Jeremiah 38:23

So they shall bring out all thy wiues, and thy children to the Caldeans, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the King of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this citie to be burnt with fire. Jeremiah 38:23 (KJV)

The wording above is not found as a single verse in the Book of Jeremiah; it combines elements from several passages that describe the fall of Jerusalem and the fate of King Zedekiah. Jeremiah did warn Zedekiah of the impending Babylonian conquest, but the specific statements about wives, children, personal capture by the king of Babylon, and the city being set ablaze are drawn from different verses. For example, Jeremiah 39:6‑7 recounts the killing of Zedekiah’s sons, while 2 Kings 25:7 describes his blinding, and other passages speak of the burning of Jerusalem.

In Jeremiah 34:2‑3 the Lord delivers a message through Jeremiah to Zedekiah during the Babylonian siege, saying, “Thus saith the LORD… I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire… thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken.” Jeremiah 38:17‑18 records similar warnings: if Zedekiah surrendered, his life and household would be spared; if he refused, Jerusalem would be burned and fall to the Chaldeans. Despite these warnings, Zedekiah did not heed the prophetic message.

The historical record, as noted in Jeremiah 39:6‑7 and 2 Kings 25:7, tells that the Babylonians executed Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, blinded him, and took him captive to Babylon. This outcome underscores the severe consequences of defiance against divine instruction and the nation’s disobedience and idolatry.

Historical context shows that conquering armies in the ancient Near East often took captives, including members of royal families, as part of their usual practices of war. The Babylonian forces indeed captured Zedekiah, killed his sons, and blinded him before transporting him to Babylon.

The episode illustrates Jeremiah’s role as a messenger who faithfully conveyed God’s warnings, even when those warnings foretold harsh outcomes for the people of Judah. It serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience to divine instruction and the tragic results that follow persistent rebellion against God’s covenant.