Jeremiah 27:14
27:14 Do not listen to the prophets who are telling you that you do not need to serve 1 the king of Babylon. For they are prophesying lies to you.
Jeremiah 27:18
27:18 I also told them, 2 “If they are really prophets and the Lord is speaking to them, 3 let them pray earnestly to the Lord who rules over all. 4 Let them plead with him not to let the valuable articles that are still left in the Lord’s temple, in the royal palace, and in Jerusalem be taken away 5 to Babylon.
1 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.
2 tn The words “I also told them” are not in the text, but it is obvious from the fact that the Lord is spoken about in the third person in vv. 18, 19, 21 that he is not the speaker. This is part of Jeremiah’s own speech to the priests and the people (v. 16). These words are supplied in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “the word of the Lord is with them.”
4 tn Heb “Yahweh of armies.”
sn For the significance of this title see the study note on 2:19.
5 tn Heb “…speaking to them, let them entreat the Lord…so that the valuable articles…will not go to Babylon.” The long original sentence has been broken up for the sake of English style.