The Consequences of Breaking the Covenant

Commentary

Passages

Key Passages

Jeremiah 34:17
"Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim 'freedom' for you, declares the LORD -'freedom' to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.

About this Chapter

In Jeremiah 34, the prophet delivers a message from the Lord to Zedekiah, the king of Judah, regarding the consequences of breaking the covenant. The key verse is found in verse 17, where the Lord declares that because the people have not kept their covenant, He will bring disaster upon them. Jeremiah reminds Zedekiah of the covenant made by their ancestors when they were brought out of slavery in Egypt. The covenant required them to release their Hebrew slaves after six years of service. However, the people had recently violated this covenant by forcing their Hebrew slaves to continue serving them. As a result, the Lord proclaims that He will bring judgment upon them. Jeremiah warns Zedekiah that the Babylonian army will besiege Jerusalem, and the city will be burned down. The people who survive the siege will be taken captive by the Babylonians. Zedekiah himself will be captured and brought before the king of Babylon, and his fate will be determined by the king. The chapter ends with a reminder that despite the impending judgment, there is still hope for repentance and restoration if the people turn back to the Lord.

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