Summary
In the first days of Jehoiakim’s reign, God commands Jeremiah to craft bonds and yokes for himself and to distribute them to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon. The message declares that all lands have been granted to Nebuchadnezzar, and any nation that resists serving Babylon will be punished by sword, famine, and pestilence. Jeremiah is instructed to rebuke prophets, diviners, and sorcerers who claim they will not serve the king of Babylon, labeling their words as false. The Lord urges the people to accept the yoke and live, promising that those who submit will remain in their land. He also speaks to priests and the general populace, warning that those who cling to false hope that the temple vessels will return early are in error; the vessels will only be returned after a future visit of the Lord.