Jeremiah and Zedekiah.
Verse 1 tells us that Zedekiah was another son of Josiah. The other sons of Josiah who had been made King of Judah did not have a great showing. one only survived a few months and the other served for a long time, but really just worked for Nebuchadnezzar and profiteered off the backs of his own people.
Zedekiah's introduction doesn't give me much more hope for him. Nebuchadnezzar is the one who put Zedekiah on the throne- so it's unlikely he'll have the people of Judah as his top priority.
Not off to a great start:
But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the Lord that he spoke through Jeremiah the prophet. Jeremiah 37:2
So Zedekiah gets the bright idea to have Jeremiah do his godliness for him. The king sends representatives to Jeremiah and asks for intercession with God on their behalf. Jeremiah was not in prison yet.
This is the time frame when Babylon had to deal with Egypt, so they lightened the siege.
Verse 6 is the "thus sayith the Lord" moment to Jeremiah.
- Here's what to say to those who asked you to inquire of me:
- Egypt may appear to be coming to your defense, but they will return without saving you.
- The Babylonians (Chaldeans) will be coming back to fight against this city.
- They will capture and burn it.
- Don't deceive yourself that this problem will go away.
- Even if the only Chaldeans left were the wounded, they would rise up and burn this city,
When Egypt came out, the Chaldeans lightened the siege, so Jeremiah was able to leave Jerusalem in order to take care of some property. He was stopped by a captain of the guard and accused of fleeing to take the side of the Chaldeans.
Jeremiah called him out for lying, but he was arrested and taken to the officials. The officials beat him and put him in jail, where he stayed many days.
Zedekiah took him out of prison and asked, in secret, if Jeremiah had word from God. Jeremiah said that he did and told the king he would be given into the hands of the king of Babylon. then he asked Zedekiah in what ways had he sinned that he should be left in prison. Then Jeremiah asked sarcastically where the king's prophets were that assured the king that Babylon wouldn't come against him.
Then Jeremiah requested that he not be sent back to the prison where he had been, so the king let him come and be held in the court guardhouse and had bread brought to him until the city was out of bread.