Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 21:10
For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
10. I have set my face upon this city ] Cp. Jer 44:11; Amo 9:4. The phrase occurs in a good sense in Jer 26:6.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 10. He shall burn it with fire.] What a heavy message to all; and especially to them who had any fear of God, or reverence for the temple and its sacred services!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good; that is, I will set myself against it, I will be an enemy to it. See the like phrase Lev 17:10; 20:5. It is a phrase signifying not only Gods aversion from them, and the taking his affection off them, but his determination to bring ruin upon them, and choosing methods of providence tending and conducive thereunto; and so it is opened in the following words, which are rather to be understood of the structure of the city than of the inhabitants, for that not the people were burnt with fire, though probably many of the people perished in so great burnings.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. set . . . faceagainstdetermined to punish (See on Le17:10).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For I have set my face against this city,…. Or “my fury”, as the Targum; their sins had provoked the eyes of his glory; he was wroth with them, and determined to cut them off; his mind was set against them, and upon their ruin; and there was no turning him from it:
for evil, and not for good, saith the Lord; to bring the evil of punishment upon them for the evil of their sins, and not do any good unto them, they were so ill deserving of:
it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon; come under his power and dominion, by the will of the Lord; for it was he that gave it into his hands, because of the sins of the inhabitants of it:
and he shall burn it with fire; as he did, both the house of the Lord in it, the temple, the king’s house or palace, the stately houses of the princes and nobles, and even the houses of all the people; see
Jer 52:13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He again confirms what he had said, that it would be the way of death if the Jews remained fixed in the city, for this would be to struggle against God; for God is said to set his face for evil, since he had fully determined to punish that nation. To set the face is the same as to be resolute. Then God says that what he had resolved respecting the destruction of Jerusalem could not be changed. Now, what must at length be the issue when any one thinks that he can, against the will of God, escape death? As they who violently stumble against a stone break their legs, and arms, and head, too; so they who furiously stumble against God attain for themselves final ruin. (25)
We hence see why the Prophet added this verse: it was, that the Jews might not in their usual manner foster vain hopes; for to hope for any good was to contend with God himself. Delivered, he says, shall be this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire He intimates that Nebuchadnezzar would not only conquer the people and triumph over a taken city, but that the city itself was doomed to destruction. It is, indeed, a most grievous thing when a city is wholly demolished: cities are often taken, and the conqueror removes the inhabitants here and there, while it remains still a habitable place; but God declares here that he would act more severely towards the city of Jerusalem, for it was to perish by fire. It follows, —
(25) The phrase is not, “against this city,” but “upon this city;” and such is the rendering of the Sept. and Vulg., though the Syr. has “against.” How could his face be set against it, not for good? God is said to set or fix his face on the city, and it was for doing it evil, and not for doing it good. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) He shall burn it with fire.Another detail of prediction fulfilled literally in Jer. 52:13. Such a destruction was, of course, common enough as an incident of the capture of besieged cities, but it was not universal. Often, indeed, the conquerors sought to preserve the city and to occupy its palaces. The actual answer to Zedekiahs messengers possibly ended with this verse.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 21:10 For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
Ver. 10. For I have set my face against this city. ] I have looked this city to destruction. I have decreed it, and will do it. When our Saviour set his face to go towards this city, Luk 9:51 he was fully resolved on it, and nothing should hinder him. See Lev 17:10 ; Lev 20:5 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I have set, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Lev 17:10). Compare Eze 15:7.
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I have: Jer 44:11, Jer 44:27, Lev 17:10, Lev 20:3-5, Lev 26:17, Psa 34:16, Eze 15:7, Amo 9:4
it shall: Jer 17:27, Jer 26:6, Jer 32:28-31, Jer 34:2, Jer 34:22, Jer 37:8-10, Jer 38:3, Jer 38:18, Jer 38:23, Jer 39:8, Jer 52:13, 2Ch 36:19, Zec 1:6
Reciprocal: Jdg 2:15 – against Jer 24:6 – For I will Jer 24:8 – So will Jer 32:29 – and set Jer 33:5 – I have hid Jer 36:29 – The king Eze 14:8 – I will set Eze 24:11 – set it Amo 2:5 – I will 1Pe 3:12 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 21:10. Evil and good are not used in the moral sense but in that of being unfavorable and favorable, Set my face is a figurative way of saying the Lord had made up his mind and it would not be changed. Burn it with fire was literally done by the Babylonians as recorded in 2Ki 25:9.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The Lord’s purpose for the city was firm: He would turn it over to the Babylonian army to destroy it by fire. This was something the people could not change by their actions or their prayers.