Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 21
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 21
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 21
"The word which came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying," — Jeremiah 21:1 (ASV)
By sending this embassy, Zedekiah acknowledged that Jeremiah held the same position in the kingdom which Isaiah had held under Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:2). Pashur and Zephaniah belonged to the party who were for resisting Nebuchadnezzar by force of arms.
"Inquire, I pray thee, of Jehovah for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us: peradventure Jehovah will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us." — Jeremiah 21:2 (ASV)
Nebuchadrezzar - A more correct way of spelling the name than Nebuchadnezzar.
According to all his wondrous works - The king and his envoys expected some such answer as Isaiah had given on a former occasion (Isaiah 37:6).
"Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans that besiege you, without the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city." — Jeremiah 21:4 (ASV)
Without the walls — These words are to be joined to 'with which you fight.'
"And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence." — Jeremiah 21:6 (ASV)
A great pestilence - As the result of the excessive crowding of men and animals in a confined space with all sanitary regulations utterly neglected.
"And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death." — Jeremiah 21:8 (ASV)
Compare the marginal reference; but here the alternative is a life saved by desertion to the enemy, or a death by famine, pestilence, and the sword within the walls.
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