Bible Strands
Jeremiah 34:7
as the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the remaining cities of Judah—against Lachish and Azekah. For these were the only fortified cities remaining in Judah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jeremiah delivers this message to King Zedekiah while Babylonian forces actively besiege Jerusalem and the last remaining fortified cities of Judah. The narrative places this declaration during the final military pressure on Judah before its fall.
The words — The Hebrew נִלְחָמִים (nilchamim) denotes the ongoing action of "were fighting," paired with חֵיל (cheil) for "the army." These terms emphasize the active, relentless military campaign against the specified locations.
The thread — Lachish and Azekah reappear in Joshua 10:3 and Joshua 15:35 as historically fortified Judahite cities, and their strategic importance echoes the siege descriptions in 2 Kings 18:13. The text notes these were the only remaining fortified cities left standing.
Why it lands — The verse establishes the historical reality of Judah's isolation and military collapse, framing Zedekiah's subsequent covenant and its failure within a context of unavoidable divine judgment. It requires the reader to recognize that political and military desperation does not override the prophetic word already delivered.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
When the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah.
Cross-references
- Joshua 10:3 Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,
- Joshua 15:35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
- 2 Kings 18:13 In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and captured all the fortified cities of Judah.
- 2 Chronicles 11:5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.
- Jeremiah 4:5 Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves and let us flee to the fortified cities.’
- Deuteronomy 28:52 They will besiege all the cities throughout your land, until the high and fortified walls in which you trust have fallen. They will besiege all your cities throughout the land that the LORD your God has given you.
- Joshua 10:10 And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
- Joshua 12:11 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
- Joshua 15:39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
- 2 Kings 19:8 When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.