ירמיהו, פרק ל״ח, פסוק י״ז

Jeremiah presents King Zedekiah with a critical choice, offering a clear path to secure the survival of his family and the entire city of Jerusalem. The prophet intentionally opens his message with good news and a promise of life. He does this because the people had previously complained that his prophecies typically begin with harsh warnings and bad news [חומת אנך].

The directive given to the king is to leave the city and surrender to the Babylonian officers. This act of submission is presented as his only viable chance to survive [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Should the king choose this path of surrender, Jeremiah outlines three distinct guarantees [מלבי״ם]. First, he is given a spiritual and moral promise. By surrendering, the king will avoid sinning against God and will not carry the heavy guilt of bringing disaster upon his nation. Second, there is a guarantee for the physical preservation of Jerusalem, ensuring the city will not be destroyed by fire. Finally, the king receives a promise of physical safety for himself and his household, assuring that they will not be killed by the Babylonians.