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Jeremiah 34 Introduction
英文原文
The ordinary view of this prophecy Jeremiah 34, that it is a more full account of the narrative given in Jeremiah 32:3-5, is not so probable as that which takes it in connection with Jeremiah 21:1-14. Jeremiah had then informed Zedekiah by his messengers that Jerusalem would certainly be captured: but he was still in a condition to obtain good terms, and the prophet goes to him and lays before him the alternative. Zedekiah with all the obstinacy of a weak man chose to continue the war, and lost kingdom, eyesight, and liberty.
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Jeremiah 34:1
「万民」 - 原文为复数（Peoples），指受一人统治之下的各支派、各族群。
英文原文
People - Peoples, i. e., tribes, races, under the rule of one man.
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Jeremiah 34:5
「平安」 - 见 Jeremiah 12:12 注释。
「焚烧物件」 - 或作「行焚烧礼」。所焚烧的大概是一堆堆的木柴，加入香料只是作为特别的尊荣。焚烧死者并非犹太人的风俗。这些焚烧礼既取决于人对已故君王的敬重程度，本节便暗示一个顺遂亨通的在位期——西底家若作为巴比伦忠顺的藩属，原可享有这样的治世。
「这话是我说的」 - 意即「我已亲口说出这话」。
英文原文
In peace - See Jeremiah 12:12 note.
Burn odors - "Make a burning." The burning was probably that of piles of wood, and spices were added only as an special honor. It was not a Jewish custom to burn the dead. As these burnings depended upon the estimation in which the dead king was held, the verse implies a prosperous reign, such as Zedekiah might have had as an obedient vassal to BabyIon.
I have pronounced the word - I have spoken the word.
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Jeremiah 34:7
这标明了确切的时间：战事初期，外围堡垒仍牵动着尼布甲尼撒大军的注意力。拉吉和亚西加是朝埃及方向平原上的坚固城邑，迦勒底人必须先攻取它们，才能向耶路撒冷进军；否则埃及人可能在那里集结，向他们发起攻击。
英文原文
This marks the exact time, that it was early in the campaign, while the outlying fortresses still occupied the attention of Nebuchadnezzars army. Lachish and Azekah were strong cities in the plain toward Egypt and must be taken before the Chaldseans could march upon Jerusalem: otherwise the Egyptians might collect there and fall upon them.
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Jeremiah 34:8
注释家们通常说，关于释放希伯来奴仆的律法，以及安息年让土地休耕的律法，都未得遵守。但这段记载教给我们的恰恰相反。这一次释放奴仆，是西底家和百姓自发的行动。他们知道这律法，也承认其约束力。对律法的遵守无疑松弛：多数人让自私的利益占了上风；但少数人使强权向公理让步，西底家也支持他们的努力，尽管只是以软弱的方式。
西底家在位第九年一月初，迦勒底军逼近耶路撒冷。百姓与王立约——王似乎是这一措施的倡导者——释放他们的奴仆。爱国之心或许也在其中有一份作用：耶路撒冷既防守坚固，各阶层或许都指望奴仆一经释放，也会更甘心乐意地出力抵御敌人。同年夏天，埃及人进兵救援，尼布甲尼撒便撤军迎击。犹太人以一种令人鄙夷的轻率，立刻迫使这些已获释的奴仆重新为奴。耶利米以高尚的义怒斥责他们的背信，向他们保证迦勒底军队必会回来，并警告他们：他们如此罪有应得的刑罚，必要确实临到。
Jeremiah 34:8
迦勒底军队横扫全国之时，较富有的阶层都会携家带口逃入耶路撒冷。摩西律法在耶路撒冷大概比在乡间遵守得更严谨，因此这些家庭中有服事到头发花白的老奴，可能触怒了京城中更严格的一班人。
「向他们宣告自由」 - 这些话正是向百姓宣告禧年之时所用的话；宣告之后，释放奴仆便成为他们的本分。
英文原文
It is usual with commentators to say that, the laws dealing with the emancipation of the Hebrew slaves, as also that of the land resting during the sabbatical year, were not observed. The narrative teaches us the exact contrary. The manumission of the slaves on the present occasion was the spontaneous act of Zedekiah and the people. They knew of the law, and acknowledged its obligation. The observance of it was, no doubt, lax: the majority let their own selfish interests prevail; but the minority made might give way to right, and Zedekiah supported their efforts though only in a weak way.
Early in January, in the ninth year of Zedekiah, the Chaldaean army approached Jerusalem. The people made a covenant with the king, who appears as the abettor of the measure, to let their slaves go free. Possibly patriotism had its share in this: and as Jerusalem was strongly fortified, all classes possibly hoped that if the slaves were manumitted, they too would labor with a more hearty good-will in resisting the enemy. In the summer of the same year the Egyptians advanced to the rescue, and Nebuchadnezzar withdrew to meet their attack. The Jews with a strange levity, which sets them before us in a most despicable light, at once forced the manumitted slaves back into bondage. With noble indignation Jeremiah rebukes them for their treachery, assures them that the Chaldaean army will return, and warns them of the certainty of the punishment which they so richly merited.
Jeremiah 34:8
As the Chaldaean army swept over the country the wealthier classes would all flee to Jerusalem, taking with them their households. And as the Mosaic Law was probably more carefully kept there than in the country, the presence in these families of slaves who had grown grey in service may have given offence to the stricter classes at the capital.
To proclaim liberty unto them - The words are those of the proclamation of the year of jubile to the people, whereupon it became their duty to set their slaves free.
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Jeremiah 34:9
「使他们服事自己」 - 意即：使他们为他服役（见 Jeremiah 25:14）。
英文原文
Should serve himself of them - Should make them serve him (see Jeremiah 25:14).
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Jeremiah 34:11
「他们回头，又使……回来」 - 但后来他们又使那些奴仆回来了。
英文原文
They turned, and caused ... to return - But afterward they again made the slaves return.
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Jeremiah 34:13
「奴仆的家」 - 指那悲惨的监牢：奴仆们成群在田间劳作一整天之后，夜里就被关在那里。
英文原文
The house of bondmen - The miserable prison in which, after being worked in the fields all day in gangs, the slaves were shut up at night.
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Jeremiah 34:16
「任意」 - 按字面为“为他们自己”。
英文原文
At their pleasure - literally, for themselves.
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Jeremiah 34:17
「我必使你们被交出来，遭遇……」 - 即“我必使你们成为……的惊骇”。人必因他们而战栗。
英文原文
I will make you to be removed into - "I will cause you to be a terror unto." Men would shudder at them.
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Jeremiah 34:18
「那些话……」 - 犹太人称之为“切”约，因为立约的双方将牛犊切成两半，从中间经过。因此，“切约”与“将牛犊切成两半”是同一回事。
英文原文
The words ... - The Jews spoke of "cutting" a covenant, because the contracting parties cut a calf in twain and passed between the pieces. Thus cutting a covenant and cutting a calf in twain, meant the same thing.
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Jeremiah 34:21
「从你们那里上去的」 - 意即目前暂时撤离、解了围的。
英文原文
Which are gone up from you - i. e., which have departed for the present, and have raised the siege.
关于本章预言（Jeremiah 34）的通行见解认为，它是对 Jeremiah 32:3-5 所载记述的更完整叙述；但更可能的解释，是把它与 Jeremiah 21:1-14 联系起来看。那时耶利米已借西底家差来的使者告知他，耶路撒冷必被攻取；但西底家当时仍处于可以获得宽厚条件的境地，先知便到他那里，将两种抉择摆在他面前。西底家以软弱之人惯有的全部顽固选择继续战争，于是失去了国度、视力与自由。