Глава 34

1–7. Zedekiah's lot. 8–22. The punishment awaiting the Jews because they again took slaves whom they themselves had set free. Jeremiah 34:1–7. The prophet announces that Zedekiah will be taken captive by the king of Babylon, but will die his own death and receive an honorable burial. Jer.34:1. 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 that were subject to his hand, and all the nations, fought against Jerusalem and against all her cities: It is difficult to decide at what time this prophecy was made. In any case, Jeremiah was free at that time (v. 2). This may have taken place during Nebuchadnezzar's first siege of Jerusalem. Jer.34:5. You will die in peace, and just as they burned incense for your fathers, the former kings who were before you, at burial, so they will burn it for you and they will mourn you: “Alas, lord!” For I have spoken this word, says the Lord. It is not said where Zedekiah will die. But from the fact that the usual expression is not given here: “buried with his fathers,” we can conclude that the prophet predicts Zedekiah’s death in captivity. – On the burning of a mass of fragrant substances during the burials of kings – see 2 Chron. 16:14, 21:19. Jer.34:7. Meanwhile, the army of the king of Babylon fought against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that still remained, against Lachish and Azekah; for of the cities of Judah these only remained as fortified cities. Lachish and Azekah were two cities located southwest of Jerusalem in the Judean plain. They only withstood the siege of the Babylonians - other cities had already been taken. Jeremiah 34:8–22. At the suggestion of Zedekiah, the princes and residents of Jerusalem were about to set free their Jewish slaves, but then they changed their minds and took them back for themselves. For this, the Lord announces to them various disasters and the complete devastation of their country. Jer.34:8. The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom, Zedekiah made a promise from his subjects to set free all Jewish slaves. This had nothing to do with the Sabbath or the year of jubilee, but simply as a matter of piety. Verse 21 shows that this was done while the Babylonian armies were besieging Jerusalem. Jer.34:11. but after that, having thought it over, they began to take back the slaves and slaves who had been set free, and forced them to be slaves and slaves. “After that,” that is, after the siege was temporarily lifted from Jerusalem (v. 21) and the Jews began to regret the sacrifice they had made, which, as it now seemed to them, was not at all required by the circumstances in which they found themselves. Jer.34:18. And I will give up those who transgressed My covenant and did not stand in the words of the covenant which they made before Me, cutting the calf in two and passing between the cut parts, For the making of covenants in ancient times, see Gen. 15. Jer.34:20. I will deliver them into the hands of their enemies and into the hands of those who seek their lives, and their corpses will be food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth. Wed. Gen 15.11. The Prophet remembers how birds of prey flew onto the dissected bodies of animals when Abraham made a covenant with God. So now the enemies, like birds of prey, will peck at the corpses of Jews. You might be interested in: