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Jeremiah and Zedekiah
How Jeremiah and Zedekiah are linked in Scripture, with every passage where their stories cross.
How they are linked
Jeremiah confronted Zedekiah.
Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah in secret more than once to ask for a word from the Lord. Jeremiah told him to surrender to Babylon's princes, but the king did not humble himself before the prophet.
the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the Lord?
Jeremiah 37:17, King James Version
If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live
Jeremiah 38:17, King James Version
humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet
2 Chronicles 36:12, King James Version
Where they cross: Jeremiah 38:14-20
Notes are commentary, checked against the cited verses in a separate review. Quoted words are Scripture.
Every passage, in order
2 Chronicles 36:12
12And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord.
Jeremiah 37:17
17Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the Lord? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 38:14-20
14Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the Lord: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.
15Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?
16So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the Lord liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.
17Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:
18But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.
19And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.
20But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.
King James Version