Jeremiah 38:7-13
English Standard Version

Jeremiah Rescued from the Cistern
7 When Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern—the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate— 8 Ebed-melech went from the king's house and said to the king, 9 “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.” 10 Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Take thirty men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” 11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe in the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes. 12 Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did so. 13 Then they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

There is at least one man in the king's court who seems to fear the LORD and wish to do justly by Jeremiah, the LORD's prophet.  Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch serving in the king's court approached the king to to tell him of all the evil that the other officials had done to Jeremiah.  Ebed-melech is concerned that Jeremiah will die of hunger, because there is no bread left in the city.

The king seems to agree with Ebed-melech that the goal was to punish, but not kill Jeremiah.  So, the king ordered 30 of his strongest men to accompany Ebed-melech to lift Jeremiah out of the cistern.  They used old, worn-out clothes to go between Jeremiah's armpits and the rope that was tied around him.  Jeremiah was so weak that he could not help get himself out, and they didn't want him to get any rope-burns.

Once Jeremiah was lifted out of the cistern, they did not set him free, but he instead remained a prisoner in the court of the guard just as he had been before.  His situation didn't change much in that there was still no bread in the city to feed him with, but at least the conditions of his imprisonment improved.  The king and the guards and officials think they have Jeremiah held captive, but really they are now a captive audience to hear the LORD's message day after day (much like Paul being held captive in Rome and the gospel being shared with all in Caesar's household and the entire Pretorian guard).

Jeremiah 38:1-6
English Standard Version

Jeremiah Cast into the Cistern
38 Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah was saying to all the people: 2 “Thus says the LORD: He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live. He shall have his life as a prize of war, and live. 3 Thus says the LORD: This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon and be taken.” 4 Then the officials said to the king, “Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.” 5 King Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you.” 6 So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

Though Jeremiah was imprisoned, he would not stop speaking the message that the LORD gave to him to give to the people.  This upset the leaders who were trying to tell the people to hold on and fight, and Jeremiah was telling them that their only hope of living was to surrender and be taken captive.  Those were the only two options--a life in captivity or death (maybe a quick death by the sword, or maybe a slow and painful death from disease and/or starvation).  The officials who heard the message tried to urge the king to put Jeremiah to death, because, they argued, his words are taking the fight out of the soldiers and people who remain (people were listening to him).

They argued that Jeremiah was not seeking the welfare of the people, but their harm.  The LORD's message didn't make sense to them, so He had to be wrong, and they had to be right in their own eyes.  Zedekiah did not directly make a decision, but turned Jeremiah over to these officers to do with him as they pleased.  The king argued that he was powerless against all of them (as if he wanted to do something different, which I doubt).  They cast Jeremiah into the cistern of one of the king's sons.  The cistern was still in the court of the guard where Jeremiah had been held captive.  Normally, this cistern would be used to hold rain water which would be used to give water to the people or animals, but there was no water for so long that the cistern was dry.  It had only mud in the bottom of it that Jeremiah sank into.

Jeremiah 37:11-21
English Standard Version

Jeremiah Imprisoned
11 Now when the Chaldean army had withdrawn from Jerusalem at the approach of Pharaoh's army, 12 Jeremiah set out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to receive his portion there among the people. 13 When he was at the Benjamin Gate, a sentry there named Irijah the son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans.” 14 And Jeremiah said, “It is a lie; I am not deserting to the Chaldeans.” But Irijah would not listen to him, and seized Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. 15 And the officials were enraged at Jeremiah, and they beat him and imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for it had been made a prison.

16 When Jeremiah had come to the dungeon cells and remained there many days, 17 King Zedekiah sent for him and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house and said, “Is there any word from the LORD?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” 18 Jeremiah also said to King Zedekiah, “What wrong have I done to you or your servants or this people, that you have put me in prison? 19 Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you and against this land’? 20 Now hear, please, O my lord the king: let my humble plea come before you and do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, lest I die there.” 21 So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers' street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

As hinted in yesterday's text, Jeremiah would be arrested and impassioned (again) because the king did not like what he had to say.  There were made up charges by a man named Irjah that Jeremiah was deserting to the Chaldeans (the Babylonians).  Although it was a lie, Jeremiah was imprisoned without any evidence or a real trial.  After several days, the king called Jeremiah to see if he would change his prophecy after spending a few days in the dungeon.  This makes it obvious that the charges were because the politicians did not like the message the LORD had given Jeremiah.  They did not have an arm long enough or strong enough to reach the LORD, so they instead attacked His messenger.

Jeremiah gave the king the same message he had been giving all along.  The king would be delivered over into the hand of the king of Babylon.  Jeremiah then questioned his imprisonment.  He wanted to know what crime he had committed that was deserving of this.  He also added that it is the false prophets who should be punished for giving the king and the people false hole and lying in the name of the LORD.

Jeremiah asks to be released so that he will not die in the prison (I don't take Jeremiah to be overly dramatic, so the conditions there must have been abysmal).  They kept Jeremiah imprisoned, but did so in court of the guard and the king ordered that he be given fresh bread every day until the city's supply of bread was gone.  In this the LORD gave favor to Jeremiah and kept His prophet alive so that he could continue to give the LORD's message to the king and the people (and his prophecy was given for our benefit too). 

Jeremiah 37:1-10
English Standard Version

Jeremiah Warns Zedekiah
37 Zedekiah the son of Josiah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah, reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim. 2 But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD that he spoke through Jeremiah the prophet.

3 King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Please pray for us to the LORD our God.” 4 Now Jeremiah was still going in and out among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison. 5 The army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt. And when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

6 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet: 7 “Thus says the LORD, God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the king of Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me, ‘Behold, Pharaoh's army that came to help you is about to return to Egypt, to its own land. 8 And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city. They shall capture it and burn it with fire. 9 Thus says the LORD, Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely go away from us,” for they will not go away. 10 For even if you should defeat the whole army of Chaldeans who are fighting against you, and there remained of them only wounded men, every man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire.’”

Zedekiah is a the king of Josiah that Nebuchadnezzar put in place after Jehoiakim was carried off to Babylon.  Nebuchadnezzar thought Zedekiah would be a puppet king that would govern the land and the people according to the laws and authority of the king of Babylon.  This was the case for a while, but after a little while, he wanted to rebel against Babylon.  He was not the rightful king--that should have been Jehoiakim's son Coniah--and Zedekiah was rebellious against the LORD, His commands, and the words of His prophet, Jeremiah.

Zedekiah sent messengers to Jeremiah to ask him to pray for success for the king and the people as they were under threat from the Egyptians and the Babylonians.  The text hints that things are not going to go well for Jeremiah and he is going to end up in prison again, but that has not happened yet.  At this time, he is a free man.

The LORD gives Jeremiah a message to give to the king of Judah.  The help they thought they would receive from Egypt is not coming  The Chaldeans (the Babylonians) are coming back to fight against the city, and they will be victorious.  They will capture the city and burn it with fire.  They are not going to go away.  The people of Judah cannot hold out until they grow tired and return home.  The LORD has put it in their hearts to do this thing.  The LORD made it clear that even if they were able to defeat the army of the Chaldeans so that they were all wounded, they would not be allowed to kill them.  The LORD adds that even in such a wounded state, the Chaldeans would surely defeat the city and burn it with fire because He is fighting alongside the Chaldeans, not the people of Judah.  They will have victory even if they have to  grasp it from the jaws of defeat.

You can imagine how words like these would upset the prophets, priests, and king and probably get Jeremiah thrown in prison again.  All those that wanted to lie to the people and tell them they were safe because the LORD was on their side could not stand to have a prophet of the LORD telling the people that the LORD was not on their side and they needed to repent if they were to be on the LORD's side.  He had not moved away from them, they had moved away from Him.

Jeremiah 36
English Standard Version

Jehoiakim Burns Jeremiah's Scroll
36 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD that he had spoken to him. 5 And Jeremiah ordered Baruch, saying, “I am banned from going to the house of the LORD, 6 so you are to go, and on a day of fasting in the hearing of all the people in the LORD's house you shall read the words of the LORD from the scroll that you have written at my dictation. You shall read them also in the hearing of all the men of Judah who come out of their cities. 7 It may be that their plea for mercy will come before the LORD, and that every one will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and wrath that the LORD has pronounced against this people.” 8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did all that Jeremiah the prophet ordered him about reading from the scroll the words of the LORD in the LORD's house.

9 In the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the LORD. 10 Then, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the scroll, in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD's house.

11 When Micaiah the son of Gemariah, son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the LORD from the scroll, 12 he went down to the king's house, into the secretary's chamber, and all the officials were sitting there: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, Elnathan the son of Achbor, Gemariah the son of Shaphan, Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the officials. 13 And Micaiah told them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the scroll in the hearing of the people. 14 Then all the officials sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Cushi, to say to Baruch, “Take in your hand the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come.” So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them. 15 And they said to him, “Sit down and read it.” So Baruch read it to them. 16 When they heard all the words, they turned one to another in fear. And they said to Baruch, “We must report all these words to the king.” 17 Then they asked Baruch, “Tell us, please, how did you write all these words? Was it at his dictation?” 18 Baruch answered them, “He dictated all these words to me, while I wrote them with ink on the scroll.” 19 Then the officials said to Baruch, “Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and let no one know where you are.”

20 So they went into the court to the king, having put the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the secretary, and they reported all the words to the king. 21 Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the secretary. And Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials who stood beside the king. 22 It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the fire pot before him. 23 As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. 24 Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments. 25 Even when Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. 26 And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the secretary and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them.

27 Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah's dictation, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 28 “Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. 29 And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, ‘Thus says the LORD, You have burned this scroll, saying, “Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off from it man and beast?” 30 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night. 31 And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity. I will bring upon them and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and upon the people of Judah all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, but they would not hear.’”

32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.

The LORD calls Jeremiah to put all of the prophecies that He had given to him in writing--all of them since the days of King Josiah--so t hat the people might receive them and maybe one person would repent.  The LORD made sure everyone had an opportunity to hear and repent, even if He knew none of them were going to repent.

Jeremiah decided that the best way to give the message to all the people was to have it read to the people when they were all gathered together in Jerusalem at the Temple for a day of fasting.  However, Jeremiah had been banned from the Temple, so he commissioned Baruch the son of Neriah (the scribe who had penned his words on the scroll) to stand in his place and read the message.  The opportunity came in the fifth year of King Jehoiakim in the ninth month of the year when the people gathered together for a fast.

One man heard the words of the LORD and decided to run to the king's council chambers to tell them what he had heard being preached and prophesied to the people.  They didn't like it but had to hear it for themselves before making any decisions, so they they asked the scribe to come and read the entirety of the scroll to them.  They were all struck with fear (though none of them repented) and they knew the king needed to hear this message for himself.  They knew that the king would be out for blood and that Jeremiah and his scribe's life would be in danger, so after confirming that the scribe had written all the words on the scroll at the direction of Jeremiah, they told the scribe to run back to Jeremiah to have both of them hide, for their lives were in danger.

Jehudi was then sent to get the scroll and read it before the king.  All the officials of the king stood beside the king during the reading.  The king was keeping himself warm in his winter house with a fire pot and as a few columns of the scroll were read to him, he would cut off those columns and throw them into the fire pot to express his displeasure and to try to destroy the words of this prophecy (the Word of the LORD).  Eventually, the king had burned up the entire scroll containing the prophecy of the LORD given to Jeremiah.  Unlike when they read the words of the prophecy in the council chamber, there was no fear from anyone now.  They were defiant and refused to repent outwardly or inwardly.  There were a few that had tried to advise the king not to burn the scroll, but in the end, they were unafraid of the words of the prophecy as well.  The king ordered several men to search for Jeremiah and his scribe, but the LORD hid them.

The LORD comes to Jeremiah again to tell him to make a new copy of everything that had been written previously but to add a new chapter at the end that prophesied against the king because he had burned the scroll and said in private outside the hearing if Jeremiah or his scribe that he was concerned that these words would encourage the heart of the king of Babylon.  Only the LORD could have heard this and told Jeremiah to write it down.  The LORD told the king that he would have no heirs to sit on the throne after him (all of his sons would be killed).  He would not be buried with the other kings but would be thrown out to be dealt with by the elements and wild animals.  The LORD would surely bring all these words of the prophecy that He had given to Jeremiah against the city and its people.  Jeremiah did as the LORD commanded and he added any additional prophecy that the LORD gave to him as well.  The LORD preserves His Word, even from wicked kings who do not want the people to hear the Word of the LORD.

Jeremiah 35
English Standard Version

The Obedience of the Rechabites
35 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink.” 3 So I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah and his brothers and all his sons and the whole house of the Rechabites. 4 I brought them to the house of the LORD into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold. 5 Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, “Drink wine.” 6 But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. 7 You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’ 8 We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, 9 and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or seed, 10 but we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against the land, we said, ‘Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and the army of the Syrians.’ So we are living in Jerusalem.”

12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 13 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the LORD. 14 The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. 15 I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.’ But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. 16 The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. 17 Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.”

18 But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, 19 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me.”

Notice the timing of this prophecy has changed.  We are now in the days of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah.  If you are like me, this is probably the first time that you've heard about the Rechabites and need a little context to understand this passage.  Here's a an article about them from GotQuestions.org that may be helpful:  Who were the Rechabites in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org.  They were a nomadic people group that didn't drink wine, didn't build houses, didn't sow seed, and didn't plant vineyards.  They were descendants of the Kenites (a Midianite people).  The LORD tells Jeremiah to tell them to come into one of the cambers (living quarters) in the Temple and offer them wine to drink.  Jeremiah does as the LORD commands, but they refuse to disobey the command of their father.  They explain the rules and they explain why they are living in Jerusalem, though they are nomadic people who live in tents.

The LORD then uses them as a lesson to shame His people.  The Rechabites still obeyed the command of their "father" (ancestor) that had been given to them hundreds of years earlier.  He only needed to tell them once and they had obeyed all these years and refused the temptation to disobey even when Jeremiah brought them into the house of the LORD and set wine before them.  The LORD had given commands to His people and sent them many prophets to warn them keep HIs covenant, yet they constantly rebelled and disobeyed.  He calls on the people of Judah to repent and learn from the Rechabites.

The LORD promised that if the people of Judah refused to repent, they would have all the judgment come upon them that He had pronounced through Jeremiah and the other prophets as well as all the curses outlined by the Law of Moses.  However, there was still time if they would repent for catastrophe to be avoided.  Because the Rechabites were faithful and obedient, the LORD promised that He would not let their people be destroyed--ever.  That means to me that some of them were saved and will live forever in the New Heaven and the New Earth, but I believe it also means that God has kept a remnant of them alive to this day.  I don't know if they know who they are or if they still keep the commands of their father to live in tents and not drink wine or plant vineyards or fields, but they are still around to this day remaining obedient and faithful, that is something to be commended and respected--not to be scorned for being "backwards" and "antiquated."

Jeremiah 34
English Standard Version

Zedekiah to Die in Babylon
34 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms of the earth under his dominion and all the peoples were fighting against Jerusalem and all of its cities: 2 “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire. 3 You shall not escape from his hand but shall surely be captured and delivered into his hand. You shall see the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face. And you shall go to Babylon.’ 4 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah! Thus says the LORD concerning you: ‘You shall not die by the sword. 5 You shall die in peace. And as spices were burned for your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so people shall burn spices for you and lament for you, saying, “Alas, LORD!”’ For I have spoken the word, declares the LORD.”

6 Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah, in Jerusalem, 7 when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that were left, Lachish and Azekah, for these were the only fortified cities of Judah that remained.

8 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to make a proclamation of liberty to them, 9 that everyone should set free his Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should enslave a Jew, his brother. 10 And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant that everyone would set free his slave, male or female, so that they would not be enslaved again. They obeyed and set them free. 11 But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female slaves they had set free, and brought them into subjection as slaves. 12 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 13 “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I myself made a covenant with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying, 14 ‘At the end of seven years each of you must set free the fellow Hebrew who has been sold to you and has served you six years; you must set him free from your service.’ But your fathers did not listen to me or incline their ears to me. 15 You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name, 16 but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves.

17 “Therefore, thus says the LORD: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; behold, I proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, declares the LORD. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 18 And the men who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make them like the calf that they cut in two and passed between its parts— 19 the officials of Judah, the officials of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf. 20 And I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their lives. Their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth. 21 And Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials I will give into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their lives, into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon which has withdrawn from you. 22 Behold, I will command, declares the LORD, and will bring them back to this city. And they will fight against it and take it and burn it with fire. I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without inhabitant.”

It felt as if the whole world was at war with Judah and Jerusalem.  Jeremiah is to deliver a message to the king who has imprisoned him that the king of Babylon will be successful, will take the king of Judah captive, and will take him back to Babylon where he will die.  The city and all of its people and wealth will be given into the hands of the Chaldeans (the Babylonians).  This is the will of the LORD and not one person, not even the king of Judah, will escape with his life.  If they try to escape, they will die.  Their only hope for life is to surrender and be taken captive.  The LORD is not going to have King Zedekiah executed by the king of Babylon though.  He would live out his days in captivity and die an old man with many years to think about his sins that he committed against the LORD and how he led the LORD's people into the sin that led them into Exile.  The LORD promises that his death will be mourned by the people when the day of his death is announced (though he was an evil king, he would be honored, yet he would not be buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem).

The king made a "proclamation of liberty" that all the people were to release their Hebrew slaves (this was in keeping with the Law).  However, it was not long before the people broke the covenant they had made with the king and started to take male and female Hebrew slaves again, making those who had been set free captives again even though the people had sworn, "Never again."  The LORD showed the people that this is the same kind of rebellion that He had faced with His people who made a covenant with Him and broke it so often after swearing over and over again that they would keep it and "never again" would break it.  They had not just broken covenant with King Zedekiah, but with the LORD because this was a provision of the Mosaic Covenant.

The LORD declarers all the judgments that are coming on them are right, and this is just more proof of it.  The charges just keep piling up for those who have already shown they are guilty of many offenses deserving of death and the LORD is having great mercy to send them away into Exile instead of killing them.  If all of the guilty died all at once, then perhaps His covenant people that were supposed to receive and fulfill His covenant promises would be so decimated that it would put His plans at risk (though He is capable of miracles beyond our comprehension, so I have no doubt He could fulfil His plans in spite of this generation--which is exactly what He did.  Just like in the wilderness though, He caused them to die out slowly.  He did not kill them all at once for the sake of His Name and His covenant).

The campaign against Jerusalem would not be a single battle.  The Babylonians would take the king and many of the nobles and the "royal families" captive in is early campaign, but they would return later to completely destroy the city and capture those who remained who they didn't find worthy the first time they attacked.  There is still much of the book of Jeremiah left as Jeremiah lived through much of the campaign against Judah and Jerusalem.