Jer 1:17-19 | TNotes | STEP | 1:17 Jeremiah was afraid of looking foolish as the Lord’s messenger (see Jeremiah Book Introduction, “Literary Features: The Messenger System”). In reality, it would be foolish of Jeremiah to refuse to do as God commanded.

‏ Jeremiah 1:17-19

1:17 ^a Jeremiah was afraid of looking foolish as the Lord’s messenger (see Jeremiah Book Introduction, “Literary Features: The Messenger System”). In reality, it would be foolish of Jeremiah to refuse to do as God commanded.
1:18 ^b A fortified city could hold out for a long time against a siege, often until the besieging army left to deal with a crisis elsewhere in the empire.
1:19 ^c I, the Lord, have spoken: This statement has the force of a royal decree (see study note on 2:2).