Jeremiah — Chapter 34
Synopsis: Jeremiah prophesies to Zedekiah: you will be taken captive by Nabuchodonosor but will not be killed. The slave release covenant broken by the people: they freed their slaves under siege pressure, then re-enslaved them when the Chaldeans temporarily withdrew.
Verse 17
Therefore thus saith the Lord: You have not hearkened to me, in proclaiming liberty every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine. The terrible irony of divine justice: those who refused to grant liberty to their slaves will receive 'liberty' to the sword. Lapide: the punishment perfectly fits the crime — those who enslaved others are themselves enslaved to death.