Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 21:7

And afterwards , saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life , and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword: he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy .

After that many of the People of this City, shall be destroyed, some by the Enemy assaulting, and skirmishing with them; others by the Famine, that shall be amongst them through a want of Victuals, being all spent with the long Siege; others by the Pestilence.

Zedekiah, who shall escape these three Judgments, together with his Courtiers, and the residue of the People, shall be delivered into the power of the King of Babylon, and into the power of such as will not be content with the plunder of their houses, but thirst after their blood, and

these Enemies (set on by Nebuchadnezzar) shall smite them with the Sword, without shewing them any Mercy or Pity. This is not to be understood of king Zedekiah himself, for God let him know, chap. 34.4. that he should not die by the sword but in peace, as he did afterward in Babylon, though in Prison; but it was true of his Sons, and Courtiers, and a great part of the People, chap. 39.6, 8. & 52.10. Those who went into Captivity, were only such as had revolted during the Seige, and many of those that were of the poor of the Land, for the rest there was little pity had of them, or mercy shewed to them; as may be seen chap. 39. & 52. 2 Chron, 36.17.