Jeremiah 27:12-15

C. A Warning to Zedekiah Jeremiah 27:12-15

TRANSLATION

(12) And unto Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke in a similar manner, saying, (13) Why will you die, you and your people, by sword, famine and pestilence, as the LORD has spoken concerning the nation which does not serve the king of Babylon? (14) Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are saying to you, Do not serve the king of Babylon, for they are prophesying falsehood to you; (15) For I have not sent them (oracle of the LORD), but they keep on prophesying falsely in My name, with the result that I will drive you out, and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying unto you.

COMMENTS

In Jeremiah 27:12-15 Jeremiah moves from the general warning which embraces all the small nations of Syria-Palestine to a specific warning for king Zedekiah of Judah. As a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5) Jeremiah was concerned about the course of action which these small states might follow. But naturally his concern for his native Judah in these perilous days was paramount so the prophet directly addressed Zedekiah and his advisers perhaps on the very same occasion on which he addressed the foreign ambassadors. The short resume of his message to the king contains three elements. First, there is exhortation (Jeremiah 27:12). Jeremiah exhorts Zedekiah to submit to the yoke of Babylon. The use of the plural your necks suggests that princes or advisers were present with the king at the time Jeremiah delivered this message. The word live while in the imperative mood actually has the force of a promise. The sense is, if you submit to Babylon you will live.

Exhortation is followed by argumentation (Jeremiah 27:13) and warning (Jeremiah 27:14). Jeremiah backs up his exhortation with an argument couched in the form of a question. Why will you allow your people to suffer such calamity as the Lord has predicted for every nation which refuses to serve Babylon? It is utter futility and national suicide to attempt to throw off the yoke of Babylon. It is stupid to bring upon yourself sword, famine and pestilence when you might live in peace if you would only submit to Babylon. Jeremiah moves hastily to deal with a possible objection which might be arising in the mind of the king. Other prophetic voices were urging an independent course for Judah. They were promising success in the rebellion against Babylon. Jeremiah does not hesitate to brand these prophets as liars. They are no better than the prophets of the heathen nations mentioned in the previous paragraph. God has not sent these prophets! To hearken to their voice will bring disaster on the land. Jeremiah 27:15 b does not indicate the purpose of these prophets but the inevitable result of their lies.