Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 21

Verses 1-14

The final series before the fall of Jerusalem consists of messages delivered to Zedekiah (21-27). The occasion of these was, in the first place, Zedekiah's deputation to the prophet. The scourge which Jeremiah had foretold seemed to be imminent. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was approaching. Zedekiah sent to inquire whether he might hope for the interference and deliverance of Jehovah. There was no halting or uncertainty in the answer which the prophet gave to the messengers.

He first foretold the disaster in detail. He then declared that the only alternative offered to them was death or captivity. His final word had to do with the house of the king. He called it to return to rectitude in government. The hopelessness of the situation was evident in the fact that, in spite of this call, the last word of the message pronounced sentence and was the clearest declaration that the doom would be by the will and act of Jehovah.