King Zedekiah did not like Jeremiah's message of judgment and the call to repentance. The king and his people paid no attention to the Lord's words. But he thought Jeremiah's prayer might help, so he asked for it. Egypt came marching, and Babylon withdrew. But the Lord's message was: Babylon will return and burn down Jerusalem. God warned, "Don't deceive yourselves" into hoping for relief. Fallen man is an expert at finding false security.

When Jeremiah left to go to his property, they thought he was deserting to Babylon and arrested him. He denied it, but they beat him and put him in a dungeon for a long time. King Zedekiah asked him privately, "Is there any word from the Lord?" God's message had not changed: "You will be handed over to Babylon." The prophet was treated like a criminal, though he foretold the truth. False prophets preached peace and victory. At Jeremiah's request, the king transferred Jeremiah to a better prison and gave him daily bread.