Jeremiah 27 Study Notes

27:1 The beginning of the reign of Zedekiah was in 594 BC (28:1). The LXX may preserve the more accurate reading: “in the fourth year of Zedekiah.” Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had just put down an uprising by some of his troops. News of this palace revolt may have stirred false hopes, especially in Judah.

27:2 Jeremiah was commanded by God to make chains and yoke bars for himself. Palestinian yokes consisted of a beam across the shoulders of oxen, with parallel pegs coming out of the beam on either side of the ox’s neck and tied with thongs under the neck.

27:3 The phrase send word (Hb, “send them”) implies that Jeremiah made a separate yoke for each king of the five nations mentioned here, apparently giving an appropriate message for each ambassador. The enumeration of the nations from the south to the north may indicate that they were prompted by Pharaoh Psammetik II of Egypt to revolt when it appeared Babylon was going through internal troubles.

27:4-5 These verses serve as the warrant for v. 6.

27:6 Revolt was futile because God had already assigned Babylon to execute judgment over these nations on his behalf. Again, Nebuchadnezzar is called my servant or instrument (see note at 25:8-9; cp. Cyrus in Is 44:28).

27:7 Nebuchadnezzar, his son, and his grandson were given power over all the mentioned nations. Their dominance lasted for three generations, including the kings Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-merodach (52:31; 2Kg 25:27), and Belshazzar (Dn 5:2). God appoints power and determines its duration as well; the exile would not be over quickly as some false prophets had promised.

27:8 This verse explains what will happen to those nations who do not heed the Lord’s decree.

27:9-11 Five different types of false foretellers are listed here: false prophets, diviners (prophesied from the way arrows fell), dreamers, fortune-tellers (or “enchanters” who interpreted various signs), and sorcerers (conjurers). All these were banned from Israel (Dt 18:9-13). Their message (don’t serve the king of Babylon!) was nothing but falsehood.

27:12 King Zedekiah, his advisers, and all the people were to put their necks under the yoke in submission to Babylon.

27:13-15 What is said to the nations in vv. 8-11 is here applied to Judah.

27:16 The articles (not just “vessels,” “utensils,” or “furnishings”) from the temple would not be coming back to Judah soon. Nothing was returned until the beginning of the reign of Cyrus of Persia in 536 BC.

27:17 The message of Serve the king of Babylon and live continued after 586 BC (see 40:9; 2Kg 25:24).

27:18 The primary task of a genuine prophet was to intercede with the Lord.

27:19 The pillars, made of bronze and placed in front of the temple, were called Jachin and Boaz (1Kg 7:15-22). These would be broken up because they were too big to be taken away intact. The basin was a massive cast bowl sitting on the backs of twelve cast oxen. It was used as a wash basin by the priests (1Kg 7:23-26). The water carts were stands on wheels that supported the lavers (1Kg 7:27-37). The same three items are singled out in Jr 52:17.