Jeremiah 37:6-10

B. Jeremiah's Response Jeremiah 37:6-10

TRANSLATION

(6) Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, saying, (7) Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Thus shall you say unto the king of Judah who sent you unto me to inquire of me: Behold, the army of Pharaoh which has come out to help you shall return to its own land, to Egypt. (8) The Chaldeans shall return and fight against this city, and capture it, and burn it. (9) Thus says the LORD: Do not deceive yourselves by thinking that the Chaldeans are permanently withdrawing, for they are not leaving. (10) For if you smite the entire army of the Chaldeans who are fighting against you and there remained among them only wounded men, each of them lying in his tent, they would arise and burn this city.

COMMENTS

Jeremiah rightly sensed that the king's request for prayer was in reality an inquiry as to the future course of events now that the Chaldeans had withdrawn. Jeremiah's response must have startled as well as angered the dignitaries who had approached him. In his response the prophet shattered all hope by emphasizing three thoughts. First, Jeremiah emphasized the failure of Egyptian aid. The Egyptians would be defeated and return to their land (Jeremiah 37:7). Secondly, he emphasized the fall of Jerusalem. The Chaldeans would shortly return, fight against Jerusalem, capture it, and burn it (Jeremiah 37:8). Thirdly, Jeremiah emphasizes the futility of optimism. There is absolutely no ground whatsoever for hope that the enemy would abandon the siege of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 37:9). Even if the Jews could in some miraculous manner defeat the Chaldeans to the point that only a few, and those severely wounded (lit., pierced through) remained, yet they would be able to overwhelm Jerusalem (Jeremiah 37:10). So certain was God's purpose that Jerusalem be destroyed that no amount of wishful thinking or active resistance could reverse it.