit to God’s judgment through Babylon was to submit to God Himself. The same offer is repeated to the people and to Zedekiah personally (38:2, 17).
- Jeremiah 21:8-9 (BSB)“Furthermore, 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. Whoever 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.”The LORD sets life and death before the people: stay and die, or surrender and live.
- Jeremiah 21:10 (BSB)“For 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.’”The LORD has set His face against the city, which will be burned.
- Deuteronomy 30:15 (BSB)“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, as well as death and disaster.”Moses set life and death before Israel in the covenant.
- Deuteronomy 30:19 (BSB)“I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,”Moses urged Israel to choose life.
- Jeremiah 38:2 (BSB)““This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live.”Jeremiah repeats the promise of life to those who surrender.
- Jeremiah 38:17 (BSB)“Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive.”Jeremiah later offers Zedekiah himself life if he surrenders.
General
King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malchijah, along with the priest Zephaniah, to Jeremiah while Babylon was attacking. What did they hope for (Jeremiah 21:1-2)?
Answer: That the LORD would act as in former days and drive Babylon off
With Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon making war on Jerusalem, King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malchijah, together with Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, a priest, to ask Jeremiah to seek the LORD for them (21:1-2). They hoped the LORD might do one of His wonders of the past so that Nebuchadnezzar would pull back (21:2). The LORD had worked such deliverance before, when the angel of the LORD struck the Assyrian camp and Sennacherib went home (2 Kings 19:35-36). Zedekiah sent Zephaniah to ask for Jeremiah’s prayers again later (37:3). The answer that follows is a word of judgment instead.
- Jeremiah 21:1-2 (BSB)“This 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, “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.””Zedekiah’s envoys ask Jeremiah to seek the LORD’s word during Nebuchadnezzar’s attack.
- 2 Kings 19:35 (BSB)“And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!”The angel of the LORD once struck down the Assyrian army besieging Jerusalem.
- 2 Kings 19:36 (BSB)“So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.”Sennacherib then withdrew, the kind of deliverance Zedekiah hoped for.
- Jeremiah 37:3 (BSB)“Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet with the message, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us!””Zedekiah later sent Zephaniah again to ask Jeremiah to pray for them.
Theological
What did Zedekiah’s envoys, Pashhur son of Malchijah, together with Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, hope for when they came to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 21:1-2)?
Answer: That the LORD would act as in former days and drive Babylon off
Under Babylonian siege, Zedekiah sends Pashhur son of Malchijah, together with Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest, to have Jeremiah seek the LORD’s word, hoping He will act according to His past wonders and make Nebuchadnezzar withdraw (21:1-2). One such past wonder was the destruction of Sennacherib’s army and his withdrawal in Hezekiah’s day (2 Kings 19:35-36). The request recurs later through Zephaniah (37:3). The reply (21:3-7) reverses every expectation: the God of the exodus will fight not for Jerusalem but against it.
- Jeremiah 21:1-2 (BSB)“This 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, “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.””Zedekiah’s envoys ask Jeremiah to seek the LORD’s word during Nebuchadnezzar’s attack.
- 2 Kings 19:35 (BSB)“And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!”The angel of the LORD once struck down the Assyrian army besieging Jerusalem.
- 2 Kings 19:36 (BSB)“So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.”Sennacherib then withdrew, the kind of deliverance Zedekiah hoped for.
- Jeremiah 37:3 (BSB)“Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet with the message, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us!””Zedekiah later sent Zephaniah again to ask Jeremiah to pray for them.