ירמיהו, פרק ל״ז, פסוק י״ז

A tense, secret meeting between a frightened king and an imprisoned prophet reveals a desperate search for divine guidance during a time of crisis. King Zedekiah pulls Jeremiah from the dungeon, summoning him for a private conversation far from the public eye. The king arranges this encounter in hiding because, unlike his wicked officials and the general public, he secretly fears God in his heart [אברבנאל].

Seeking answers, the king asks if there is any word from God, hoping to learn if a new message has recently arrived. The primary approach among commentators is that Zedekiah already knew about the impending destruction and capture of the city from earlier warnings. His goal now is to find out if there has been any change in the divine plan or if an updated message has been sent from heaven.

Jeremiah offers a brief but deeply meaningful reply, confirming that there is indeed a word. This short answer does more than just validate the arrival of a new prophecy. It makes it clear to the king that despite the intense suffering and mistreatment the prophet endured at the hands of the officials in prison, his connection with God never stopped for a single moment [אברבנאל].

Jeremiah then delivers the actual message. Unlike previous warnings that focused on the general fate of Jerusalem, this new prophecy is aimed directly and personally at the king himself [מלבי״ם]. The prophet delivers an absolute, clear, and unchanging decree: the king will personally fall into the hands of Babylon without any doubt [אברבנאל].