Jeremiah 21:8-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 21:8-14

By the civil message which the king sent to Jeremiah it appeared that both he and the people began to have a respect for him, which it would have been Jeremiah's policy to make some advantage of for himself; but the reply which God obliges him to make is enough to crush the little respect they begin to have for him, and to exasperate them against him more than ever. Not only the predictions in the Jer. 21:1-7, but the prescriptions in these, were provoking; for here, I. He advises the people... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 21:8

And unto the people thou shalt say, thus saith the Lord ,.... These are the words, not of the prophet to the messengers of the king, ordering or advising them what they each of them should say to the people; for the message by them is finished; but they are the words of the Lord to the prophet, directing him what he should say to the people at this critical juncture: behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death ; the way how to preserve their lives; and which, if they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 21:9

He that abideth in this city ,.... Imagining himself safe there; not fearing its being taken by the king of Babylon; though it was so often foretold by the prophet of the Lord that it should: shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence : by the first of these, in sallying out against the enemy; and by the other two, which raged within the city: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you , he shall live ; not fall upon them, as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 21:10

For I have set my face against this city ,.... Or "my fury", as the Targum; their sins had provoked the eyes of his glory; he was wroth with them, and determined to cut them off; his mind was set against them, and upon their ruin; and there was no turning him from it: for evil, and not for good, saith the Lord ; to bring the evil of punishment upon them for the evil of their sins, and not do any good unto them, they were so ill deserving of: it shall be given into the hand of the king... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 21:8

Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death - Meaning escape or destruction in the present instance. This is explained in the next verse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 21:10

He shall burn it with fire - What a heavy message to all; and especially to them who had any fear of God, or reverence for the temple and its sacred services! read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 21:8

Verse 8 God here declares that he proposed to the people the way of life and the way of death, in order that they might surely know that all who remained in the city would soon meet with death, and that those who willingly surrendered to their enemies would have their life spared. Moses says in another sense that he set before them the way of life and the way of death; he spoke of the Law, which contains promises of God’s favor, and threatenings to transgressors. But the Prophet means here... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 21:9

Verse 9 Thou shalt say to this people, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death. Which was the way of death? Whosoever, he says, abides in this city, shall die by the sword, or by famine, or by pestilence This was incredible to the Jews, and they were no doubt inflamed with rage when they heard that they were to perish in the holy city which God protected; for there he had his sanctuary, and there his rest was. But the Prophet had already dissipated all... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 21:10

Verse 10 He again confirms what he had said, that it would be the way of death if the Jews remained fixed in the city, for this would be to struggle against God; for God is said to set his face for evil, since he had fully determined to punish that nation. To set the face is the same as to be resolute. Then God says that what he had resolved respecting the destruction of Jerusalem could not be changed. Now, what must at length be the issue when any one thinks that he can, against the will of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 21:8-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 21:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 21:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 21:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 21:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 21:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 21:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 21:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 21:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 21:1-14

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