18 Moreover Jeremiah said to king Zedekiah, Wherein have I sinned against you, or against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison?
Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?"
while he said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all."
For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I don't refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!"
But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.
David said to Saul, Why listen you to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you; but [my eye] spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh's anointed. Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know you and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt after my life to take it. Yahweh judge between me and you, and Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you. As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be on you. After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.
He said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand? Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it be Yahweh that has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if it be the children of men, cursed be they before Yahweh: for they have driven me out this day that I shouldn't cling to Yahweh's inheritance, saying, Go, serve other gods. Now therefore, don't let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Yahweh: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one does hunt a partridge in the mountains. Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to flog officials for their integrity.
Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Didn't he fear Yahweh, and entreat the favor of Yahweh, and Yahweh repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus should we commit great evil against our own souls.
Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.
When they had withdrawn, they spoke one to another, saying, "This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds."
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Jeremiah 37
Commentary on Jeremiah 37 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 37
This chapter brings us very near the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, for the story of it lies in the latter end of Zedekiah's reign; we have in it,
Jer 37:1-10
Here is,
Jer 37:11-21
We have here a further account concerning Jeremiah, who relates more passages concerning himself than any other of the prophets; for the histories of the lives and sufferings of God's ministers have been very serviceable to the church, as well as their preaching and writing.