Zedekiah's Request
Comments for Study 17
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I. God Rejects Zedekiah's Request (21:1-14)
>1. When did the words of this chapter come to Jeremiah? (1; and 2 Chronicles 36:11-14; and 2 Kings 24:20-25:3)
* Jeremiah 21:1 "The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said:"
* Chapters 1 to 20 are for the most part in chronological order, the rest of the book is arranged by subject matter.
* 2 Chronicles 36:11-14 "Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God's name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD, the God of Israel. Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the LORD, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem."
* 2 Kings 24:20-25:3 "It was because of the LORD's anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence. Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. So in the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. By the ninth day of the [fourth] month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat."
* "The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD" -A new break in time and message from the previous chapter.
* Chapters 1 to 20 are for the most part in chronological order, the rest of the book is arranged by subject matter.
* "King Zedekiah" -Zedekiah (597-586 B.C.) was twenty-one years old when he became king, a puppet king of Babylon. (2 Kings 24:18-19) King Zedekiah took an oath of allegiance to the Babylonian but soon became disloyal. So Nebuchadnezzar besieged the city from 10 January 587 to 9 July 586 B.C. Jerusalem fell and approximately eighty distinguished leaders of the community were executed, the royal palace and the city were set on fire, and the survivors (except the poorest of the land) were taken into captivity.
* The events in this chapter took place sometime between the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar's final siege of Jerusalem (10 January 587 B.C.) and its fall (9 July 586 B.C.).
* 2 Kings 24:1-11 and 2 Chronicles 36:5-10 is the same event. Daniel 1:1-3 and Jeremiah 21-24 also records these events.
King Jehoiachin was king Jehoiakim's son. Jehoiachin's uncle was soon to be king Zedekiah, who was king Josiah's son. King Jehoiakim rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiakim mysteriously died when Nebuchadnezzar's army arrived because he rebelled. Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king when his father died. He surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar after 3 months of being king, perhaps heedingto Jeremiah word.
King Jehoiachin's father had rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar had sent his generals and officials to invade Judah. They surrounded Jerusalem a second time.
Jehoiachin did evil in the sight of God. He reigned 3 months. The passage indicates that his mother was a bad influence during his short reign. Then he surrendered.
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Judah again. This is when Jehoiachin, Daniel, and Ezekiel were taken to Babylon along with much of the riches of Judah and the temple goods.
The average person in Judah suffered for their sinful ways as the Lord had warned. The righteousness suffered too. I cannot believe that harm won't come my way just because I believe in Jesus. Yet God is doing all things for the good of those who believe. I can trust him.
* Jeremiah chapters 21 thru 24 concern the time when Babylon defeated Judah the second time. Judah's last 3 kings Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah are addressed in these 4 chapters. All 3 did evil in the eye of the Lord.
King Zedekiah was in a tough place. He wanted the Lord God to destroy the Babylon army which surrounded Jerusalem with a miracle. The Lord, the God of Israel said no. He would fight against Judah instead because of their sin and lack of true repentance. God did give them a choice. If they wanted to live they must surrender to Babylon. To the king the Lord also said he must stop his corrupt ways. King Zedekiah and the people of Judah were insincere in their seeking God. It was a fake last ditch effort.
Jesus teaches to love him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I have to be sincere. I have to be all in. I can neither be cold nor luke warm. My love and faith need to be sincere. God cannot be mocked. He knows my heart.
* See a carving of Babylonian soldiers on horses to the right.
>When did the king decide to pray to the Lord? (2)
* Jeremiah 21:2 "Inquire now of the LORD for us because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the LORD will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us."
* "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us"
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>What had the Lord already told him? (15:4)
* Jeremiah 15:4 "I will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem."
* 2 Kings 21:10-16 "The LORD said through his servants the prophets: "Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and hand them over to their enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their foes, because they have done evil in my eyes and have provoked me to anger from the day their forefathers came out of Egypt until this day." Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end--besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the LORD."
* 2 Chronicles 33:6 "He (Manasseh) sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger."
* 2 Chronicles 33:9-10 "But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites. The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention."
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>2. What did the Lord say would happen to Jerusalem? (3-6)
* Jeremiah 21:3-6 "But Jeremiah answered them, "Tell Zedekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city. I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in anger and fury and great wrath. I will strike down those who live in this city--both men and animals--and they will die of a terrible plague."
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>And to the king, his officials, and the people of Jerusalem? (7)
* Jeremiah 21:7 "After that, declares the LORD, I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.'"
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>What choices did the Lord give them?
* Jeremiah 21:8-10 "Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life. I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the LORD. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.'"
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>3. What crimes had the royal house of Judah committed? (11-12)
* Jeremiah 21:11-12 "Moreover, say to the royal house of Judah, 'Hear the word of the LORD; O house of David, this is what the LORD says: "'Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done-- burn with no one to quench it."
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>Why were they so arrogant? (13-14)
* Jeremiah 21:13-14 "I am against you, [Jerusalem,] you who live above this valley on the rocky plateau, declares the LORD-- you who say, "Who can come against us? Who can enter our refuge?" I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forests that will consume everything around you.'"
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II. To Judah's King Jehoahaz (22:1-7)
>4. What did the Lord want Jeremiah to do? (1-2)
* Jeremiah 22:1-2 "This is what the LORD says: "Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there: 'Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, you who sit on David's throne--you, your officials and your people who come through these gates."
* Jeremiah 22 thru 24 concern the time Nebuchadnezzar had surrounded Jerusalem, King Jehoiakim died, King Jehoiachin had surrendered and was taken to Babylon with Daniel, Ezekiel and 10,000 others, King Zedekiah refused to back down and finally lost to Nebuchadnezzar. The year 597 BC.
The corruption of the kings, leaders and prophets described in chapters 22 and 23 is very disturbing. There was no love for others nor any love for God. They were selfish to the 10th degree. Only a very small amount were righteous in God's eyes.
The Lord God promised them that he would gather his people that are being scattered. He promised to raise up a righteous branch. He will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior. He is Jesus. God kept his promise to the righteous.
Chapter 24 uses good and bad figs as an illustration and promise to sort out the good and bad amongst his people. Jesus's parables also promise this. Jesus often used sheep and ram as examples of the judgement to come.
I am glad that Jesus is my Righteous Branch. I look forward to his coming to sort out the good and bad. I do not need to worry for the Righteous Branch lives in me.
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>What did the Lord want? (3)
* Jeremiah 22:3 "This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place."
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>What would happen if they did this? (4-5)
* Jeremiah 22:4-5 "For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David's throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people. But if you do not obey these commands, declares the LORD, I swear by myself that this palace will become a ruin.'"
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>5. How will Jerusalem's situation change? (6)
* Jeremiah 22:6 "For this is what the LORD says about the palace of the king of Judah: "Though you are like Gilead to me, like the summit of Lebanon, I will surely make you like a desert, like towns not inhabited."
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>By what means? (7)
* Jeremiah 22:7 "I will send destroyers against you, each man with his weapons, and they will cut up your fine cedar beams and throw them into the fire."
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>Is the Lord the same today?
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III. To Judah's King Jehoiakim (22:8-30)
>6. What will be on all the minds of all who pass by fallen Jerusalem? (8-10)
* Jeremiah 22:8-10 "People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?' And the answer will be: 'Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.'" Do not weep for the dead [king] or mourn his loss; rather, weep bitterly for him who is exiled, because he will never return nor see his native land again."
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>What would be the answer? (11-12)
* Jeremiah 22:11-12 "For this is what the LORD says about Shallum son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but has gone from this place: "He will never return. He will die in the place where they have led him captive; he will not see this land again."
* "Shallum son of Josiah" -Shallum is another name for Jehoahaz. He reigned only three months. (2 Kings 23:31-35; and 2 Chronicles 36:2-4)
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>7. Who was the next prophecy about? (18a)
* Jeremiah 22:18a "Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah"
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>What kind of a king was he?
* Jeremiah 22:13-14 "Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his countrymen work for nothing, not paying them for their labor. He says, 'I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.' So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar and decorates it in red."
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>Whose example should have he followed? (15-17)
* Jeremiah 22:15-17 "Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him.
16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.
17 "But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion.""
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>Where would he be buried? (18b-19)
* Jeremiah 22:18b-19 ""They will not mourn for him: 'Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!' They will not mourn for him: 'Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!' He will have the burial of a donkey-- dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem."
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>8. What would happen to Judah's allies? (20, 22-23)
* Jeremiah 22:20 "Go up to Lebanon and cry out, let your voice be heard in Bashan, cry out from Abarim, for all your allies are crushed."
* Jeremiah 22:22-23 "The wind will drive all your shepherds away, and your allies will go into exile. Then you will be ashamed and disgraced because of all your wickedness. You who live in 'Lebanon,' who are nestled in cedar buildings, how you will groan when pangs come upon you, pain like that of a woman in labor!"
* "Lebanon" -the palace's nickname (2 Kings 7:2)
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>Who was to blame for Jerusalem's downfall? (21)
* Jeremiah 22:21 "I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me."
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>9. What did the Lord say about King Jehoiachin? (24-27)
* Jeremiah 22:24-27 "As surely as I live," declares the LORD, "even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. I will hand you over to those who seek your life, those you fear--to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Babylonians. I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. You will never come back to the land you long to return to."
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>What would happen to him? (28)
* Jeremiah 22:28 "Is this man Jehoiachin a despised, broken pot, an object no one wants? Why will he and his children be hurled out, cast into a land they do not know?"
* 2 Chronicles 36:9-10 "Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, together with articles of value from the temple of the LORD, and he made Jehoiachin's uncle, Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem."
* 2 Kings 24:8-17 "Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother's name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father had done. At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it, and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it. Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered to him. In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner. As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar removed all the treasures from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace, and took away all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the LORD. He carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the officers and fighting men, and all the craftsmen and artisans--a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left. Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king's mother, his wives, his officials and the leading men of the land. The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand craftsmen and artisans. He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah."
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>What would happen to David's line? (29-30)
* Jeremiah 22:29-30 "O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: "Record this man as if childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah."
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>10. Why would Jehoiachin find this hard to believe? (2 Samuel 7:11-16)
* 2 Samuel 7:11-16 "and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. "'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'"
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>What did they not understand? (Deuteronomy 28:36-37, 28:64)
* Deuteronomy 28:36-37 "The LORD will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your fathers. There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone. You will become a thing of horror and an object of scorn and ridicule to all the nations where the LORD will drive you."
* Deuteronomy 28:64 "Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods--gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known."
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