Jer Jeremiah, chapter Book of Jeremiah, chapter 21
This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah to talk with him. They said, 1Ch 24:9“Please speak with the Lord on our behalf because Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will do some miracle for us like all those miracles he used to do, so that Nebuchadnezzar will retreat from us.”
But Jeremiah replied, “Tell Zedekiah this: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I'm going to turn the weapons you're holding against you, the weapons you're using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonian army outside the wall besieging you. I'm going to bring them right into the center of this city. I myself will fight against you with all my power and might, with the full force of my furious anger. Exo 6:6; Deu 5:15; Jer 32:21I will kill those living in this city, human beings and animals. They will die from a terrible plague.
After that, declares the Lord, I'm going to hand you over, Zedekiah king of Judah, as well as your officers and the people who are left in this city after the plague and war and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to your enemies who want you dead. He will attack you; he won't spare you or show you any pity or mercy.Jer 20:4; Jer 34:2; Exo 4:19
Tell the people this as well: This is what the Lord says: Look, I'm placing before you the path of life and the path of death. If you stay in this city you'll die either by sword or famine or plague, but if you leave and surrender to the Babylonians who are besieging you, you will live. In fact it will be like gaining your life as plunder from a war. Jer 38:2; Jer 45:5For I am determined to bring disaster on this city, and not blessings, declares the Lord. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.Lev 17:10; Jer 32:29; Jer 34:2
In addition tell the royal family of the king of Judah to listen to the Lord's message: Descendants of David, this is what the Lord says: Make sure you judge fairly every day. Protect those who are being unjustly treated from those corrupt people, otherwise because of their evil actions my anger will blaze out like fire that can't be put out. Jer 4:4; Jer 22:3Watch out, because I'm going to fight against you people who live above the valley on top of a flat rock,21:13. Since this message was addressed to the royal family of Judah this reference is taken to refer to the royal fortresses of the City of David above Jerusalem. declares the Lord. You say, ‘Who can attack us? Who can break down our defenses?’ Jer 49:4; Ezk 11:15I'm going to punish you as you deserve for what you've done, declares the Lord. I will set your forest21:14. Solomon's palace was referred to as the “Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.” 1 Kings 7:2; 1 Kings 10:21. on fire and it will burn up everything around you.”Jer 17:27; Jer 22:7