JEREMIAH 34

ZEDEKIAH ENSLAVES OTHER ISRAELITES 

Jeremiah records a prophecy explaining that the Babylonians would defeat Jerusalem and take the people of Judah into captivity during the time of King Zedekiah.

God rebukes Zedekiah for enslaving the Israelites, His own people, acting explicitly against God's law. Zedekiah is initially obedient and agrees to free the slaves and God tells him that he will die peacefully. Once Zedekiah and the other slave masters see the freed slaves, they revoke their freedom and enslave them once again. In doing this, Zedekiah breaks the covenant with God and will suffer under the Babylonian exile.