Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah prophesying in prison as well before time is by the princes with the kingdom’s permission cast into a deep muddy dungeon verse1 c. but is by Ebedemelechh with the kings consent drawn out again 7 Zedekiah sendeth again for Jeremiah to come to him and receiveth still the same answer 14 he commandeth the prophet what he shall answer the princes when they should ask him his business 24. Prophet remaineth still in prison until Jerusalem was taken 28.

1. When Sephanja the son of Mathan and Gedalia the son of Pashur and Jachal the son of Selamja and Pashur the son of Malchia heard the word of Jeremiah spake [see the prosecution of verse 4] unto all the people [to wit those that came unto him in the court of the custody and thence spread his words among all the people] saying:

2. Thus saith the Lord whoso remaineth in the city shall die by the sword by the famine or by the pestilence [as above chapter 21.9] but whoso goeth forth to the Chaldeans he shall live [that is remain alive God will cause that the Chaldeans shall spare him and grant him his life] for he shall have his soul [that is his life see Genesis 19 on verse 17] for a prey [as above chapter 21.9] and shall live.

3. Saith the Lord this city shall surely be given [Heb. Being given be given] into the hand of the king of Babel’s arms and the same shall take it.

4. Then the prince said unto the king let this man we beseech thee be put to death for thus he weakeneth the hands [see 2 Samuel 4 on verse 1] of the soldiers but remain in the city and the hands of all the people speaking such words unto them for this man seeketh not the peace [that is welfare preservation see Genesis 37 on verse 14] of this people [or seeketh not peace for this people but c.] but the evil [that is mischief destruction.]

5. And the king Zedekiah said behold he is in your hand for the king [that is I] can do nothing against you [oth. The king is not to be that can do anything against you.]

6. Then took they Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchia [seeking to put him to death secretly] the son of Hannimalech [or the king son as above chapter 36.26] which was in the court of custody and let down Jeremiah with cords now in the dungeon there was no water but mire and Jeremiah sank n the mire [compare Psalms 69:3 and 40.3.]

7. Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian [Heb. Cuschi a stranger but honest but Jeremiahs own country men see Genesis 2 on verse 13 and 10 on verse 6] one of Chamberlains [Heb. A man a Charmberlain or courtier see Genesis 37 on verse 36] who was the kings house heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon now the king sate in the gate of Benjamin [perhaps to keep court to wit which then was wont to be kept in the city gates see Genesis 22 on verse 17 and compare below verse 10 perhaps also to view something in the siege or to give order concerning something.]

8. So then Ebedmelech went forth unto the king’s house and spake unto king saying:

9. My lord my king these man dealt ill in all that they have done to the prophet Jeremiah whom they have cast into the dungeon where indeed should have died for hunger in his place [where he was compare 2 Samuel 2:23 with the annotate as if he had said he was indeed good as dead why then should they thus cruelly take away his life ?] because there is no more bread in the city .

10. Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian saying: take from thence thirty men under thine hand [Heb.. in thine hand that is take them with thee under thine conduct command for thy service see this phrase 2 Samuel 8 on verse 10 so in the next verse]and fetch up the prophet Jeremiah [Heb. Cause to come up to ascend] out of dungeon before he die.

11. So Ebedmelech took the men under his hand and went into the kings house under the treasury and took thence some old torn cloud [to wit of clothes pulled off laid aside as some conceive because the Hebrew word is derived from pulling or clouts pulled all in a heap or slung here and there Heb. Old or torn c. that is some of the oldest c. compare the phrase with Judges 5:29. Proverbs 14:1 Ezekiel 28.7c.] and old worn rags [or rotten filthy perished rags compare Isaiah 51:6 where a like word is used concerning the perishing of the heavens] and he let them down with cards into the dungeon with Jeremiah.

12. Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah lay now the old torn and worn rags under the pits of thine arms [others elbows as Ezekiel 13:18 Heb holes of thine hands a part for the whole as elsewhere] under the cord [this did this good man that Jeremiah might not hurt himself by the cords or ropes it is worthy our observation that the holy ghost is pleased to describe this word to honor for Ebedmelech for circumstantially] and Jeremiah did so.

13. And they drew up Jeremiah by the cords and fetched him up out of the dungeon and Jeremiah remained in the court of custody [in the place where he had been before compare above verse 9.]

14. Then king Zedekiah sent and caused the prophet Jeremiah to be fetched to him [Heb and took unto him as above chapter 37.17] into the third entry that was the house of the Lord [and most princely most principally entry this may be understood of the gallery through which the king went up into the house of the Lord see 1 Kings 10:5 with the annotate]and the king said unto Jeremiah I will ask thee a thing or ask concerning the word to wit Lord see Ezekiel 3.17and 33.7 and above chapter 37.17] conceal nothing from me .

15. And Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah when I shall declare it unto thee wilt thou not surely put me to death? [Heb putting to death put to death] and I shall give thee counsel yet thou wilt not hearken unto me.

16. The king Zedekiah swear secretly unto Jeremiah saying as true as the Lord liveth that made us this soul [see Isaiah 57:16] if I shall put thee to death or if I shall deliver thee into the hand of these man that seek thy soul[that is seek to take away thy life see Exodus 4 on verse 19 and 2Saamuel on verse 8 an abrupt sentence very usual in oath understand with all then let God do so unto me c. see Genesis 14 on verse 26.]

17. Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah thus saith the Lord the God of hosts [see 1 Kings 18 on verse 15] the God of Israel if thou wilt willingly go forth [Heb. Going forth wilt go forth]unto the king of Babel’s princes then shall thy soul live [that is thou thyself thy person shall remain alive for wilt thou shall cause to rejoice so verse 20 on Genesis 19:20] and this city shall not be burnt with fire and thou shalt live thou and thine house [that is family wives and children.]

18. But if thou wilt not go forth unto the king Babel’s princes then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldean and they shall burn it with fire also thou shall escape out of their hand.

19. And the king Zedekiah said unto Jeremiah I am afraid of Jews that are fallen [as above chapter 37.13] to the Chaldeans left they [the Chaldeans] peradventure deliver me into their hands [into the hands of revolted Jews] and they mock me.

20. And Jeremiah said they shall not deliver thee he I pray thee obedient to the voice of the Lord according to which I speak unto thee or it shall go unto thee ] and thy soul shall live [as above verse 17.]

21. But if thou refuse to go forth then this is the word which the Lord hath causeth me to see [that is have revealed unto me in prophetical vision.]

22. Behold there all the women that are left in the king of Judas house [and were not before carried away with Chonia or Jojakim see 2 Kings 24:14, 15] shall be carried forth to the king of Babel’s princes and the same shall say [thy wives shall say unto thee in an upbraiding manner]those that were at peace with thee [Heb. The man of thy peace that is thy friends or thy confederate so above chapter 20 verse 10] have set thee on [to rebel see 2Kings 24.20 2 Chronicles 36:13 and above chapter 27 on verse3] and have prevailed against thee [drawn thee away by their counsel and instigation from thy duty Obadea verse 7] thy feet are sunk into the mire [thou hast brought thyself into trouble out of which thou canst deliver thyself it may be that by these words respect is had to that which the king had suffered to be done to Jeremiah see verse 6.] they are turned backwards [thou hast revolted from the king of Babel against thine oath 2 Chronicles 36:13 compare this complaint against Zedekiah with Isaiah 8:2 some understand it of some of his associates and friends that hath forsaken him.]

23. They shall then bring forth all their wives and all thy sons [or the daughters below chapter 41.10 with the annotate and 43.6] to the Chaldean also thou shalt not escape of their hand [that which was said before is repeated again for confirmation of the matter]but thou shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babel and thou shalt burn this city with fire [that is cause it to be burnt or be a cause that it shall be burnt see above chapter 21.10 and 32.29 and 34.2,22 others this city shall burn or be burnt by fire through the Hebrew word is nowhere else more so found signification.]

24. Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah let no man know of these then thou shalt not die.

25. And when the princes shall hear that I have spoken with thee and shall come unto thee and say unto thee declare unto us now what hast thou said unto the king? Conceal it not from us then we will not put thee to death and what hath the king spoken unto thee?

26. Then shalt thou say unto them thy cast down my supplication before the kings face [see above chapter 36 on verse 7that is I made humble supplications unto the king]that he would not cause me to be brought again into Jonathan’s house [see above chapter 37 verse15] to die there.

27. When then all the princes came unto Jeremiah and asked him he told them according to those words [that is in such manner as the king hath commanded him] and they left off from him [without speaking anymore to him] and they left off from him [without speaking anymore to him or doing anything to him Heb. They were silent or kept themselves silent off him compare 1 Kings 22 on verse 3 and further Psalms 28 on verse 1 and Job 13 on verse 13]because the matter was not heard [that is was not made known or spread abroad they heard nothing of it consequently had no matter of examining Jeremiah any further.]

28. And Jeremiah abode in the court of custody until that day the day that Jerusalem was taken and he was there yet when Jerusalem was taken [see below chapter 39.14.]