Jer 21 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Jer 21:1-7: 21:1–28:17 From this point forward in the book of Jeremiah, there is specific information about the last several kings of Judah, particularly Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. The narratives are mostly written in prose and are not always in exact chronological sequence. Summary for Jer 21:1-10: 21:1-10 This section moves to the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 588 BC (cp. 52:1-23 ; 2 Kgs 24:18–25:21 ; 2 Chr 36:11-21 ). The Lord communicated with Judah through his messenger Jeremiah. 21:1 The reign of King Zedekiah spanned 597–586 BC . • The Pashhur mentioned here is not the one mentioned in 20:1-6 because they had different fathers. He and Zephaniah bore the full authority of the king, yet when they met the prophet, they begged Jeremiah for the Lord’s help. Clearly, they regarded Jeremiah as a man of great authority. Zedekiah recognized Jeremiah’s prophetic authority, but he lacked the courage or the moral integrity to do what Jeremiah directed him to do in the Lord’s name.

Summary for Jer 21:1-7: 21:1–28:17 ^a From this point forward in the book of Jeremiah, there is specific information about the last several kings of Judah, particularly Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. The narratives are mostly written in prose and are not always in exact chronological sequence.
Summary for Jer 21:1-10: 21:1-10 ^b This section moves to the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 588 BC (cp. 52:1-23 ^c; 2 Kgs 24:18–25:21 ^d; 2 Chr 36:11-21 ^e). The Lord communicated with Judah through his messenger Jeremiah. 21:1 ^f The reign of King Zedekiah spanned 597–586 BC.

• The Pashhur mentioned here is not the one mentioned in 20:1-6 ^g because they had different fathers. He and Zephaniah bore the full authority of the king, yet when they met the prophet, they begged Jeremiah for the Lord’s help. Clearly, they regarded Jeremiah as a man of great authority. Zedekiah recognized Jeremiah’s prophetic authority, but he lacked the courage or the moral integrity to do what Jeremiah directed him to do in the Lord’s name.
21:2 ^h Nebuchadnezzar ... is attacking Judah: This event probably occurred around the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem in 588 BC (2 Kgs 25:1 ⁱ).

• Zedekiah did not pray to the Lord as his ancestor Hezekiah had done (2 Kgs 19:14-20 ^j, 29-37 ^k; 2 Chr 32:20-22 ^l; Isa 37:1-7 ^m, 14-20 ⁿ). However, the king expected Jeremiah to perform the miracle of turning away the Lord’s anger.
Summary for Jer 21:3-7: 21:3-7 ^o The Lord answered King Zedekiah’s messengers with a judicial decree (see study note on 2:2). Resisting the Babylonians would be useless because the Lord was fighting against Jerusalem.
Summary for Jer 21:8-10: 21:8-10 ^p Although the Lord had decided to destroy the city of Jerusalem regardless, individual people still had a choice between life, probably as slaves in Babylon, or death by Babylonian swords (cp. Deut 20:10-13 ^q).
Summary for Jer 21:11-14: 21:11-14 ^r Far from performing a miracle for the dynasty of David, God was going to hold them accountable for their sins.
Summary for Jer 21:11-12: 21:11-12 ^s The Lord gave the royal family of Judah the choice of treating the people with justice or facing the Lord’s anger.
Summary for Jer 21:13-14: 21:13-14 ^t The people in Jerusalem had put their complete faith in the mighty fortress of the city, believing it could not be conquered (see 2 Kgs 18:35-37 ^u; 2 Chr 32:20-23 ^v; Isa 37:36-38 ^w). The Lord had protected the city in the past, but now the Lord was fighting against it.

• light a fire in your forests: See Isa 6:13 ^x.