Jeremiah 34:20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 34:8-22

We have here another prophecy upon a particular occasion, the history of which we must take notice of, as necessary to give light to the prophecy. I. When Jerusalem was closely besieged by the Chaldean army the princes and people agreed upon a reformation in one instance, and that was concerning their servants. 1. The law of God was very express, that those of their own nation should not be held in servitude above seven years, but, after they had served one apprenticeship, they should be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 34:20

I will even give them into the hand of their enemies ,.... The Chaldeans, who were the enemies of the Jews, that were come from a far country to invade, dispossess, ravage, and plunder them; and what can be a greater punishment than to be given up into an enemy's hand, to be in his power, and at his mercy? and into the hand of them that seek their life ; not their wealth and substance only, but their lives also; nothing less will content them: and their dead bodies shall be for meat... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 34:20

Verse 20 He confirms and explains what he had before said, and expresses how the punishment would be executed, — that he would deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and he adds, who seek their life, in order to shew that their enemies would not be content with the spoils, or with a moderate punishment, but would be their inveterate enemies, who would not be satisfied until they destroyed them. Now this passage teaches us also that the ungodly are God’s scourges, for the punishment he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 34:1-22

The first passage ( Jeremiah 34:1-7 ) is virtually a postscript to Jeremiah 32:1-44 ; Jeremiah 33:1-26 .; it apparently contains the prophecy referred to in Jeremiah 32:3-5 as the cause of Jeremiah's imprisonment. The same prophecy recurs in a shorter form in Jeremiah 37:17 , and, by comparing the context of this passage with Jeremiah 32:1 , etc; we are enabled to infer that the original prophecy was uttered at the renewal of the siege of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, who had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 34:8-22

False obedience. An incident of the siege of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. At the first alarm the liberation of the Hebrew slaves was declared and solemnly ratified, according to the sabbatic law, which had long sunk into desuetude. The aim of this was a purely military one, viz. the advantage to be derived from the services of the freedmen in the army, and the removal of disabilities that might occasion disaffection within the walls. Yet an appearance of religion was given to it by the form... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 34:8-22

Playing fast and loose with God. See the history. Under fear occasioned by the prophet's earnest appeals and the obvious fact that the judgment of God was drawing near—for the Chaldeans were at the gates—the king and his people solemnly vow to release their slaves. They had no right to retain them; they were sinning against God and them in so doing. Hence they let them go. But the fear departs, they think their danger has disappeared, and they enslave their brethren again. It was an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 34:8-22

A right act done in a wrong spirit. I. CONSIDER THE ACT ITSELF . It was emphatically a right act in itself. It did not become right or necessary merely by becoming a covenanted thing. It was an act that meant the attainment of liberty to a very considerable number of people who were not their own masters. God is always on the side of liberty, for only to the free individual is full opportunity given of serving God. And yet this must be said with qualification. External liberty is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 34:20

And their dead bodies, etc. One of Jeremiah's repetitions (see Jeremiah 7:33 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 34:8-22

It is usual with commentators to say that, the laws dealing with the emancipation of the Hebrew slaves, as also that of the land resting during the sabbatical year, were not observed. The narrative teaches us the exact contrary. The manumission of the slaves on the present occasion was the spontaneous act of Zedekiah and the people. They knew of the law, and acknowledged its obligation. The observance of it was, no doubt, lax: the majority let their own selfish interests prevail; but the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 34:19-22

Jeremiah 34:19-22. The princes of Judah, &c., (see Jeremiah 29:2,) the eunuchs The officers belonging to the court; the priests and all the people which passed between the parts of the calf Assenting to the solemn and awful imprecation, Let us in like manner be cut in pieces if we do not perform what we now promise. I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, &c. God does not here threaten all the Jews, but those only who had first made, and then broken, this solemn... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 34:8-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 34:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 34:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 34:1-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 34:8-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 34:8-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 34:8-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 34:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 34:8-22

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 34:19-22

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