Jeremiah 21:8

“And unto the people thou shalt say, thus saith the Lord, etc.] These are the words, not of the prophet to the messengers of the king, ordering or advising them what they each of them should say to the people; for the message by them is finished; but they are the words of the Lord to the prophet, directing him what he should say to the people at this critical juncture: behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death; the way how to preserve their lives; and which, if they did not choose to take, would be inevitable death. The allusion seems to be to a phrase used by Moses, when he gave the law; obedience to which would issue in life, and disobedience in death,…”

“"Life," if ye surrender; "death," if ye persist in opposing the Chaldees (compare Deu 30:19). The individuality of Jeremiah's mission from God is shown in that he urges to unconditional surrender; whereas all former prophets had urged the people to oppose their invaders (Isa 7:16; Isa 37:33, Isa 37:35).”

“Compare the marginal reference; but here the alternative is a life saved by desertion to the enemy, or a death by famine, pestilence, and the sword within the walls. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Behold - I tell you the way you should take, if you would save your lives. Jeremiah 21:9”

“21:8-10 Although the Lord had decided to destroy the city of Jerusalem regardless, individual people still had a choice between life, probably as slaves in Babylon, or death by Babylonian swords (cp. Deut 20:10-13).”

“I set: Deu 11:26, Deu 30:15, Deu 30:19; Isa 1:19, Isa 1:20 Jeremiah 21:9”