Jeremiah 27:13-15

27:13 There is no reason why you and your people should die in war 1  or from starvation or disease! 2  That’s what the Lord says will happen to any nation 3  that will not be subject to the king of Babylon. 27:14 Do not listen to the prophets who are telling you that you do not need to serve 4  the king of Babylon. For they are prophesying lies to you. 27:15 For I, the Lord, affirm 5  that I did not send them. They are prophesying lies to you. If you 6  listen to them, I will drive you and the prophets who are prophesying lies out of the land and you will all die in exile.” 7 

1 tn Heb “with/by the sword.”

2 tn Heb “Why should you and your people die…?” The rhetorical question expects the answer made explicit in the translation, “There is no reason!”

3 tn Heb “…disease according to what the Lord spoke concerning the nation that…”

4 tn The verb in this context is best taken as a negative obligatory imperfect. See IBHS 508 §31.4g for discussion and examples. See Exod 4:15 as an example of positive obligation.

5 tn Heb “oracle of the Lord.”

6 sn The verbs are again plural referring to the king and his royal advisers.

7 tn Heb “…drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying lies.”

sn For the fulfillment of this prophecy see Jer 39:5-7; 52:7-11; 2 Kgs 25:4-7.