Jeremiah 34

34:1–39:18 This section begins with the prediction of Jerusalem’s fall and Zedekiah’s captivity (34:1-7); the fulfillment of that prediction comes toward the end (39:1-10). These messages underline the truth that the old covenant had been irreparably broken, especially by those kings descended from David who should have been most committed to maintaining it.34:1-7 The Lord encouraged Zedekiah, even though he was a weak leader who lacked courage. The message contains judgment and a promise.

34:2 No matter what King Zedekiah did, Jerusalem would fall. The Lord would not rescue the city.

34:4-5 Even though the Babylonians would defeat Judah, the Lord promised to protect Zedekiah during the war; the king would die peacefully and be honored by the survivors of the siege. But see 39:5-7 for a description of Zedekiah’s being captured and tortured and then taken away to Babylon.

34:6-7 King Rehoboam had made Lachish and Azekah into forts (2 Chr 11:5-10). Located on low hills southwest of Jerusalem, these towns guarded the key roads leading up from the great highway on the coast into the heartland of Judah. Military messages written on pieces of pottery have been found in the gateway of Lachish, reporting the progress of the Babylonians as they moved toward it.

34:8–35:19 Here are faithless (34:8-22) and faithful (35:1-19) examples of covenant-keeping.34:8-22 Zedekiah ordered the people to free their slaves; he was apparently trying to curry favor with God by enforcing the covenant requirements regarding the Hebrew ownership of slaves (Exod 21:2-4) that had been neglected since Moses’ time. However, the order was worse than useless because the people soon went back on this new affirmation of the covenant, just as they had broken their treaty with Nebuchadnezzar (see Ezek 21:23-24) and their original covenant with the Lord. The Lord would punish them as their treachery deserved.

34:15-16 The slaveholders had done what was right in releasing their slaves; they had obeyed God’s command. But their covenant had been made in the Temple, and when they broke their covenant, they defiled God’s name and treated it with contempt (in violation of Deut 5:11).

34:17-20 Because of their sin in breaking the terms of their covenant, the Lord would cut them apart and separate them from his protective care. This expression relates to the covenant ceremony of killing and cutting a calf sacrifice into two parts from head to tail. Those making a covenant walked between the laid-out portions to indicate their willingness to be similarly cut apart if they violated the covenant (see Gen 15:9-18). All classes of people in Judah had broken their oath, so they would all receive the punishment to which they had agreed.

34:21-22 Pharaoh Hophra had a treaty with Zedekiah to help him if he were attacked (Isa 30:1-3; 31:1-3). The Babylonians left Jerusalem to fight against Pharaoh Hophra (Jer 37:5-7), but their departure was temporary.