Old Testament Commentary - Jeremiah 21

As the chronology of the chapters of the book of Jeremiah have been at some time mixed up and are not in proper chronological order in today's Bible, there is some question as to when the events of Chapter 21 occurs. The possibilities are: 1) During the initial seige of Nebuchadnezzar after the alliace with Egypt and before the Chaldeans brake off to meet the advancing Egyptians in the desert and before the 'proclamation of condemnation from the LORD' recorded in chapter 34. 2) During the initial seige of Nebuchadnezzar after the alliance with Egypt and before the Chaldeans brake off to meet the advancing Egyptians in the desert and after the 'proclamation of condemnation from the LORD' recorded in chapter 34. 3) During the second seige of Nebuchadnezzar after the alliance with Egypt has failled and the Chaldeans have returned from defeating the Egyptians in the desert and while Jeremiah is in prison (likely the king's court prison) and thus after chapter 34 and after chapter 37 when Jeremiah is first imprisoned by the Sarim.
Perhaps for the simple reason that it does not mention that Jeremiah was in prison upon this visit, I would tend to not favor the third just mentioned possiblilty. But there is also the fact that both chapter 34 and 21 refer to the armies of Nebuchadnezzar making made war against Jerusalem which tends to place both chapters seemingly within the same time frame one way or the other (See Jeremiah 21:2 and Jeremiah 34:1, 7). This would leave chapter 21 either just before or just after Jeremiah delivered the LORD's official declaration of condemnation upon Jerusalem when Jeremiah stood in person before the King and his court to declare it. In further considering which of these two is the case, there are two perspectives.
The First Perspective, would consider that the alliance with Egypt was instigated by the Sarim, the false prophets and the high priest(s) of temple and thus Jeremiah was trying to keep a low profile and prefered to deliver the message from God by return carrier. And after sending the message by return carrier, the LORD told Jeremiah to go and deliver the message himself, which he did about the time the Chaldeans broke off the initial seige to meet the advancing Egyptians in the desert. This sets out a little human nature and intimidation upon the part of the prophet Jeremiah which would be understandable. And thus the statement in verse 22 of chapter 34 means that though the Chaldeans have left off their seige, they will return. Also, the LORD may have used the inquiry of chapter 21 as a precursor to the full proclamation to come when it was time that the LORD would have it delivered.
The Second Perspective, would be that Jeremiah had alreay delivered the final proclamation of condemnation in chapter 34 and was not going to ever return before the king again, perhaps being warned by God not to or for the same human intimidation factors. Thus the messengers may have been more of a 'ploy' to bring Jeremiah back before the king's court than a true inquiry as Jeremiah had already declared what would be happening. This would mean that verse 22 at the end of chapter 34 was a prophetic clarification that when the Chaldeans would have left off their initial seige, they would return.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

           CHAPTER 21
Jeremiah foretells the siege and captivity and destruction of Jerusalem—Zedekiah to be taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar [about 594-593 BC]
At the first sight of the coming Chaldean armies Jeremiah foretells via Pahur of the siege and captivity and destruction of Jerusalem—Thus Jeremaiah sends the message back to the king that he, Zedekiah, will be taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon When Jerusalem rebelled against Babylon under Zedekiah the king of Babylon sent his Chaldean armies to besiege Jerusalem. When the armies appeared Zedekiah sent an inquiry by Pashur, the Chief High Priest and head of the Sanhedrin, to Jeremiah to inquire concerning Jerusalem's fate.

1 The word which came unto ^aJeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him ^bPashur the son of Melchiah, and ^aZephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
2 Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for ^aNebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us^a; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us. 2^a king of Babylon maketh war against us This seems to be a typical Jewish perspective. Although it was Zedekiah and the Jewish people who were under covenant in the name of Jehovah to be subject to King Nebuchadnezzar, and it was the Jews, their ruling princes and King Zedekiah who broke that covenant by entering into an alliance with Egypt against Babylon, the Jewish perspective is that it is the king of Babylon who has determined to make war against them. From the Babylonian perspective, whose head advisor to King Nebuchadnezzar is the prophet Daniel, Jerusalem by entering an alliance with Egypt and likely other surrounding nations against Babylon, is threatening to brake apart and destroy the Babylonian Empire. 1^a 2 Chr. 36:12 (10-13)
   ^b Jer. 20:1 (1-6); Jer. 38:1
1^a Jer. 37:3
2^a 2 Kings 25:1; Jer. 43:10

Pashur Now there are some who consider that Pashur the son of Immer named in Jeremiah 20:1 and Pashur son of Malchiah named here and in Jeremiah 38:1 are two separate people. But there is a key to understanding that they are the same Pashur. In Jeremiah 20 Pashur is named as the 'governor of the house of the LORD'. When introduced in that respect, he being named as the 'son of Immer' it is not speaking of his immediate father but that ancestral 'grandfather' by whom his 'lot' had fallen for him being 'governor of the house of God', lot number 16 as per being descended of 'Immer' (see I Chronicles 24:4-5 & 14). And actually this Pushar's immediate father's name does seem to be Malchiah as given here in chapter 21 as well as in Jeremiah 38:1. (note: this is the same type of confusion which masks Zachrias the father of John the Baptist. In one reference Zacharias is spoken of as being of the course or son of Abia (Luke1:5), that is of his ancestor by whose virtue he administers in the temple (1 Chronicles 24:10) and then in another reference it refers to him as son of his immediate father Barachias (Matthew 23:35, TPJS p.261).And while some make these two different Zacharias, Joseph Smith does plainly state him to be the same man.)

3 ¶ Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
4 Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you ^awithout the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
5 And I myself will fight against you with an ^aoutstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.
6 And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
7 And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver ^aZedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the ^apestilence, from the ^asword, and from the ^afamine, into the ^ahand of Nebuchadrezzar king of ^bBabylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not ^cspare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy. 4^a OR outside
5^a Deut. 4:34
7^a 1 Ne. 1:4 (4, 13)
7^a Jer. 34:17 (17, 21)
   ^b TG Israel, Bondage of, in
     Other Lands

8 ¶ And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of ^alife, and the way of death.
9 He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and ^afalleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his ^blife shall be unto him for a prey.
10 For I have set my ^aface against this city for ^bevil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of ^cBabylon, and he shall burn it with fire.   8^a Deut. 30:15;
      Matt. 7:14 (13-14); 1 Ne. 14:7
  9^a OR surrenders
    ^b Jer. 39:18; Jer. 45:5
10^a Lev. 20:5; Jer. 44:11
    ^b Amos 9:4
    ^c Jer. 34:2; Jer. 38:3; Jer. 52:13

11 ¶ And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
12 O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
13 Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, ^aWho shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?
14 But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it. 13^a 2 Ne. 28:21 (21-25)

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 21 Jeremiah foretells the siege and captivity and destruction of Jerusalem—Zedekiah to be taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar [about 594-593 BC]	At the first sight of the coming Chaldean armies Jeremiah foretells via Pahur of the siege and captivity and destruction of Jerusalem—Thus Jeremaiah sends the message back to the king that he, Zedekiah, will be taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon	When Jerusalem rebelled against Babylon under Zedekiah the king of Babylon sent his Chaldean armies to besiege Jerusalem. When the armies appeared Zedekiah sent an inquiry by Pashur, the Chief High Priest and head of the Sanhedrin, to Jeremiah to inquire concerning Jerusalem's fate.
1 The word which came unto ^aJeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him ^bPashur the son of Melchiah, and ^aZephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying, 2 Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for ^aNebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us^a; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.	2^a king of Babylon maketh war against us This seems to be a typical Jewish perspective. Although it was Zedekiah and the Jewish people who were under covenant in the name of Jehovah to be subject to King Nebuchadnezzar, and it was the Jews, their ruling princes and King Zedekiah who broke that covenant by entering into an alliance with Egypt against Babylon, the Jewish perspective is that it is the king of Babylon who has determined to make war against them. From the Babylonian perspective, whose head advisor to King Nebuchadnezzar is the prophet Daniel, Jerusalem by entering an alliance with Egypt and likely other surrounding nations against Babylon, is threatening to brake apart and destroy the Babylonian Empire.	1^a 2 Chr. 36:12 (10-13) ^b Jer. 20:1 (1-6); Jer. 38:1 1^a Jer. 37:3 2^a 2 Kings 25:1; Jer. 43:10 Pashur Now there are some who consider that Pashur the son of Immer named in Jeremiah 20:1 and Pashur son of Malchiah named here and in Jeremiah 38:1 are two separate people. But there is a key to understanding that they are the same Pashur. In Jeremiah 20 Pashur is named as the 'governor of the house of the LORD'. When introduced in that respect, he being named as the 'son of Immer' it is not speaking of his immediate father but that ancestral 'grandfather' by whom his 'lot' had fallen for him being 'governor of the house of God', lot number 16 as per being descended of 'Immer' (see I Chronicles 24:4-5 & 14). And actually this Pushar's immediate father's name does seem to be Malchiah as given here in chapter 21 as well as in Jeremiah 38:1. (note: this is the same type of confusion which masks Zachrias the father of John the Baptist. In one reference Zacharias is spoken of as being of the course or son of Abia (Luke1:5), that is of his ancestor by whose virtue he administers in the temple (1 Chronicles 24:10) and then in another reference it refers to him as son of his immediate father Barachias (Matthew 23:35, TPJS p.261).And while some make these two different Zacharias, Joseph Smith does plainly state him to be the same man.)
3 ¶ Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah: 4 Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you ^awithout the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city. 5 And I myself will fight against you with an ^aoutstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath. 6 And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence. 7 And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver ^aZedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the ^apestilence, from the ^asword, and from the ^afamine, into the ^ahand of Nebuchadrezzar king of ^bBabylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not ^cspare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.		4^a OR outside 5^a Deut. 4:34 7^a 1 Ne. 1:4 (4, 13) 7^a Jer. 34:17 (17, 21) ^b TG Israel, Bondage of, in Other Lands
8 ¶ And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of ^alife, and the way of death. 9 He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and ^afalleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his ^blife shall be unto him for a prey. 10 For I have set my ^aface against this city for ^bevil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of ^cBabylon, and he shall burn it with fire.		8^a Deut. 30:15; Matt. 7:14 (13-14); 1 Ne. 14:7 9^a OR surrenders ^b Jer. 39:18; Jer. 45:5 10^a Lev. 20:5; Jer. 44:11 ^b Amos 9:4 ^c Jer. 34:2; Jer. 38:3; Jer. 52:13
11 ¶ And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD; 12 O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. 13 Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, ^aWho shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations? 14 But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.		13^a 2 Ne. 28:21 (21-25)