4 Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah! Thus says the Lord concerning you: 'You shall not die by the sword.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:4

Commentary on Jeremiah 34:1-7

(Read Jeremiah 34:1-7)

Zedekiah is told that the city shall be taken, and that he shall die a captive, but he shall die a natural death. It is better to live and die penitent in a prison, than to live and die impenitent in a palace.