Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 21:2
Inquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
2. Nebuchadrezzar ] This is a nearer approach than Nebuchadnezzar to the correct spelling of the word and is always found in the MT. of this Book except in chs. 27 29 (where see introd. note). Nabukudurri-uzur (“O Nebo, defend the landmark”) presents perhaps the nearest sound in English writing.
his wondrous works ] perhaps referring to the event recorded in 2Ki 19:35.
go up ] raise the siege. Cp. Jer 34:21.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Nebuchadrezzar – A more correct way of spelling the name than Nebuchadnezzar.
According to all his wondrous works – The king and his envoys expected some such answer as Isaiah had given on a former occasion Isa 37:6.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Inquire, I pray thee] See whether God intends to deliver us into or out of the hand of the Chaldeans.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Zedekiah, as he was none of the best, so he was none of the worst, of the kings of Judah; be had some convictions and impressions (possibly from his education) not worn off; and having some reverence of God, he sends to the prophet to inquire of the Lord, because the
king of Babylon was come up to make war against them. It is true, the greatest contemners of God and his faithful ministers will sometimes, in great straits, choose to send for them rather than those who in their prosperity pleased them. Hence we read of Saul, when he went to the witch at Endor, desiring that Samuel might be raised up. But in Zedekiahs whole story we read no such eminent contempt of God, but a disobedience to the commands of God, proceeding rather from his easiness to be ruled by his corrupt court, than from a stubbornness in himself. By mentioning Gods former
wondrous works, possibly he may have a respect to Gods raising Sennacheribs siege in the time of his grandfather Hezekiah. The remembering of Gods former wondrous works is of use to raise in us a hope and confidence in God for further deliverances, supposing ourselves under the same circumstances of obedience to Gods will; otherwise not, as we shall see in the case of Judah and its king at this time; therefore Zedekiah saith,
if so be. Guilt of sin hinders confidence and holy boldness in the best: but as the guilt is greater, so the hope or confidence of any is justly less.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Nebuchadrezzarthe moreusual way of spelling the name in Jeremiah than Nebuchadnezzar. FromPersiac roots, meaning either “Nebo, the chief of thegods,” or, “Nebo, the god of fire.” He was son ofNabopolassar, who committed the command of the army against Egypt, atCarchemish, and against Judea, to the crown prince.
according to all his wondrousworksZedekiah hopes for God’s special interposition, such aswas vouchsafed to Hezekiah against Sennacherib (2Ki 19:35;2Ki 19:36).
heNebuchadnezzar.
go up from usriseup from the siege which he sat down to lay (Jer 37:5;Jer 37:11, Margin; Num 16:24;Num 16:27; 1Ki 15:19,Margin).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Inquire, I pray thee, of the Lord for us,…. Or, “seek the Lord now for us” n; seek the Lord by prayer and supplication for me and my people, for this city and the inhabitants of it; entreat him that he would appear for us, and deliver us out of the hands of the enemy; for this they said in the name of the king that sent them, who knew that the prophet had an interest at the throne of grace, and was a favourite of heaven; and therefore desired him to be an intercessor for them:
for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; the same that is elsewhere called Nebuchadnezzar, commonly called by the Greeks Nebuchodonosor; he was now come up to Jerusalem, and was besieging it, as had been predicted:
if so be the Lord will deal with us according to all his wondrous works; which he had done in times past for that nation; as by bringing them out of Egypt; driving out the Canaanites before them; delivering them out of the hands of their neighbours, time after time, when oppressed by them; and particularly by destroying the Assyrian army in Hezekiah’s time, which was besieging the city of Jerusalem, and causing their king to depart and flee in haste; and their present case being similar to that, it is very likely that that was more especially in view:
that he may go up from us; namely, the king of Babylon; that he may rise up, and raise the siege, and depart into his own country, as Sennacherib did.
n “interroga nunc pro nobis”, Vatablus: Pagninus; “inquire nunc”, Montanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He then adds, If Jehovah will deal with us according to all his wondrous works (19) We again see that Zedekiah had some sense of religion; but it was very evanescent; for he was not influenced by any real impression, being like hypocrites who wish, as it has been said, to have peace with God, provided it be on their own terms. But as they are unwilling wholly to surrender themselves to God, they take a circuituous course, and seek to allure God to themselves, at least they come not to him except through various windings, and not in a direct way. Hence Zedekiah refers here to God’s miraculous works which had been wrought in behalf of the Israelites in all ages; as though he had said, “God has hitherto dealt; in a wonderful manner with his chosen people, and whenever he brought help to our fathers, he manifested wonderful proofs of his power; will he not deal with us at this day in the same manner?” He assumes the principle, that God’s covenant remained inviolable; and this was quite true, but the application was false; for Zedekiah and the whole people ought to have kept faith with God. For if they wished God to be propitious to them, why did they not in return worship and serve him as their God? But as they were covenant-breakers, how foolishly and vainly did they allege God’s covenant, which they themselves had rendered void? But it is usual with hypocrites to apply to themselves every favor which God shews to his own children; for they falsely assume the name as a covering, and say, that they are members of the Church because God had adopted them. This was the reason why Zedekiah asked whether God would do according to his wonderful works, as though he had said, “Surely God is ever like himself, and we are his people; and as he has so often delivered his Church, and in such various ways, his power has always been wonderfully displayed; why, then, will he not deal with us in the same manner?”
He at last, adds, that he may ascend from us, (20) that is, that the King Nebuchadnezzar may raise the siege and leave us free.
(19) The “if” may better be rendered “it may be,” אולי; it is so rendered by the Vulg., Syr., and the Targ. — Ed
(20) The Syr. Renders the verb “ascend” as a Hiphil; and more consistently with the passage, “and drive him away from us.” With the exception of the Arab., the Versions and the Targ. Render the first verb in the verse, not “inquire,” but “ask,” or “pray the Lord for us.” Then the verse would be as follows: —
2. Pray now for us to Jehovah; for Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, is warring against us: it may be that Jehovah will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, and make him to depart from us.
The verb דרש, transitively as here, means to seek: see Psa 34:5. And to seek the favor of Jehovah, or to pray to him, seems most consistent with the latter part of the verse. Blayney’s rendering is, “Intreat, we pray thee, Jehovah for us;” and this is the meaning taken by Venema and Gataker. — Ed
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Nebuchadrezzar.This form of the name, as might be expected in the writings of one who was personally brought into contact with the king and his officers, is more correct than that of Nebuchadnezzar, which we find elsewhere, and even in Jeremiahs own writings (Jer. 34:1; Jer. 39:5).
The name has been variously interpreted by scholars as Nebo protects against misfortune, Nebo protects the land-marks, Nebo protects the crown, or Fire, the shining God.
If so be that the Lord will deal with us . . .The messengers come to inquire of the prophet, and yet suggest the answer which he is expected to give. Jehovah is to show His wondrous works in the deliverance of the city. The history of Sennacheribs army (2 Kings 19; Isaiah 37) was probably present to their minds. It was apparently an attempt on the part of the king and his counsellors, under the show of a devout reverence, to entice Jeremiah to change his tone and side with the policy of resistance to the Chaldans. In Jer. 37:3 we have another like mission, coming apparently at a somewhat later date in the reign of Zedekiah
That he may go up from us.i.e., in modern phraseology, that he may raise the siege.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Inquire Not pray for deliverance, but ask for a revelation. Perhaps the memory of Sennacherib’s miraculous discomfiture inspired the hope of a similar interference.
Nebuchadrezzar This is the common orthography of this name in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and is closer to the original than our Nebuchadnezzar.
According to all his wondrous works This expression confirms the intimation given above, that they may have had hope of miraculous help.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 21:2 Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
Ver. 2. Inquire, I pray thee, of the Lord for us. ] He seeketh now to the Lord, whom in his prosperity he regarded not; so doth a drowning man catch at the tree or twig, which before he made no reckoning of. Rarae fumant felicibus arae. “In their affliction they will seek me early.” Hos 5:15 “When he slew them, then they sought him, and inquired early after God.” Psa 78:34 Pharaoh, when plagued, calleth earnestly for Moses to pray for him; and Joab, when in danger of his life, runneth to the horns of the altar.
If so be the Lord will deal with us according to his wondrous works.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Nebuchadrezzar. First occurrence in Jeremiah.
go up from us: i.e. raise the siege.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Inquire: Jer 37:3, Jer 37:7, Jer 38:14-27, Jer 42:4-6, Jdg 20:27, 1Sa 10:22, 1Sa 28:6, 1Sa 28:15, 1Ki 14:2, 1Ki 14:3, 1Ki 22:3-8, 2Ki 1:3, 2Ki 3:11-14, 2Ki 22:13, 2Ki 22:14, Eze 14:3-7, Eze 20:1-3
for: Jer 32:24, Jer 39:1, Jer 39:2, Jer 52:3-6, 2Ki 25:1, 2Ki 25:2
according: Exo 14:1 – Exo 15:27, Jos 10:1 – Jos 11:23, Jdg 4:1 – Jdg 5:31, 1Sa 7:10-12, 1Sa 14:6-14, 1Sa 17:45-50, 2Ch 14:9-13, 2Ch 20:1-30, 2Ch 32:21, Psa 44:1-4, Psa 46:8-11, Psa 48:4-8, Psa 105:5-45, Psa 136:1-26, Isa 59:1, Isa 59:2
Reciprocal: 1Ki 14:6 – for I am 1Ki 22:5 – Inquire 2Ch 18:4 – Inquire 2Ch 34:21 – inquire Isa 30:2 – and have Isa 48:2 – and stay Jer 29:25 – Zephaniah Jer 37:17 – Is there Jer 42:2 – and pray Eze 7:26 – then Eze 14:7 – and cometh
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 21:2. The inquiry that Zedekiah sent Pashur to make really amounted to a prayer for help against the king of Babylon. The spelling Nebuchadrezzar is for the same man whose name is spelled Nebuchadnezzar elsewhere.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 21:2. Inquire, I pray thee, of the Lord for us As Zedekiah was not one of the best, so he was not one of the worst of the kings of Judah. Having some reverence for God, he sends the prophet to inquire of him. Or, as the word , signifies, to seek or apply to God by prayer and supplication: see Isa 55:6. If so be the Lord will deal with us, &c.
If he will show his wonderful power, in giving us a total deliverance from the hands of our enemies, the Chaldeans. If they had attended to the predictions of the prophets they would not have made this inquiry of Jeremiah; for all the things which had happened to them already, had been predicted by the prophets. But perhaps they flattered themselves that all Gods threatenings would not be executed; or that they had been executed already, in great numbers of them being carried into captivity, first in the reign of Jehoiakim, and afterward in that of Jehoiachin.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:2 {a} Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; it may be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
(a) Not that the king was touched with repentance of his sins and so sought God, as did Hezekiah when he sent for Isaiah, 2Ki 19:1, Isa 37:2 but because the prophet might pray to God to take this present plague away, as Pharaoh sought Moses Exo 9:28 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord whether He would give Judah deliverance from Nebuchadnezzar as He had delivered His people in the past. King Hezekiah had sent a similar group to Isaiah inquiring about the approaching Assyrian army (2Ki 19:2; Isa 37:2). Nebuchadnezzar, sometimes referred to as Nebuchadrezzar (the spelling nearer to the Babylonian form of his name), ruled Babylon from 605 to 562 B.C. He succeeded his father, Nabopolassar, the first king of the Neo-Babylonian empire, who ruled from 626 to 605 B.C. This is the first reference to Nebuchadnezzar in Jeremiah.
Zedekiah may have been hoping for a miraculous deliverance such as Jehoshaphat experienced from the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites (2 Chronicles 20). Hezekiah had also experienced supernatural deliverance when Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem (2 Kings 19; Isaiah 37).