Jeremiah 34:1-10 & 37:3-4
[Note the Time Gap: Jeremiah 37:5-16, 34:11-22] – At the 9th year of Zedekiah’s reign (2 Kings 25:1, Jer. 39:1), Judah was attacked and Jerusalem was being besieged (2 Kings 25:1, Jer. 34:1, 7). Shockingly, Zedekiah and the princes were in fear for the space of time from the 9th year to the 10th year of Zedekiah, when they eventually hired Egypt officially (which they were storing up and preparing to do before Babylon arrived by keeping back the tribute money, no doubt)! Shockingly, they repented of enslaving their brethren and God spoke a good word concerning Zedekiah as a result (see Jer. 34:1-10 & 37:3)! As you can see, Zedekiah was asking Jeremiah to pray for him, saying, “Pray now unto the LORD our God for us” (Jer. 37:3). Furthermore, remember, he inquired of the Lord by Jeremiah, saying, “Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us” (Jer. 21:2). The word of promise delivered to Zedekiah is clearly more merciful and provisional (Jer. 34:1-10) than the word delivered before he and the princes began repenting (Jeremiah 21:1-22:30). Before, it was stated that Zedekiah would die by the sword (Jer. 21:6-10) – which means, furthermore, he would perish in the shameful way like as Jehoiakim was killed (Jer. 21:18-19) – giving reference to this difference, how that Zedekiah will not die by the sword or go to Babylon (emphasis, “Yet!” in Jer. 34:4), but rather die like his fathers in Jerusalem (Jer. 34:5-6), the exact wording of the manner of death suffered by Jehoiakim in Jeremiah 21:18-19 is undone and heralded on the contrary as a blessing from God upon Zedekiah in Jeremiah 34:5. This is strong evidence that Jeremiah heard the word formerly delivered, recorded in Jeremiah 21:1-22:30, by acting in the aforementioned ways of repentance, thus the Lord was amending His word – first reiterating it in Jeremiah 34:2-3, and then amending it in Jeremiah 34:4-5!
To be Continued…