[[Jer-38]] Prev: [[Prophecies in Jer-37]] | Next: [[Prophecies in Jer-39]] --- ### Yahweh says, 'This city will surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will take it.' *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: Jeremiah predicts the inevitable conquest of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army under King Nebuchadnezzar. *Historical context*: This prophecy was fulfilled in 586 BCE during the final siege of Jerusalem. The Babylonian Chronicle (ABC 5) and archaeological excavations in the City of David (which uncovered a thick destruction layer of ash and Babylonian arrowheads) provide external historical confirmation of the city's fall. Biblical accounts in [[2 Kings|2 Kings 25]] and [[Jer|Jeremiah 39]] record the breaching of the walls and the capture of the city. *Related to*: ### But if you will not go out to the king of Babylon's princes, then this city will be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they will burn it with fire, and you won't escape out of their hand. *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: A conditional prophecy stating that if King Zedekiah refuses to surrender, Jerusalem will be burned to the ground and he will be captured. *Historical context*: Zedekiah did not surrender and attempted to flee ([[Jer-39#v4|Jeremiah 39:4]]). Consequently, the Babylonians burned the Temple, the royal palace, and all the major buildings of Jerusalem ([[2 Kings-25#v9|2 Kings 25:9]], [[Jer-52#v13|Jeremiah 52:13]]). Archaeologists have found extensive evidence of this fire, including carbonized timber and burnt pottery dating to this exact period. *Related to*: ### They will bring out all your wives and your children to the Chaldeans. You won't escape out of their hand, but will be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon. *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: Jeremiah predicts that Zedekiah’s entire household, including his wives and children, will be captured and he himself will be seized by the King of Babylon. *Historical context*: As recorded in [[Jer-39#v5|Jeremiah 39:5]]-7, Zedekiah was captured in the plains of Jericho. He was brought to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, where he was forced to watch the execution of his sons before being blinded and taken in chains to Babylon. His household was destroyed or taken into exile as predicted. *Related to*: ### Behold, all the women who are left in the king of Judah's house will be brought out to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women will say, 'Your familiar friends have turned on you, and have prevailed over you. Your feet are sunk in the mire, they have turned away from you.' *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: Jeremiah predicts that the remaining women of the royal court will be led away into captivity and will taunt Zedekiah for being misled by his advisors. *Historical context*: The 'familiar friends' or 'men of peace' refers to the pro-Egyptian advisors who convinced Zedekiah to rebel against Babylon. After the fall of the city, these advisors fled or were killed, leaving Zedekiah 'sunk in the mire'—a metaphorical reference to his hopeless situation that ironically mirrored Jeremiah's literal sinking in the mire earlier in this chapter. The royal women were part of the general deportation of the elite to Babylon. *Related to*: --- #ai_prophecy