Jeremiah 34: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Jeremiah 34 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Jeremiah receives a word from Yahweh about Zedekiah. Yahweh tells him that Babylon will capture Jerusalem and burn it (vv. 1-3). Zedekiah will not die by the sword but will die in peace. People will mourn for him as they did for past kings (vv. 4-5).

Key verse

“Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying,”
Jeremiah 34:13 (WEB)

Outline

Jeremiah 34:1–3 Prophecy to Zedekiah
Jeremiah 34:4–5 Zedekiah's Fate
Jeremiah 34:6–7 Context of the Prophecy
Jeremiah 34:8–11 Covenant of Freedom
Jeremiah 34:12–16 Divine Judgment Declared
Jeremiah 34:17–20 Consequences of Disobedience
Jeremiah 34:21–22 Judgment on Zedekiah

Discussion questions

In v3, what does Yahweh say will happen to Zedekiah king of Judah?
What is the covenant in vv. 9-10 that the people of Jerusalem made?
In v11, why do the people of Judah decide to return the freed servants?
In v16, what does it mean that they 'profaned my name'?
When has a decision like making a 'covenant' in v8 led to unintended consequences?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Jeremiah 34: Jeremiah 32, Jeremiah 39, Jeremiah 21.

Before next time: read Jeremiah 35.