Jeremias 34
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Jeremias 34:1-5
34:1 NASB, NKJV, TEV, NJB "Nebuchadnezzar" NRSV, JPSOA, REB "Nebuchadrezzar" #1 with an "n" in Jer. 27:6,8,20; 28:3,11,14; 29:1,3 (most common spelling outside Jeremiah) #2 with an "r" in Jer. 21:2,7; 22:25; 24:1; 25:1,9; 29:21; 32:1,28; 34:1; 35:11; 37:1; 39:1,5,11; 43:10; 44:30 and several more (but only in Jeremiah and 4 times in Ezekiel) The MT follows option #2. In Jeremiah the word is spelled both ways. It is difficult to transcribe ancient names from one language to another, but it is surprising that two different spellings occur in one author. This may be a textual hint of a later editor/compiler. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF NEO-BABYLON ▣ "all his army with all the kingdoms of the earth" The military force was made up of Babylonians mercenaries vassal people (cf. 2 Kgs. 24:1-2) This descriptive phrase links up with Jer. 1:15. This is a good example of biblical hyperbole. See G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, pp.110-117,133 ▣ "were fighting against Jerusalem and against all its cities" This terrible judgment event is recorded in gruesome detail in 2 Kgs. 25 and Jer. 52. This probably occurred in the early spring of 588 B.C., just before the Egyptian army briefly approached (see IVP Biblical Background Commentary [OT], p. 667). The curses of covenant disobedience from Lev. 26 and Deut. 28 have now become reality because of the continuous, open-eyed rebellion of both Israel and Judah. The Mosaic covenant had blessings and judgments related to obedience! SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP 34:2 "the Lord God of Israel" The use of "Israel" in this characterization of YHWH denotes the use of the collective title referring to the Patriarch Jacob the promise of a restored covenant people; the split of 922 B.C. will be healed SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D. SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (the name) ▣ "Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah" This chapter refers to two different messages given to Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. his personal fate and the fate of Jerusalem the fate of his leaders who broke their covenant with YHWH and their servants ▣ "hand" A Hebrew idiom of "power" (cf. Jer. 34:3,21; 21:7). SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND ▣ "he will burn it with fire" This was a means of total destruction (i.e. uninhabited, cf. Isa. 34:11-15; Zeph. 2:13-15) symbol of the judgment of God SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE 34:3 "you will not escape" The "you" is emphatic! There are three accounts of Zedekiah's capture in the OT (cf. Jer. 39:4-7; 52:7-11; 2 Kgs. 25:4-7). It was God's will that Neo-Babylon succeed (cf. Ezek. 17:11-21). Only capitulation could have saved the city from destruction. ▣ "you will surely be captured" This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB from the same root (BDB 1074, KB 1779), used for emphasis. ▣ "face to face" Zedekiah was brought before Nebuchadnezzar. They had a personal encounter (cf. Jer. 32:4). "mouth to mouth," BDB 804 "eye to eye" (BDB 744) 34:4-5 Zedekiah will experience the death of his sons the death of all the princes (the royal family or leaders in general) being blinded exiled in chains put in prison in Babylon until his death However, at his death in Babylon (cf. Jer. 52:7-11) he was honored as a royal Judean king. 34:4 This chapter is characterized by VERBS being doubled. captured, Jer. 34:3 die, Jer. 34:4-5 speak, Jer. 34:5-6 turn, Jer. 34:11 proclaim, Jer. 34:17 give, Jer. 34:17-18 pass over, Jer. 34:18-19 "Says" is often found side by side (cf. Jer. 34:1-2,2,12-13), but these other VERBS being doubled form a characteristic of Jeremiah's writing or speaking style. 34:5 "burn spices for you" Literally this is the VERB "to burn" (BDB 976, KB 1358, Qal IMPERFECT). Exactly what, why, or how is not specified, but it must be stated, it does not refer to cremation (see cremation (see SPECIAL TOPIC: CREMATION). It may be a reference to large amounts of spices burnt in honor of the dead king as a symbol of prayers on his behalf (cf. 2 Chr. 16:14; 21:19). The people did this not so much to mourn for him personally but for the memory of their homeland's once-proud heritage. This was just opposite of Jehoiakim's funeral (cf. Jer. 22:18-19). This is a conditional promise (though the "if. . .then" is not stated) message which did not come to pass because Zedekiah would not heed YHWH's words from Jeremiah. SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT), VI., VII. ▣ "alas" This INTERJECTION (i.e. "alas," "woe," "ah," BDB 222) is used in several senses. at a funeral (i.e. "Alas") royal ‒ 1 Kgs. 13:30; Jer. 22:18; 34:5 non-royal ‒ Amos 5:16 declaration of the sins of Judah ‒ Isa. 1:4 judgment of Assyria ("Woe") ‒ Isa. 10:5 judgment of rich Judean exploitation of the poor and helpless ("Woe") ‒ Isa. 5:8,11,18; Jer. 22:13; Hab. 2:6,9,12 judgment of Judean idolaters ("Woe") ‒ Isa. 29:15; 45:9,10; Hab. 2:19; Ezek. 13:18 judgment on Judean leaders who seek an alliance with Egypt ("Woe") ‒ Isa. 31:1 (also note Zech 11:17) judgment ("Alas") ‒ Jer. 30:7; 48:1 a way of attracting attention ("Ho," "Ah") ‒ Isa. 18:1; 55:1; Jer. 47:6; Zech. 2:10,11
Jeremias 34:6-7
34:7 "Lachish" Archaeologists have found letters (i.e. the Lachish Letters on 21 ostraca) from this siege period. The city was larger than Jerusalem during this time. It is about 23 miles southwest of Jerusalem. These two cities were the main coastal plain (cf. Shephlah) defensive positions of Jerusalem. ▣ "Azekah" This city was about eleven miles southwest of Jerusalem. This verse implies that all other cities of Judah had already been destroyed.
Jeremias 34:8-11
34:8-11 This paragraph describes one example of the evil and disrespect for YHWH that existed among the leadership of Jerusalem. They made a public commitment to YHWH and His law (i.e. setting slaves/ servants free, cf. Jer. 34:14; Exod. 21:1-11; Lev. 25:39-55; Deut. 15:12-18), but when the circumstances seemed to change they reversed their actions. For a good discussion of slavery among the covenant people, see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 80-90. 34:8 "covenant" This word (BDB 136, KB 157, cf. Jer. 34:13,15,18; 31:32) is not a Hebrew word. Its etymology is uncertain, possibly "to cut," cf. Jer. 34:18-19 "to bind" from Akkadian to establish a covenant with an oath" from Akkadian to eat a meal together," which sealed the covenant (BDB 136 I, ברה), 1 Kgs. 8:25 SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT 34:9 "Hebrew" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW PEOPLE. 34:10-11 Jeremiah's poetry often used words that sound alike. Notice hear, Jer. 34:10 ‒ שׁמע (twice), BDB 1033 send away, Jer. 34:10,11 ‒ שׁלח (twice), BDBB 1018 turn, Jer. 34:11 ‒ שׁוב (twice), BDB 996 If you go back to Jer. 34:9, there are eight words from Jer. 34:9-11 that begin with שׁ. 34:11 "afterward they turned around and took back the servants" Jeremiah 37:7-10,11 and 34:21-22 tell us that the arrival of the Egyptian army in Canaan was the cause of the siege being broken off briefly. The Mosiac law allowed a Hebrew to sell himself or herself for a set period of time, six years. They were to be released at the end of one year of rest following the six of labor (cf. Exod. 23:10-11; 21:2-11; Lev. 25:39-46; Deut. 15:1,12-18). The rich people of the city vowed this act to impress God but when the siege was lifted they reneged!
Jeremias 34:12-16
34:14 "end of seven years" The LXX has "six years" (RSV). The meaning is "at the beginning of the seventh year." This reflects the ancient law (cf. Exod. 21:2-11; Lev. 25:39-46; Deut. 15:1,12-18). ▣ "did not obey Me or incline their ear to Me" This same reluctance to hear and obey is seen in Jer. 7:24-26; 17:23; 19:15. It was not an issue of ignorance of God's will but willful, recurrent disobedience. "obey" ‒ BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal PERFECT, lit. "hear" (Shema, cf. Deut. 6:4) "incline" ‒ BDB 639, KB 692, Hiphil PERFECT, cf. Josh. 24:23; Ps. 119:36 SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP 34:15 "in the house which is called by My name" This Deuteronomic language refers to the temple, which will eventually be in Jerusalem (cf. Jer. 7:10-11,14,30; 32:34). The concept of the temple as "house" is the word play from 2 Sam. 7:2,13,16 (i.e. building vs. dynasty). SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH 34:16 "profaned My name" This root (BDB 320 III, KB 319, Piel IMPERFECT with waw) means "to pollute," "to defile," or "to profane" (cf. Lev. 18:21; 19:12; 20:3; 21:6; 22:2,32; Ezek. 20:39; 36:20-23; Amos 2:7; Mal. 1:12; 2:10). This was a serious covenant breach (cf. Exod. 20:7). SPECIAL TOPIC: CALL ON HIS NAME
Jeremias 34:17-22
34:17 The leaders of Jerusalem swore in God's name to "release" (BDB 204 I, twice) their Hebrew slaves but they did not. Now YHWH will "release" the sword (BDB 352) pestilence (BDB 184) famine (BDB 944) on them (see note at Jer. 14:12). ▣ "and I will make you a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth" This same phrase is used in Jer. 29:18 and Deut. 28:25. God's covenant people were meant to be a light to the nations but they had become a proverb of disaster! This was an exact reversal of God's purposes (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36)! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 34:18-19 "who passed between the parts of the calf" This was an ancient method of ratifying a covenant (i.e. Gen. 15:9-10,17). SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT 34:18 "transgressed My covenant. . ." This common VERB (BDB 716, KB 778, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE) basically means "to pass through." Usually, it is used literally. However, it can denote the violation of a known legal, moral boundary, which denotes intentional actions/choices. The problem was not information, but purposeful violations (cf. Dan. 9:11; Hosea 6:7; 8:1). SPECIAL TOPIC: SIN IN THE OT, B. #1 ▣ NASB, NKJV, Peshitta "when they cut the calf" "I will make like the calf" "I will do to these people what they did to the bull" NJB, REB "I will treat them like the calf" "[like] the calf which they cut in two" The MT is ambiguous. There have been two ways to interpret this phrase. a reference to the way treaties, covenants, agreements were ratified (i.e. cut an animal in two, cf. Gen. 15:19-21) the ones who broke the covenant with YHWH would become like the animal that was cut in two 34:19 "and all the people of the land" This designation changes over a period of time from common non-government citizens to wealthy leadership. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND 34:20 An improper burial was a horror to ANE people (cf. Jer. 19:7; 1 Sam. 17:44,46; 1 Kgs. 14:11; 16:4). It functioned as a threat and curse which affected one's afterlife. 34:22 "I will bring them back to this city" As Nebuchadnezzar II was besieging Jerusalem in 588 B.C., the Egyptian army appeared in Judah. The Babylonians withdrew their siege of Jerusalem for a brief period to meet the new threat (cf. Jer. 37:5,7,11), but there was no battle and the siege of Jerusalem was quickly reestablished. Notice it is YHWH (lit. "I am going to command" ‒ BDB 845, KB 1010, Piel ACTIVE PARTICIPLE) who directs the Neo-Babylonian military (cf. 2 Kgs. 24:3). Remember the concept of monotheism is often communicated by the absence of secondary causes! YHWH is in control of individual, national, and international events! SPECIAL TOPIC: ONE CAUSALITY SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM