Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?
Don't listen to them; serve the king of Babylon, and you will live. Why should this city be destroyed?
The writer is warning the people not to listen to false prophets but to submit to Babylon's rule in order to survive and prevent their city's destruction.
📚 Historical Context
Jeremiah spoke these words around 594-593 BC when Jerusalem was under threat from Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian empire. False prophets were telling the people to rebel against Babylon, promising quick deliverance, while Jeremiah prophesied that God wanted them to submit to Babylonian rule for now. This was an unpopular message that made Jeremiah appear unpatriotic, but he believed rebellion would only bring greater destruction.
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