1 Then Shephatiah H8203 the son H1121 of Mattan, H4977 and Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Pashur, H6583 and Jucal H3116 the son H1121 of Shelemiah, H8018 and Pashur H6583 the son H1121 of Malchiah, H4441 heard H8085 the words H1697 that Jeremiah H3414 had spoken H1696 unto all the people, H5971 saying, H559
2 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 He that remaineth H3427 in this city H5892 shall die H4191 by the sword, H2719 by the famine, H7458 and by the pestilence: H1698 but he that goeth forth H3318 to the Chaldeans H3778 shall live; H2421 for he shall have his life H5315 for a prey, H7998 and shall live. H2421 H2425
3 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 This city H5892 shall surely H5414 be given H5414 into the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Babylon's H894 army, H2428 which shall take H3920 it.
4 Therefore the princes H8269 said H559 unto the king, H4428 We beseech thee, let this man H376 be put to death: H4191 for thus H3651 he weakeneth H7503 the hands H3027 of the men H582 of war H4421 that remain H7604 in this city, H5892 and the hands H3027 of all the people, H5971 in speaking H1696 such words H1697 unto them: for this man H376 seeketh H1875 not the welfare H7965 of this people, H5971 but the hurt. H7451
5 Then Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 said, H559 Behold, he is in your hand: H3027 for the king H4428 is not he that can H3201 do any thing H1697 against you.
6 Then took H3947 they Jeremiah, H3414 and cast H7993 him into the dungeon H953 of Malchiah H4441 the son H1121 of Hammelech, H4428 that was in the court H2691 of the prison: H4307 and they let down H7971 Jeremiah H3414 with cords. H2256 And in the dungeon H953 there was no water, H4325 but mire: H2916 so Jeremiah H3414 sunk H2883 in the mire. H2916
7 Now when Ebedmelech H5663 the Ethiopian, H3569 one H376 of the eunuchs H5631 which was in the king's H4428 house, H1004 heard H8085 that they had put H5414 Jeremiah H3414 in the dungeon; H953 the king H4428 then sitting H3427 in the gate H8179 of Benjamin; H1144
8 Ebedmelech H5663 went forth H3318 out of the king's H4428 house, H1004 and spake H1696 to the king, H4428 saying, H559
9 My lord H113 the king, H4428 these men H582 have done evil H7489 in all that they have done H6213 to Jeremiah H3414 the prophet, H5030 whom they have cast H7993 into the dungeon; H953 and he is like to die H4191 for H6440 hunger H7458 in the place H8478 where he is: for there is no more bread H3899 in the city. H5892
10 Then the king H4428 commanded H6680 Ebedmelech H5663 the Ethiopian, H3569 saying, H559 Take H3947 from hence thirty H7970 men H582 with thee, H3027 and take up H5927 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 out of the dungeon, H953 before he die. H4191
11 So Ebedmelech H5663 took H3947 the men H582 with him, H3027 and went H935 into the house H1004 of the king H4428 under the treasury, H214 and took H3947 thence old H1094 cast clouts H5499 and old H1094 rotten rags, H4418 and let them down H7971 by cords H2256 into the dungeon H953 to Jeremiah. H3414
12 And Ebedmelech H5663 the Ethiopian H3569 said H559 unto Jeremiah, H3414 Put H7760 now these old H1094 cast clouts H5499 and rotten rags H4418 under thine armholes H679 H3027 under the cords. H2256 And Jeremiah H3414 did H6213 so.
13 So they drew up H4900 Jeremiah H3414 with cords, H2256 and took him up H5927 out of the dungeon: H953 and Jeremiah H3414 remained H3427 in the court H2691 of the prison. H4307
14 Then Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 sent, H7971 and took H3947 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 unto him into the third H7992 entry H3996 that is in the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 and the king H4428 said H559 unto Jeremiah, H3414 I will ask H7592 thee a thing; H1697 hide H3582 nothing from me.
15 Then Jeremiah H3414 said H559 unto Zedekiah, H6667 If I declare H5046 it unto thee, wilt thou not surely H4191 put me to death? H4191 and if I give thee counsel, H3289 wilt thou not hearken H8085 unto me?
16 So Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 sware H7650 secretly H5643 unto Jeremiah, H3414 saying, H559 As the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 that made H6213 us this soul, H5315 I will not put thee to death, H4191 neither will I give H5414 thee into the hand H3027 of these men H582 that seek H1245 thy life. H5315
17 Then said H559 Jeremiah H3414 unto Zedekiah, H6667 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 the God H430 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 If thou wilt assuredly H3318 go forth H3318 unto the king H4428 of Babylon's H894 princes, H8269 then thy soul H5315 shall live, H2421 and this city H5892 shall not be burned H8313 with fire; H784 and thou shalt live, H2421 and thine house: H1004
18 But if thou wilt not go forth H3318 to the king H4428 of Babylon's H894 princes, H8269 then shall this city H5892 be given H5414 into the hand H3027 of the Chaldeans, H3778 and they shall burn H8313 it with fire, H784 and thou shalt not escape out H4422 of their hand. H3027
19 And Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 said H559 unto Jeremiah, H3414 I am afraid H1672 of the Jews H3064 that are fallen H5307 to the Chaldeans, H3778 lest they deliver H5414 me into their hand, H3027 and they mock H5953 me.
20 But Jeremiah H3414 said, H559 They shall not deliver H5414 thee. Obey, H8085 I beseech thee, the voice H6963 of the LORD, H3068 which I speak H1696 unto thee: so it shall be well H3190 unto thee, and thy soul H5315 shall live. H2421
21 But if thou refuse H3986 to go forth, H3318 this is the word H1697 that the LORD H3068 hath shewed H7200 me:
22 And, behold, all the women H802 that are left H7604 in the king H4428 of Judah's H3063 house H1004 shall be brought forth H3318 to the king H4428 of Babylon's H894 princes, H8269 and those women shall say, H559 Thy friends H582 H7965 have set thee on, H5496 and have prevailed H3201 against thee: thy feet H7272 are sunk H2883 in the mire, H1206 and they are turned away H5472 back. H268
23 So they shall bring out H3318 all thy wives H802 and thy children H1121 to the Chaldeans: H3778 and thou shalt not escape out H4422 of their hand, H3027 but shalt be taken H8610 by the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Babylon: H894 and thou shalt cause this city H5892 to be burned H8313 with fire. H784
24 Then said H559 Zedekiah H6667 unto Jeremiah, H3414 Let no man H376 know H3045 of these words, H1697 and thou shalt not die. H4191
25 But if the princes H8269 hear H8085 that I have talked H1696 with thee, and they come H935 unto thee, and say H559 unto thee, Declare H5046 unto us now what thou hast said H1696 unto the king, H4428 hide H3582 it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; H4191 also what the king H4428 said H1696 unto thee:
26 Then thou shalt say H559 unto them, I presented H5307 my supplication H8467 before H6440 the king, H4428 that he would not cause me to return H7725 to Jonathan's H3083 house, H1004 to die H4191 there.
27 Then came H935 all the princes H8269 unto Jeremiah, H3414 and asked H7592 him: and he told H5046 them according to all these words H1697 that the king H4428 had commanded. H6680 So they left off speaking H2790 with him; for the matter H1697 was not perceived. H8085
28 So Jeremiah H3414 abode H3427 in the court H2691 of the prison H4307 until the day H3117 that Jerusalem H3389 was taken: H3920 and he was there when Jerusalem H3389 was taken. H3920
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 38
Commentary on Jeremiah 38 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 38
Jer 38:1-28. Jeremiah Predicts the Capture of Jerusalem, for Which He Is Cast into a Dungeon, but Is Transferred to the Prison Court on the Intercession of Ebed-melech, and Has a Secret Interview with Zedekiah.
All this was subsequent to his imprisonment in Jonathan's house, and his release on his interview with Zedekiah. The latter occurred before the return of the Chaldeans to the siege; the similar events in this chapter occurred after it.
1. Jucal—Jehucal (Jer 37:3).
Pashur—(Jer 21:1; compare Jer 21:9 with Jer 38:2). The deputation in Jer 21:1, to whom Jeremiah gave this reply, if not identical with the hearers of Jeremiah (Jer 38:1), must have been sent just before the latter "heard" him speaking the same words. Zephaniah is not mentioned here as in Jer 21:1, but is so in Jer 37:3. Jucal is mentioned here and in the previous deputation (Jer 37:3), but not in Jer 21:1. Shephatiah and Gedaliah here do not occur either in Jer 21:1 or Jer 37:3. The identity of his words in both cases is natural, when uttered, at a very short interval, and one of the hearers (Pashur) being present on both occasions.
unto all the people—They had free access to him in the court of the prison (Jer 32:12).
2. life … a prey—He shall escape with his life; though losing all else in a shipwreck, he shall carry off his life as his gain, saved by his going over to the Chaldeans. (See on Jer 21:9).
4. Had Jeremiah not had a divine commission, he might justly have been accused of treason; but having one, which made the result of the siege certain, he acted humanely as interpreter of God's will under the theocracy, in advising surrender (compare Jer 26:11).
5. the king is not he—Zedekiah was a weak prince, and now in his straits afraid to oppose his princes. He hides his dislike of their overweening power, which prevented him shielding Jeremiah as he would have wished, under complimentary speeches. "It is not right that the king should deny aught to such faithful and wise statesmen"; the king is not such a one as to deny you your wishes [Jerome].
6. dungeon—literally, the "cistern." It was not a subterranean prison as that in Jonathan's house (Jer 37:15), but a pit or cistern, which had been full of water, but was emptied of it during the siege, so that only "mire" remained. Such empty cisterns were often used as prisons (Zec 9:11); the depth forbade hope of escape.
Hammelech—(Jer 36:26). His son followed in the father's steps, a ready tool for evil.
sunk in the mire—Jeremiah herein was a type of Messiah (Ps 69:2, 14). "I sink in deep mire," &c.
7. Ebed-melech—The Hebrew designation given this Ethiopian, meaning "king's servant." Already, even at this early time, God wished to show what good reason there was for calling the Gentiles to salvation. An Ethiopian stranger saves the prophet whom his own countrymen, the Jews, tried to destroy. So the Gentiles believed in Christ whom the Jews crucified, and Ethiopians were among the earliest converts (Ac 2:10, 41; 8:27-39). Ebed-melech probably was keeper of the royal harem, and so had private access to the king. The eunuchs over harems in the present day are mostly from Nubia or Abyssinia.
8. went forth … and spake—not privately, but in public; a proof of fearless magnanimity.
9. die for hunger in the place where he is; for … no … bread in … city—(Compare Jer 37:21). He had heretofore got a piece of bread supplied to him. "Seeing that there is the utmost want of bread in the city, so that even if he were at large, there could no more be regularly supplied to him, much less now in a place where none remember or pity him, so that he is likely to die for hunger." "No more bread," that is, no more left of the public store in the city (Jer 37:21); or, all but no bread left anywhere [Maurer].
10. with thee—Hebrew, "in thine hand," that is, at "thy disposal" (1Sa 16:2). "From hence," that is, from the gate of Benjamin where the king was sitting (Jer 38:7).
thirty men—not merely to draw up Jeremiah, but to guard Ebed-melech against any opposition on the part of the princes (Jer 38:1-4), in executing the king's command. Ebed-melech was rewarded for his faith, love, and courage, exhibited at a time when he might well fear the wrath of the princes, to which even the king had to yield (Jer 39:16-18).
11. cast clouts—"torn clothes" [Henderson].
rotten rags—"worn-out garments." God can make the meanest things His instruments of goodness to His people (1Co 1:27-29).
under … armholes—"under the joints of thine hands," that is, where the fingers join the hand, the clothes being in order that the hands should not be cut by the cords [Maurer].
13. court of … prison—Ebed-melech prudently put him there to be out of the way of his enemies.
14. third entry—The Hebrews in determining the position of places faced the east, which they termed "that which is in front"; the south was thus called "that which is on the right hand"; the north, "that which is on the left hand"; the west, "that which is behind." So beginning with the east they might term it the first or principal entry; the south the second entry; the north the "third entry" of the outer or inner court [Maurer]. The third gate of the temple facing the palace; for through it the entrance lay from the palace into the temple (1Ki 10:5, 12). It was westward (1Ch 26:16, 18; 2Ch 9:11) [Grotius]. But in the future temple it is eastward (Eze 46:1, 2, 8).
15. wilt thou not hearken unto me—Zedekiah does not answer this last query; the former one he replies to in Jer 38:16. Rather translate, "Thou wilt not hearken to me." Jeremiah judges so from the past conduct of the king. Compare Jer 38:17 with Jer 38:19.
16. Lord … made us this soul—(Isa 57:16). Implying, "may my life (soul) be forfeited if I deceive thee" [Calvin].
17. princes—(Jer 39:3). He does not say "to the king himself," for he was at Riblah, in Hamath (Jer 39:5; 2Ki 25:6). "If thou go forth" (namely, to surrender; 2Ki 24:12; Isa 36:16), God foreknows future conditional contingencies, and ordains not only the end, but also the means to the end.
19. afraid of the Jews—more than of God (Pr 29:25; Joh 9:22; 12:43).
mock me—treat me injuriously (1Sa 31:4).
22. women—The very evil which Zedekiah wished to escape by disobeying the command to go forth shall befall him in its worst form thereby. Not merely the Jewish deserters shall "mock" him (Jer 38:19), but the very "women" of his own palace and harem, to gratify their new lords, will taunt him. A noble king in sooth, to suffer thyself to be so imposed on!
Thy friends—Hebrew, "men of thy peace" (see Jer 20:10; Ps 41:9, Margin). The king's ministers and the false prophets who misled him.
sunk in … mire—proverbial for, Thou art involved by "thy friends'" counsels in inextricable difficulties. The phrase perhaps alludes to Jer 38:6; a just retribution for the treatment of Jeremiah, who literally "sank in the mire."
they are turned … back—Having involved thee in the calamity, they themselves shall provide for their own safety by deserting to the Chaldeans (Jer 38:19).
23. children—(Jer 39:6; 41:10). "wives … children … thou"; an ascending climax.
24. Let no man know—If thou wilt not tell this to the people, I will engage thy safety.
25. Kings are often such only in title; they are really under the power of their subjects.
26. presented—literally, "made my supplication to fall"; implying supplication with humble prostration (see on Jer 36:7).
Jonathan's house—(Jer 37:15), different from Malchiah's dungeon (Jer 38:6). This statement was true, though not the whole truth; the princes had no right to the information; no sanction is given by Scripture here to Jeremiah's representation of this being the cause of his having come to the king. Fear drove him to it. Compare Ge 20:2, 12; on the other hand, 1Sa 16:2, 5.
left off speaking with—Hebrew, "were silent from him," that is, withdrawing from him they left him quiet (1Sa 7:8, Margin).
28. he was there when Jerusalem was taken—These words are made the beginning of the thirty-ninth chapter by many; but the accents and sense support English Version.