This chapter contains Jeremiah’s answer to King Zedekiah’s message to him; in which he assures him of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, and gives advice both to the people and the king. The names of the persons sent to him are mentioned, Jer.

The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord This prophecy stands out of its proper place, being made in the times of Zedekiah, and when Jerusalem was besieged by the king of Babylon; whereas, after this, there are prophecies which were delivered in the times of Jehoiakim and Jeconiah, who both…

Inquire, I pray thee, of the Lord for us Or, “seek the Lord now for us” [[12]]; seek the Lord by prayer and supplication for me and my people, for this city and the inhabitants of it; entreat him that he would appear for us, and deliver us out of the hands of the enemy; for this they said in the…

Then said Jeremiah unto them The two priests, Pashur and Zephaniah, after he had sought the Lord, and knew his mind and will: thus shall ye say to Zedekiah; by whom they were sent.

Thus saith the Lord God of Israel Who had been, still was, and would be, Israel’s God, even the God of such who are Israelites indeed; though he should, as he would, give up the present generation to ruin and destruction; they having by their sins forfeited his care and protection of them; and…

And myself will fight against you So far from being entreated to do for them according to his wondrous works in times past, as their friend; that he will set himself against them as their enemy; and sad it is to have God for an enemy: if God be for a people, none can be against them to do them any…

And I will smite the inhabitants of this city With one or other of his arrows after mentioned: or, “them that abide in this city” [[13]]; that do not go out of it, and surrender themselves to the king of Babylon; see ; both man and beast; the latter for the sin of the former; particularly such…

And afterwards, saith the Lord God After there should be so great a mortality among men and beasts: I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants; the king himself shall not escape; though he shall not die by the pestilence, or famine, or sword, yet he shall fall into the hands of the…

And unto the people thou shalt say, thus saith the Lord These are the words, not of the prophet to the messengers of the king, ordering or advising them what they each of them should say to the people; for the message by them is finished; but they are the words of the Lord to the prophet, directing…

He that abideth in this city Imagining himself safe there; not fearing its being taken by the king of Babylon; though it was so often foretold by the prophet of the Lord that it should: shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: by the first of these, in sallying out against…

For I have set my face against this city Or “my fury”, as the Targum; their sins had provoked the eyes of his glory; he was wroth with them, and determined to cut them off; his mind was set against them, and upon their ruin; and there was no turning him from it: for evil, and not for good, saith…

And touching the house of the king of Judah, say Or “to the house of the king of Judah” [[14]]; that is, his palace, as Calvin understands it; go to it, and there say as follows, as in ; and some think that this part of the chapter belongs to that, and was not delivered at the time the former part…

O house of David, thus saith the Lord This appellation is made use of to put them in mind of their descent, and to observe to them how much it became them to follow the example of so illustrious an ancestor, from whom they had the honour to descend; by doing judgment and justice as he did, ; or,…

Behold, I am against thee Or, “behold, I unto thee” [[17]]; to be supplied either thus, “behold, I say unto thee” [[18]]; what follows; and therefore take notice of it, attend unto it: or, “behold, I come unto thee” [[19]]; who bid defiance to all their enemies to come near them, as in the latter…

But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the Lord The situation of their city, and the strength of its fortifications, however sufficient they might be thought to keep out an enemy from annoying them; yet it was impossible to hinder the Lord’s coming among them, as he here…