John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 34:21

"And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon`s army, that are gone away from you." — Jeremiah 34:21 (ASV)

He repeats almost the same words, but he comes closer to the subject, for he names the enemies about whom he had previously spoken indefinitely. He had indeed said that they would be cruel, would seek their death, and would not be satisfied otherwise. He repeats the same again for confirmation; but he later adds that these enemies would be the soldiers of the king of Babylon, namely, the Chaldeans.

He then shows the Jews their calamity, as if pointing it out with his finger, so that they would not, as usual, indulge in the hope of security. He does not then declare generally that they would be punished and that enemies would come cruelly to destroy them; instead, he points out the army of the king of Babylon and says that the Chaldeans would come, armed by God and fighting under His banner, and would take the city and destroy the whole kingdom.

But when the Chaldeans had departed, the Jews' confidence and security had increased, because they thought they were now free from danger. The reason for this departure was that the Egyptians had gathered an army to help the Jews, or rather, to provide for their own safety in advance.

At that time, as we know, there was an alliance between the Jews and the Egyptians, and the objective of both was to fortify themselves against the king of Babylon. The Egyptians did not greatly care for the Jews, but another reason influenced them, for it was well known that as soon as the Chaldeans finished the Jewish war, they would attack Egypt.

Now they thought it would be advantageous for them to engage the Babylonian army alongside the Jews, for they would have had to fight alone if Nebuchadnezzar had gained the victory; indeed, the Jews themselves would have been compelled to help subdue Egypt. Therefore, the Egyptians, having carefully considered these things, gathered a large army. The Babylonians, hearing the report, went out to meet them. Thus, the siege of the city was abandoned. The Jews rejoiced as if they had escaped all danger.

This is why the Prophet derides their folly in thinking that they would now be in peace and quiet because the Chaldeans had gone up from them—because for a time they left the city and went up towards Egypt. Then he says, Though (and this word is to be understood in a contrasting sense) they have ascended from you, God will still deliver you into their hand.

We see now that Jeremiah spared neither the king nor the princes; and thus we should notice the power of the Holy Spirit, which prevailed in the hearts of the Prophets, for they boldly addressed not only the common people but also kings and princes.

Since we find the Prophet denouncing God's judgment on the king and the chief men with such courage, let us understand that no one is fit to bear rule in the Church unless they are endowed with such firmness that they fear no one, are not disheartened by anyone's power, and boldly reprove the highest as well as the lowest.