CHAPTER 34:8-22 The Message of Condemnation The king had made a covenant that all Hebrew slaves should be released Exodus 21:1-36 ; Deuteronomy 15:12-23 . The princes and people agreed, but afterwards broke the covenant. The message of condemnation tells them, since they had done this, that the Lord will set them free to fall a prey to the sword, the pestilence and famine. The text explains itself. read more
34:18 And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they {h} cut the calf in two, and passed between the parts of it,(h) Concerning the manner of solemn covenant which the ancients used by passing between the two parts of a beast, to signify that the transgressor of the same covenant should be so divided in pieces, read Genesis 15:10 . read more
MORE MESSAGES FOR ZEDEKIAH In some respects the most important chapter here is the first, which deals with Babylon’s supremacy, and reveals the beginning of “the times of the Gentiles,” or “the fulness of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:25 ). The term refers to the period when Israel, because of her disobedience to God, has forfeited her place of power in the earth and is scattered among the nations. It begins when God transfers this power to the Gentiles as represented by Babylon, and continues... read more
Concerning the law for the release of servants, we have it at large, Exodus 21:16 . And as this was a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus, in becoming Jehovah's servant for his Church and people; it was most strictly to be observed; and it should seem that it was very religiously followed, when at anytime trouble was upon Israel: but when the trouble was over, the great ones oppressed their brethren as before. So was it at this time. So was it in the after age of Nehemiah. See Nehemiah 5:1-13 .... read more
Parts. This was done to signify that if they transgressed, they consented to be slain, Genesis xv. 9, 17. It seems Sedecias and his subjects had solemnly ratified the covenant made at Sinai, being impressed with fear of the enemy. read more
8-22 A Jew should not be held in servitude above seven years. This law they and their fathers had broken. And when there was some hope that the siege was raised, they forced the servants they had released into their services again. Those who think to cheat God by dissembled repentance and partial reformation, put the greatest cheat upon their own souls. This shows that liberty to sin, is really only liberty to have the sorest judgments. It is just with God to disappoint expectations of mercy,... read more
Of The Evil Treatment of Bond-Servants. v. 8. This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, which he recorded as faithfully as he had received it, after that the King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, entering into a solemn agreement with them, to proclaim liberty unto them, according to the Lord's ordinance which permitted the Hebrews to keep the members of their own nation as bond-servants for only six years, since in the seventh year they... read more
11. HISTORICAL APPENDIX TO THE COLLECTION OF DISCOURSES(Chap Jeremiah 34:8-22 and Chap 35)At the close of the collected discourses we find two portions which may be regarded as an appendix, inasmuch as they afford a glaring instance of Israel’s disobedience towards Jehovah, in contrast with the obedience of a non-Israelitish tribe towards the command of their ancestor. The history of the discharge of servants, ordered in the pressure of distress but taken back when the danger seemed to be past,... read more
Chapters thirty-four and thirty-five contain prophecies of the siege. The armies of Nebuchadnezzar were round about Jerusalem, and Jehovah declared to Zedekiah that the king of Babylon would be successful, that the city would be taken and burned with fire, and that he himself would be carried captive to Babylon. Nevertheless, the word of Jehovah concerning Zedekiah was that he should not die by the sword, but in peace. The next prophecy is a denunciation of the king for the false covenant he... read more
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Expositor's Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 34:1-22
CHAPTER XIA BROKEN COVENANTJeremiah 21:1-10, Jeremiah 34:1-22, Jeremiah 37:1-10"All the princes and peoplechanged their minds and reduced to bondage again all the slaves whom they had set free." Jeremiah 34:10-11IN our previous chapter we saw that, at the point where the fragmentary record of the abortive conspiracy in the fourth year of Zedekiah came to an abrupt conclusion, Jeremiah seemed to have regained the ascendency he enjoyed under Josiah. The Jewish government had relinquished their... read more