Jer 37:2 | KingComments | STEP | Zedekiah, the brother of Jehoiakim, becomes king in the place of Coniah or Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim ( ; ). This fulfills the word of judgment on the wicked Jehoiakim ( ). Zedekiah becomes king because Nebuchadnezzar makes him king. With Zedekiah taking office as king over Judah begins the final phase of the two tribes realm in the land. Zedekiah is a man who does not listen to the words of the LORD, nor do his servants and the people of the land ( ). This is how widespread the apostasy is. The fact that he does not listen to the words of the LORD does not mean that he has rejected the LORD, as did Jehoiakim in the previous chapter. There is a certain religiosity there. His asking Jeremiah to pray for him, that is, to consult the LORD for him, speaks of this ( ). However, he uses the LORD only for his own interests, for he has no intention of obeying Him at all. Jeremiah is more of a predictor of the future to him than a prophet of God. He has consulted Jeremiah before, but has done nothing with what the latter has said to him on behalf of the LORD ( ). Jeremiah still has freedom of movement ( ). The city is already in the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, but has rebelled. The armies of the king of Babylon are in front of the city. When the Chaldeans hear that Pharaoh’s army has come up from Egypt to liberate Jerusalem ( ), they move away from Jerusalem to fight against Pharaoh ( ).

‏ Jeremiah 37:2

Request From Zedekiah

Zedekiah, the brother of Jehoiakim, becomes king in the place of Coniah or Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim (Jer 37:1; 2Chr 36:10). This fulfills the word of judgment on the wicked Jehoiakim (Jer 36:30). Zedekiah becomes king because Nebuchadnezzar makes him king. With Zedekiah taking office as king over Judah begins the final phase of the two tribes realm in the land. Zedekiah is a man who does not listen to the words of the LORD, nor do his servants and the people of the land (Jer 37:2). This is how widespread the apostasy is.

The fact that he does not listen to the words of the LORD does not mean that he has rejected the LORD, as did Jehoiakim in the previous chapter. There is a certain religiosity there. His asking Jeremiah to pray for him, that is, to consult the LORD for him, speaks of this (Jer 37:3). However, he uses the LORD only for his own interests, for he has no intention of obeying Him at all. Jeremiah is more of a predictor of the future to him than a prophet of God. He has consulted Jeremiah before, but has done nothing with what the latter has said to him on behalf of the LORD (Jer 21:1-10).

Jeremiah still has freedom of movement (Jer 37:4). The city is already in the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, but has rebelled. The armies of the king of Babylon are in front of the city. When the Chaldeans hear that Pharaoh’s army has come up from Egypt to liberate Jerusalem (Jer 37:7), they move away from Jerusalem to fight against Pharaoh (Jer 37:5).