Jeremiah 34:8-11

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 34:8

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord ,.... Here begins a new prophecy, which was delivered some time after the former; that was given out while the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem; this after he had quitted the siege for a while, and was gone to meet the king of Egypt, who was coming to the relief of the city, as appears from Jeremiah 34:21 ; though the Jews F11 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 26. p. 74. say this was delivered in the seventh year of Zedekiah, in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 34:9

That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew, or an Hebrewess, go free ,.... This is the proclamation that was agreed to be made, that every manservant and maidservant, that serve six years an apprenticeship, should be freed from their servitude, according to the law in Exodus 21:1 ; a law founded upon justice and equity, mercy and compassion; done for the honour of the Jewish nation, that they might be a free people, and in commemoration of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 34:10

Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant ,.... The king had made with the people. Here the princes are mentioned, who were not before, but included in the people; they and the rest of the people are here meant, who having agreed to the covenant, heard that everyone should let his manservant, and everyone his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more ; or any longer, which they had done, contrary to law: when they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 34:11

But afterwards they turned ,.... From the law of God, and their own agreement, and returned to their former usage of their servants; they changed their minds and measures. This seems to be done, when the king of Babylon, hearing the king of Egypt was coming to break up the siege of Jerusalem, quitted it, and went forth to meet him, as appears from Jeremiah 34:21 ; the Jews now finding themselves at liberty, and out of danger as they imagined, wickedly rebelled against the law of God;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 34:8

The word that came unto Jeremiah - Here the second discourse begins, which was delivered probably a short time, even a few days, after the former. Zedekiah had made a covenant - We find no account elsewhere of this covenant: "Every man should let his man-servant and his maid-servant go free;" i.e., as we learn from Jeremiah 34:14 , on the sabbatical year; for the seventh year was the year of release. See Deuteronomy 15:12 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 34:11

But afterward they turned - They had agreed to manumit them at the end of the seventh year; but when the seventh year was ended, they recalled their engagement, and detained their servants. This, I believe, is what is here meant. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 34:10

Verse 10 He says, that all the princes and all the people heard, who had come to the covenant, that every one should let his servant free, etc. ; and then he adds, And they obeyed The verb שמע, shemo, is to be taken in a twofold sense; at the beginning of the verse it refers to the simple act of hearing, and at the end of the verse, to obedience. Then he says that they obeyed, and that every one set free his servant. By saying that the princes, as well as all the people, heard, he took away... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 34:11

Verse 11 He then adds, And they afterwards turned, that is, after they had heard and obeyed. The turning refers to a change of purpose, for they immediately repented of what they had done. They had felt some fear of God, and then equity and kindness prevailed; but they soon turned or changed. The word is taken sometimes in a good, and sometimes in a bad sense. He says that they turned, or returned, because they receded or turned back after having commenced a right course. And they remanded;... 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

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