Chapter 34: Breaking the Shemita and Its Punishment

(22 Pesukim)

Overview

During Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem, Hashem sends Yermiyahu to deliver two messages: one to King Tzidkiyahu about his fate, and another condemning Judah’s leaders for breaking a covenant of freedom. The chapter highlights the seriousness of violating Hashem’s commands and the inevitability of judgment.

1. Message to King Tzidkiyahu from Hashem (34:1-7)

Hashem came to Yirmiyahu with the following message to relate to Tzidkiyahu in His name:

• Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon will come with his entire army against the city of Jerusalem.
• Jerusalem will fall to Babylon; the city will be burned.
• His capture: You, Tzidkiyahu will not escape from his hands as he will capture you and you will meet Nebuchadnezzar face-to-face and be taken to Babylon.
• He will not be killed: Despite the above prophecy of captivity Hashem promises Tzidkiyahu that he will not die by the sword but will rather die in peace, and receive an honorable funeral like former kings.
• Yeremiah delivered all of the above message to Tzidkiyahu the king of Judah who was sitting in Jerusalem.

The state of affairs at that time: The army of the king of Babylon was engaged in military operations against Jerusalem and all other remaining cities of Judah, specifically targeting Lachish and Azekah, as these were the only fortified cities still standing among the cities of Judah.

2. The Covenant of Freedom (34:8-11)

• The following is a prophecy that was received by Jeremiah after the following covenant was made between Tzidkiyahu and the people:
• Under siege, Tzidkiyahu made a covenant with the Jewish residents of Jerusalem: All Hebrew slaves—men and women—must be released. No one may any longer enslave any of his brethren. No more Hebrew slaves neither male nor female.
• When the nation heard about this instruction of the king, they initially obeyed and freed their slaves.
• Later, however, the people reversed course and re-enslaved the slaves which they had freed.

3. Hashem’s Indictment of the people (34:12-17)

• Hashem reminds the people that he had made a covenant with their forefathers:
• Included in this covenant was the law of release which requires every slaveowner to release their Hebrew slaves every seventh year. But their ancestors ignored it.
• You now decided to repent and heed this law and you hence freed your Hebrew slaves. Indeed, your recent act of freeing the slaves was right, however, now you’ve decided to once again break that covenant and re-enslave those slaves. This profaned His Name.
• The Punishment: “Since you refused to proclaim liberty for the slaves, so I will therefore in exchange proclaim liberty—to the sword, famine, and plague.” Judah will become a horror among nations.

4. Judgment on Leaders (34:18-22)

• Those people who violated the covenant that was made, by making a new covenant to rebel against Me and passing through the parts of a calf that was cut in half, will be punished.
• All of the princes, priests, and people who pass through the cut calf will face death.
• Their bodies will be food for the birds and beasts.
• Tzidkiyahu and his officials will fall into Babylon’s hands.
• The Babylonian army will return, capture Jerusalem, and burn it; Judah’s cities will become desolate.