ירמיהו, פרק ל״ח, פסוק כ׳

Faced with the terrifying prospect of surrender and the looming threat of the Babylonian army, King Zedekiah is paralyzed by fear. The prophet Jeremiah steps in to calm the king's anxieties, offering a divine guarantee of personal safety and protection if he chooses to yield. The king's primary terror is that the Babylonians will hand him over to the Jewish defectors who harbor deep resentment against him. Jeremiah firmly assures him that this will not happen; the Babylonians will keep him safe from his own people [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

To back up this guarantee, Jeremiah urges the king to heed God's message. This plea operates on two complementary levels. First, it points toward an upcoming revelation that will actually clear Zedekiah of guilt regarding the rebellion against Babylon. If the king surrenders voluntarily, this upcoming prophecy will serve as his defense, ensuring he is judged favorably and acquitted [מלבי״ם]. Second, the prophet anticipates a deeper spiritual anxiety: the king worries that his past sins might cause God to revoke His positive promise. To counter this, Jeremiah explains that because he is personally delivering this specific message, God will ensure it comes true. If the promise were canceled, Jeremiah would be branded a false prophet, which God will not allow [חומת אנך].

The ultimate result of choosing surrender is a promise of life and well-being. This is not merely a guarantee of survival or a narrow escape from execution. Rather, it means the king's status and living conditions will genuinely be good [מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, even if the king's previous wrongdoings prevent the promise from being realized in its absolute entirety, the essential core of the guarantee remains intact. His life and a fundamental level of goodness are absolutely secured, regardless of any partial spiritual setbacks [חומת אנך].