Zedekiah Seeks Prayer while Rejecting the Message

Zedekiah, installed by Babylon, asks Jeremiah to pray while still not hearing the words

King Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar made king. Neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the LORD which he spake by the prophet Jeremiah.

Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest to Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us. Prayer is requested from a government that will not hear the already-spoken word.

Egypt's brief relief does not cancel Babylon's return; even wounded Chaldeans would burn the city

Pharaoh's army came out of Egypt, and the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard and departed. Then the word came: Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

Prayer requests do not substitute for changed policy. Imperial prediction does not morally endorse Egypt or Babylon. The lifted siege is not a sign that the hard word has expired.