ירמיהו, פרק ל״ד, פסוק ו׳

Delivering a message of ruin to a reigning king is a heavy and difficult task. Jeremiah confronts the king of Judah directly, passing on a sharp warning of almost total destruction. The prophet shares the harsh reality of the coming disaster without softening the blow.

Within this grim situation, the king is left with only a single shred of honor: the promise that he will not be killed by the sword. Yet, there is a tragic twist to this small comfort. Given the terrible circumstances that would soon unfold, dying by the sword might actually have been a fate the king would have preferred [ביאור שטיינזלץ].