Jeremiah 21 - Introduction

With the last verse of Jeremiah 20 ended the scroll of Jehoiakim: with the first verse of Jeremiah 21:1 begins a digest of various prophecies Jer. 21–24 addressed to Zedekiah in his ninth year, and called Zedekiah’s scroll. The occasion of this prophecy was the embassy sent by Zedekiah to Jeremiah, asking his prayers when the Chaldaean army was advancing upon Jerusalem. So clearly did the prophet foresee the result that he could give the king no hope. His answer, contained in the scroll, divides itself into two parts, in the first Jer. 20–22, the prophet reviews the conduct of the royal house: in the second Jeremiah 23:9, that of the priests and prophets; closing with a vision Jeremiah 24:1 in which he shows the pitiable condition of Zedekiah and his people.