But 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.
As he before had used exhortations and promises, so here he useth threatenings, to persuade him to that which indeed was in his power to do, but God infallibly knew that he would not do; the end of God in which could be no other than to leave him without excuse, in not obeying what God commanded.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes,…. And surrender to them:
then shall this city be given into the hands of the Chaldeans; if not willingly delivered up by the king of Judah, it shall be forcibly taken by the king of Babylon’s army, through the permission of God; with respect to whom it is said to be given unto them, even by him who has the disposing of cities and kingdoms:
and they shall burn it with fire; as it had been often foretold it should, and as it accordingly was, Jer 39:8;
and thou shalt not escape out of their hand; though he might hope he should, and would attempt to do it, yet should be taken; and though he should not be slain, yet should never regain his liberty, or get out of their hands, when once in them; see Jer 52:7.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet gave to the king the hope of pardon; not that he promised impunity, but that the king might at least hope that God would be merciful to him, if he anticipated his extreme vengeance. But as hypocrites are not easily moved when God allures them by the sweetness of his promises, hence a threatening is added, “Except thou deliverest thyself up,” says the Prophet, “to the. Chaldeans, thou shalt not escape, and the city shall be taken and burnt by the Chaldeans.”
Zedekiah might have had hope in part, and thus have found the mercy which God offered to him. As he had profited nothing in this respect, it was necessary, in another way, to arouse him, by setting before him the destruction of the city, and his own death. But he was not prevailed upon either by fear or by hope, to obey the advice of the Prophet. We hence see, that though he did not avowedly despise God, he was yet neither cold nor hot, but wished to be wholly spared. Hence then it was, that he rejected the favor offered to him by the Prophet. However his excuse follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Jer 38:18 But 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.
Ver. 18. But if thou wilt not go forth. ] See Jer 32:39 . Thus Zedekiah hath it both ways, that it may abide by him; but he was uncounselable and irreclaimable.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
if thou: 2Ki 24:12, 2Ki 25:27-30
then: Jer 38:3, Jer 38:23, Jer 24:8-10, Jer 32:3-5, Jer 34:2, Jer 34:3, Jer 34:19-22, Jer 39:3, Jer 39:5-7, Jer 52:7-11, 2Ki 25:4-10, Eze 12:13, Eze 17:20, Eze 17:21, Eze 21:25-27
Reciprocal: 1Ki 12:26 – Now shall Jer 1:18 – against Jer 21:4 – Behold Jer 21:10 – it shall Jer 25:35 – the shepherds Jer 32:4 – General Jer 39:4 – when Jer 39:8 – burned Eze 12:10 – prince Eze 17:15 – shall he escape Eze 24:11 – set it
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
If Zedekiah did not surrender, the Chaldeans would capture the city and burn it, and the king would not escape.