Jeremiah 21:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

One moment they recall miraculous deeds; the next, they acknowledge that God is capable of all things. Overcome by sorrow, do you lose hope? This is not the time for such declarations, but rather when you turned your backs on them, when you failed to uphold your commitments. Observe the weight of your vows: one swore allegiance, yet chose disobedience and faces punishment. Thus, it is not merely the barbarian who is to be reprimanded, but it is essential that God not be offended, ensuring that others remain lawful. I believe that Nebuchadnezzar may have more confidence in divine favor than in his armaments. Consequently, his eunuch critiques it. Nebuchadnezzar serves as a lesson to the Jews, demonstrating the importance of never breaking an oath.

It is important to differentiate that the high priest Pashur, who struck Jeremiah, was the son of Emmer, while this Pashur is the son of Melchiah. This distinction is necessary to avoid any confusion between the two individuals. King Zedekiah sent these messengers to the prophet discreetly so that the people and leaders would not be aware, allowing them to understand God's judgment regarding Jerusalem and Judah indirectly.

The mention of Nebuchadnezzar's war against them indicates that Zedekiah was already aware of the situation during the siege of Jerusalem. Notably, in the writings of the prophets, particularly in Ezekiel and Jeremiah, the sequence of kings and events is often not strictly adhered to. Events that actually occurred later may be recounted earlier, and vice versa. Writing history and interpreting prophecies involve different approaches. Therefore, in this instance, the embassy to Jeremiah is presented concerning Zedekiah, who would later be captured when Jerusalem fell, along with historical narratives about his brother Jehoiakim, who reigned before him, and his nephew Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, which will be elaborated on subsequently.