Discovery BoxJeremiah 27:12-15 
Context27:12 I told King Zedekiah of Judah the same thing. I said, 1 “Submit 2 to the yoke of servitude to 3 the king of Babylon. Be subject to him and his people. Then you will continue to live. 27:13 There is no reason why you and your people should die in war 4 or from starvation or disease! 5 That’s what the Lord says will happen to any nation 6 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 7 the king of Babylon. For they are prophesying lies to you. 27:15 For I, the Lord, affirm 8 that I did not send them. They are prophesying lies to you. If you 9 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.” 10
1 tn Heb “I spoke to Zedekiah…according to all these words, saying.”
2 sn The verbs in this verse are all plural. They are addressed to Zedekiah and his royal advisers (compare 22:2).
3 tn Heb “put their necks in the yoke of.” See the study note on v. 2 for the figure.
4 tn Heb “with/by the sword.”
5 tn Heb “Why should you and your people die…?” The rhetorical question expects the answer made explicit in the translation, “There is no reason!”
6 tn Heb “…disease according to what the
7 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.
8 tn Heb “oracle of the
9 sn The verbs are again plural referring to the king and his royal advisers.
10 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.
