Bonds and Yokes
Jeremiah 34, verse 1. Thus says the Lord: “Make bonds and wooden yokes and put them on your neck, Jeremiah 34, verse 2. and you shall send them to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the sons of Ammon, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon by the hand of the same messengers who met them in Jerusalem with Zedekiah king of Judah. Jeremiah 34, verse 3. You shall instruct them with regard to their masters to speak thus: ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel to your masters: Jeremiah 34, verse 4. “I made the earth by My great strength and with My high arm, and I will give it to whomsoever it may seem good in My eyes. Jeremiah 34, verse 5. I gave the earth to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon to serve him; and I gave the wild beasts of the field to him to work for him. Jeremiah 34, verse 6. But the nation and kingdom, whoever will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will visit them with the sword and the famine,” says the Lord, “until they come to an end by his hand. Jeremiah 34, verse 7. So do not give heed to your false prophets, diviners, dreamers, soothsayers, or sorcerers, who say, ‘You shall not work for the king of Babylon.’ Jeremiah 34, verse 8. For they prophesy lies to you to remove you far from your land. Jeremiah 34, verse 9. But the nation that brings its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon to work for him, I shall leave it on its own land; and he shall work it for him and dwell in it.”’” Jeremiah 34, verse 10. I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, “The Lord says, ‘Place your neck under the yoke and work for the king of Babylon, for they prophesy wrongdoings to you, but I did not send them. Jeremiah 34, verse 11. Yet they prophesy wrongfully in My name, that I might destroy you, and you should perish, and these prophets of yours, who wrongfully prophesy lies to you.’” Jeremiah 34, verse 12. Again I spoke to him, to all this people and to the priests, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Do not heed the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, saying, “Behold, the vessels of the Lord's house will return from Babylon,” for they prophesy wrongfully to you; but I did not send them.’” Jeremiah 34, verse 13. Thus if they are prophets, and the word of the Lord is in them, let them meet me, for thus the Lord said. Jeremiah 34, verse 14. Now concerning the remainder of the vessels the king of Babylon did not take when he carried away captive Jeconiah from Jerusalem, the Lord says, “They will go to Babylon.”