Daily Tanach Wednesday 14th Marcheshvan Sefer Yirmiyah Chapter 21: The Choice Between Life and Death

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Chapter 21: The Choice Between Life and Death

Overview

Chapter 21 records a desperate appeal from King Tzidkiyahu (Zedekiah) during Babylon’s siege. Hoping for a miraculous deliverance, he sends messengers to Yermiyahu. Instead of reassurance, Hashem delivers a stark message: surrender or perish. The chapter emphasizes divine judgment, personal responsibility, and the urgent call for justice.

  1. The King’s Request

Tzidkiyahu sends Pashhur and Zephaniah to Yermiyahu, asking him to pray for Judah. They hope Hashem will perform wonders as in the past and drive away Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon.

  1. Hashem’s Response: No Miracle—Only Judgment

Yermiyahu replies with Hashem’s words: The weapons Judah uses against Babylon will be turned back into the city. Hashem Himself will fight against Jerusalem with anger and fury. Plague will strike people and animals; many will die. Survivors—including the king—will fall into Babylon’s hands. Nebuchadrezzar will kill them without mercy or compassion.

  1. The Stark Choice

Hashem sets two paths before the people: Stay in the city: Die by sword, famine, or disease. Surrender to the Chaldeans: Live, escaping with their life as spoils. Hashem declares: “My face is against this city for harm, not good. It will be handed to Babylon and burned.”

  1. A Call to Justice for the Royal House

To the house of David, Hashem commands: “Administer justice each morning. Rescue the oppressed from the hand of the robber.” Failure to act will unleash Hashem’s wrath like an unquenchable fire.

  1. Warning to the Complacent

Hashem rebukes those who boast, “Who can attack us?”

He will punish according to their deeds. A consuming fire will devour their strongholds and surroundings.

Takeaway

Chapter 21 delivers a sobering truth: No political strategy or prayer can replace obedience. Life and death hinge on surrendering to Hashem’s will. Justice is non-negotiable—neglect invites divine fire.

 

Key message:

When judgment comes, survival depends on humility and righteousness, not pride or resistance.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.