Why does the Lord say, “concerning the house of the king of Judah: You are like Gilead to me, like the summit of Lebanon, yet surely I will make you a desert, an uninhabited city”?

The Lord explains judgment that is coming to the house of the king of Judah more fully. Again, the words that follow would have been applicable to many, if not nearly all, of Israel’s kings, especially those who reigned during Jeremiah’s ministry. All had failed to rule with justice. But the context again makes Zedekiah the primary target of these words of judgment.

The Lord already declared in Jeremiah 21:14 that he will kindle a fire in her forest. That reference is expanded further here. Both Gilead and Lebanon were well-known for their forests which were a rich source of sought after timber. Solomon used a great deal of that timber to build the royal palace in Jerusalem so that it was even called the ”House of the Forest of Lebanon” (1 Kings 7:2–5; Isaiah 22:8).¹ The Lord’s words start off on a positive note. You are like Gilead to me, like the summit of Lebanon. The Lord describes his attitude to the royal household with a positive image of a rich, lush, tree covered mountain. The king of Israel held a special place in the Lord’s heart. It was through the rule of her kings that the Lord would bring blessing to his people. But the image changes drastically as the Lord continues, Yet surely I will make you a desert, an uninhabited city. The Lord himself will reduce the royal house to a desert which will lead to Jerusalem becoming a city without inhabitants. The richness of the Lord’s blessing turns into the desolation of curse as he pours out his judgment onto the king and the nation because of their covenant unfaithfulness.