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Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews who are fallen away to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.
Verse Takeaways
1
Fear of Man Over Fear of God
Commentators highlight that King Zedekiah's primary motivation was not a strategic military concern, but the fear of being mocked by his own people. As one scholar puts it, "The less people fear God, the more they fear other people." Zedekiah's terror of human opinion and shame ultimately prevented him from obeying God's clear command, leading to his downfall.
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Book Overview
Jeremiah
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6
18th Century
Presbyterian
The Jews who have defected to the Chaldeans - These deserters probably formed a numerous party, and now would be all the more indignant with…
19th Century
Anglican
I am afraid of the Jews ... —The special form of fear was characteristic of the weak and vacillating king. It was not enough to kn…
16th Century
Protestant
Zedekiah seems here to have had a good reason why he should not immediately obey the Prophet. Often, the best of the faithful openly express their …
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah In answer to this advice he gave him, persuading him to give up himself and the ci…
Jeremiah was not eager to repeat the warnings, which seemed only to endanger his own life and add to the king's guilt, but asked whether he feared …
13th Century
Catholic
Here, Jeremiah is freed from the fear of death, his safety having been granted to him by the king.
The agreement for his…
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