The wordwhichcameto Jeremiahfrom the LORDafterKingZedekiahhad madea covenantwith allthe peoplewhowere in Jerusalemto proclaimreleaseto them:
You shall thus consecratethe fiftiethyearand proclaima releasethrough the landto allits inhabitants.It shall be a jubileefor you, and eachof you shall returnto his own property,and eachof you shall returnto his family.
"Thereforethussaysthe LORD,'You have not obeyedMe in proclaimingreleaseeachmanto his brotherand eachmanto his neighbor.Behold,I am proclaiminga releaseto you,' declaresthe LORD,to the sword,to the pestilenceand to the famine;and I will makeyou a terrorto allthe kingdomsof the earth.
Then Jehoiadamadea covenantbetweenthe LORDand the kingand the people,that they would be the LORD'Speople,also betweenthe kingand the people.
The Spiritof the LordGODis upon me, Becausethe LORDhas anointedme To bringgood newsto the afflicted;He has sentme to bindup the brokenhearted,To proclaimlibertyto captivesAnd freedomto prisoners;
"Now because of allthisWe are makingan agreementin writing;And on the sealeddocument [are the names of] our leaders,our Levites[and] our priests."
"Nowit is in my heartto makea covenantwith the LORDGodof Israel,that His burningangermay turnawayfrom us.
Then Jehoiadamadea covenantbetweenhimself and allthe peopleand the king,that they would be the LORD'Speople.
"Ifyour kinsman,a Hebrewmanorwoman,is soldto you, then he shall serveyou sixyears,but in the seventhyearyou shall sethim free.
"Is thisnot the fastwhich I choose,To loosenthe bondsof wickedness,To undothe bandsof the yoke,And to letthe oppressedgofreeAnd breakeveryyoke?
