1The Egyptians having caused the Chaldeans to raise the siege of Jerusalem, Zedekiah sendeth to desire Jeremiah's prayers. 6Jeremiah prophesieth the certain return and victory of the Chaldeans: 11he is taken up for a fugitive, beaten, and put in prison: 16he assureth Zedekiah of the captivity, and entreating for his liberty obtaineth some indulgence.
1AND 1king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of 2Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, 3whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
1 See the same manner of speech Jer. 23:5. Other, And the king Zedekiah reigned instead, etc. Some conceive that this phrase is here used of Zedekiah as such, because Coniah (otherwise called Jeconiah or Jehoiachin), his predecessor, had reigned but three months, and was not reputed as a king. Compare Jer. 36:30 with the annotation.
2 See Jer. 22 on verse 24.
3 See 2 Kings 24:17.
2But neither he, nor his 4servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the LORD, which he spake 5by the prophet Jeremiah.
4 That is, officers and courtiers.
5 Hebr. by the hand of the prophet.
3And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.6
6 See the continuation of this matter in verse 6.
4Now Jeremiah came 7in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into 8prison.
7 That is, he moved yet freely among the people, performing his office without any hindrance at all. Compare Deut. 31 on verse 2.
8 Hebr. properly: house of shutting up, or detention, restraint; also verses 15 and 18. As if one said: locked house, verse 15, also called the house of bond, that is, of bonds; as if one would say: binding house.
5Then 9Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of 10them, they 11departed froma Jerusalem.
9 Of the king of Egypt, whom Zedekiah and the Jews had called to their aid and assistance against Nebuchadrezzar. Of this name Pharaoh see Gen. 12 on verse 15.
10 Of the Egyptians.
11 That is, marched away, broke up, as verse 11; Jer. 34:21.
a Jer. 34:21.
6¶Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
7Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.
8And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.
9Thus saith the LORD; Deceive not 12yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall 13surely depart from us: for they shall 14not depart.
12 Or, your souls, that is, yourselves. See Jer. 38 on verse 17.
13 Hebr. departing depart.
14 Namely, entirely so, that they would not re-assume the siege, or that they should not expect their coming again.
10For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but 15wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.
15 Or, stabbed.
11¶And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear 16of Pharaoh’s army,
16 As verse 5.
12Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of 17Benjamin, to 18separate himself 19thence in the midst of the people.
17 Being his own homeland where Anathoth is situated.
18 Or, to slip away, to get away privily, amongst the multitude of the people who now returned home to their own dwellings, on account of the breaking up of the Babylonians.
19 From Jerusalem.
13And when he was in the gate of 20Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 21Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.
20 Through which a man went to the land of Benjamin.
21 That is, go over, revolt, depart, fall away to the enemy. Hebr. thou art falling, etc.
14Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But 22he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
22 Irijah did not hearken unto Jeremiah and believed him not.
15Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and 23smote him, and put him in 24prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the 25prison.
23 That is, they caused him to be smitten and to be put, etc.
24 Hebr. house of bond. See on verse 4.
25 Hebr. house of shutting up, as verse 4.
16¶When Jeremiah was entered into the 26dungeon, and into the 27cabins, 28and Jeremiah had remained there 29many days;
26 Hebr. house, which is also taken for place. Understand here a deep, filthy, underground prison or dungeon.
27 Or, little cells, little chambers, which are wont to be in such kind of prisons.
28 Or, so Jeremiah remained there many days; afterward, etc.
29 That is, a long time.
17Then Zedekiah the king sent, and 30took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, 31Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.
30 Or, caused him to be fetched. Hebr. took him, that is, caused him to be taken from there and to be brought to him. See Gen. 12 on verse 15; Jer. 36:21; 38:14; 40:1, 2, etc.
31 Has God revealed any new prophecy unto thee, concerning this our sad condition? Hence it appears that the king held Jeremiah to be a true prophet of God; yet notwithstanding he permitted him to be so badly used. See Jer. 38:5, and compare Mark 6:20, etc.
18Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in 32prison?
32 As verse 4.
19Where are now your 33prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?
33 Understand the false ones.
20Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: 34let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to 35return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.
34 That is, let me I pray thee fall down before thee with supplication; or, let my supplication prevail with thee, be pleasing or acceptable to thee. See Jer. 36 on verse 7.
35 That is, cause me not to be brought again; or, cause me not to return.
21Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should 36commit Jeremiah into the 37court of the prison,b and that they should give him daily a 38piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were 39spent. Thus Jeremiah 40remained in the court of the prison.
36 Or, delivered him to be kept. Compare Jer. 36 on verse 20.
37 See Jer. 32 on verse 2.
b Jer. 32:2.
38 See Judges 8:5 with the annotation.
39 Or, was at an end, was spent.
40 Or, sat.