Tyndale Open Study NotesJeremiah 27

The Lord told Jeremiah to send messages to the ambassadors from nearby countries to announce the Lord’s judgment on them. Jeremiah was to show his message by wearing a wooden yoke. This event happened in 594 to 593 BC (see Jeremiah 28:1).

The full power of the divine name supported this message (see study note on Jeremiah 2:2). The Lord's authority over everything directly challenged the false nature gods worshiped by each nation mentioned.

God gave Nebuchadnezzar control over the entire region, so resisting him was pointless. All nations would serve him and his descendants. Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC during Belshazzar's reign, who was Nebuchadnezzar's grandson.

his...yoke: Compare Jeremiah 21:8–10; 27:2–3.

• Jeremiah warned against those who delivered messages that went against the Lord's:

  • [False] prophets made predictions that supported idol worship

  • diviners claimed to predict the future by reading the stars, looking into crystal balls, and analyzing animal livers

  • Interpreters of dreams predicted the future by explaining people's dreams

  • Mediums claimed to talk to dead people

  • Sorcerers cast spells to harm or bless people by saying certain words or phrases

• You will not serve the king of Babylon: This prediction was incorrect. Nebuchadnezzar conquered the entire region starting in 605 BC.

God's decree (Jeremiah 27:4–11) applied to Judah and the nearby nations equally.

People took the gold items and other treasures from the Temple in 597 BC.

People even asked the false prophets to repent and pray to the Lord.

When King Jehoiachin of Judah was captured, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon left the large, valuable furniture in the Temple. He took all of it in 586 BC.

When Cyrus of Persia allowed the exiles to return in 538 BC, they brought the Temple furnishings back to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:7–11; 5:13–15).