Jeremiah speaks specifically to Zedekiah the king of Judah. The Lord’s word to him and the nation is that they too must bring their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people. The instructions here are plural because they refer not just to Zedekiah, but to the whole nation.1 Just as in his message to the other nations, if Judah submits to Nebuchadnezzar, they will live. The consequences of rebellion are spelled out again in the form of a question, Why will you and your people die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, as the Lord has spoken concerning any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
It is striking that Judah is not treated any differently from the nations. The nation has all but lost its status as the Lord’s covenant people. They too will face his judgment in the form of invasion and exile if they resist Babylon. If they choose to submit, they will live, free to continue with life in the land. It should also be noted that this kind of message would have been seen as traitorous in Judah, especially among a people that still firmly believed that the Lord would protect them.
12 To Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke in like manner: “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people and live.