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Jeremiah 34:1
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Zedekiah Warned by God

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, awhen Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army, ball the kingdoms of the earth under his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem and all its cities, saying,  
2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Go and aspeak to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, bI will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.  
3 And ayou shall not escape from his hand, but shall surely be taken and delivered into his hand; your eyes shall see the eyes of the king of Babylon, he shall speak with you bface to face, and you shall go to Babylon.’ ” ’  
4 Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah! Thus says the Lord concerning you: ‘You shall not die by the sword.
5 You shall die in peace; as in athe ceremonies of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, bso they shall burn incense for you and clament for you, saying, “Alas, lord!” For I have pronounced the word, says the Lord.’ ”  
6 Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,
7 when the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and Azekah; for only athese fortified cities remained of the cities of Judah.  

Treacherous Treatment of Slaves

8 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem to proclaim aliberty to them:  
9 athat every man should set free his male and female slave—a Hebrew man or woman—bthat no one should keep a Jewish brother in bondage.  
Commentaries:
Matthew Henry
<< Jeremiah 33:26   Jeremiah 34:2 >>


Jeremiah 34:1-22

Zedekiah's death at Babylon foretold. (1-7) The Jews reproved for compelling their poor brethren to return to unlawful bondage. (8-22)

Verses 1-7 Zedekiah is told that the city shall be taken, and that he shall die a captive, but he shall die a natural death. It is better to live and die penitent in a prison, than to live and die impenitent in a palace.

Verses 8-22 A Jew should not be held in servitude above seven years. This law they and their fathers had broken. And when there was some hope that the siege was raised, they forced the servants they had released into their services again. Those who think to cheat God by dissembled repentance and partial reformation, put the greatest cheat upon their own souls. This shows that liberty to sin, is really only liberty to have the sorest judgments. It is just with God to disappoint expectations of mercy, when we disappoint the expectations of duty. And when reformation springs only from terror, it is seldom lasting. Solemn vows thus entered into, profane the ordinances of God; and the most forward to bind themselves by appeals to God, are commonly most ready to break them. Let us look to our hearts, that our repentance may be real, and take care that the law of God regulates our conduct.


 
<< Jeremiah 33:26   Jeremiah 34:2 >>

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