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One-sentence summary: Jeremiah urges King Zedekiah to surrender to the Chaldeans so he will live, but he does not listen; his sons are killed, and he is taken away captive, but Jeremiah is set free and dwells with the remnant who remains at Mizpah.
Some men hear Jeremiah's words to all the people, when he said that whoever remains in the city will die by sword, famine, and pestilence, but he who goes by the Chaldeans will live, and that the city will be given to Babylon. Because of this, the princes of Judah say to the king that Jeremiah should be put to death "for weakening the hands of the men or war" and the people, saying he seeks the people's harm. Zedekiah says that he is in their hands, so they take him and cast him into the dungeon of the kings's son in the court of the prison. They let him down with ropes; there is no water, only mire, and Jeremiah sinks in it. An Ethiopian eunuch in the king's house hears this, and when the king is sitting at the gate of Benjamin, he goes to speak to him, telling him the men have done evil to Jeremiah that he will starve to death as there is no more bread in the city. The king tells him to take 30 men to lift Jeremiah out from the dungeon before he dies, and they do, leading him up with ropes and old rags tied together. Jeremiah stays in the court of the prison. Then, Zedekiah has him brought to him in the house of the Lord. He tells him he will ask him something and charges him to tell the truth, but Jeremiah says that he will put him to death if he speaks the truth, and that he will not heed his advice. The king swears secretly by the Lord that he will not put him to death or give him into the hand of the men who seek his life. So Jeremiah tells him if he surrenders to Babylon, he and his household will live, and the city will not be burned with fire. However, if he does not surrender, the city will be given to the Chaldeans who will burn it with fire, and he will be given into their hands. The king says he fears the Jews who have defected to the Chaldeans, but Jeremiah says they will not deliver him. He begs him to obey the Lord's voice so he will live and warns him again. He says that all his wives and children will be given to the Chaldeans and taken by the king of Babylon, and he will cause his city to be burned with fire. The king tells Jeremiah not to tell anyone and he will live, but says if the princes hear he has spoken with him and ask what they talked about, he is to tell them that he only asked the king not to let him return to Jonathan's house and die. Jeremiah listens, and the men leave him alone. Then, Jeremiah remains in the court of the prison until Jerusalem is taken.
Nebuchadnezzar comes against Jerusalem and besieges it when Zedekiah is king. All the princes of Babylon come and sit in the middle gate. Zedekiah and the men of Judah flee by night. However, the Chaldeans pursue them and overtake him and capture him and bring him to Nebuchadnezzar who judges him. He kills his sons before his eyes along with all the nobles of Judah. He puts out Zedekiah's eyes and puts him in fetters to carry him away captive to Babylon. The Chaldeans burn his house and the people's houses and break down the walls of Jerusalem. The captain of the guard carries away the remnant in the city and those who defect to him, but he leaves the poor who have nothing and gives them vineyards and fields. Nebuchadnezzar gives charge concerning Jeremiah to the captain of the guard, saying to look after him and do him no harm but to do as he says. He is taken from the court of the prison, and he dwells among the people. The word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah in prison, telling him to speak to the Ethiopian, saying the Lord will bring adversity on the city, but that he will be delivered and not given into the hand of the men he is afraid of; he will surely live, since he put his trust in the Lord.
The word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah after the captain of the guard let him go and takes him among the captives, still in chains. The captain says to him that the Lord has pronounced this doom on this place because the people have sinned against the Lord and not obeyed his voice. Then, the captain frees him of his chains and tells him to come to Babylon if it seems good to him, and he will look after him. However, he says, if it seems good to him to stay, then he can stay. He tells him to go wherever it seems good and convenient for him. He encourages him to go back and dwell with the man that Nebuchadnezzar made governor of Judah or wherever he wants, and he gives him rations and a gift and lets him go. Jeremiah goes and dwells in Mizpah with those who are left. When the captains in the army hear who Nebuchadnezzar has made governor in the land, they come to him. The people are told not to be afraid to serve the Chaldeans and that it will go well for them. When all the Jews in all the countries hear there is a remnant in Judah and a governor over them, they return from all the places where they have been driven, to Mizpah, and they "gather wine and summer fruit in abundance." The governor is warned that there is a man who wants to kill him, but he declares that the thing is untrue.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
Was it pride that caused the king not to heed Jeremiah's words? Or was it a judgment from the Lord, that He hardened his heart? What do you think?
The servant of the Lord is never given over to the whim of evil men; the Lord's purpose will always stand.