Overview:
(NET) The chapter is not so much concerned with describing how Jerusalem fell as it is with contrasting the fate of Zedekiah who disregarded the word of the LORD with the fate of Jeremiah and that of Jeremiah’s benefactor Ebed Melech.
Ob and In:
1. The 2 kings: King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon vs king Zedekiah of Judah
a. N came and they laid siege, the city walls was taken by assault, the officers of the N came and sat in the Middle Gate v.1-3
(NET) Heb “sat.” The precise meaning of this phrase is not altogether clear, but J. Bright (Jeremiah [AB], 243) is undoubtedly correct in assuming that it had to do with setting up a provisional military government over the city.
The war was over at this point. If Z was concern about the people he should have surrendered.
b. Z tried to abandon his people and escape. He hoped to find relief for himself. Their patch and direction they headed were described in the passage. Perhaps the author wanted to describe their hope, but this hope distinguished very soon when the Babylonian army caught up with them and took them to N v.4-5.
2. Not only Z did not match up to N, but also Z was treated with cruelty and humiliations.
He was forced to watch his sons being put to death. Then he was made blinded and bound in chains while leading off to Babylon v.6-7.
Summary and reflection: When someone have a high position as a king and disregarded the word of the LORD, he did not just affected his own life, but also his country. What seriousness we shall be to the word of God? In what ways I shall be more serious today? In preparing my SS, my own devotion?
3. The rest of the city and the people were also suffered as what God said.v.8-9
What happened to the city was exactly as what God had warned them: The northern kings would attack the walls and set their thrones near the entrances of the gate 1:16. The city would be burned down 17:27.
Only the poorest people was blessed with fields and vineyards v.10.
(BKC) No doubt he believed that those individuals would be grateful to the Babylonians for their newfound prosperity and would be unlikely to rebel. In return Babylon would receive income in the form of taxation on the produce of the land.
Summary and reflection: The prophecy given by the LORD was fulfilled. When people tried to ignore God and His prophet was escaping from the reality. Am I like that? When I know what God said is right, but I do not obey? How do I live a happy life if I ignore the reality? There is no way.
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