JEREMIAH CHAPTER 37 The Egyptians raise the siege of the Chaldeans;
and king Zedekiah sendeth to Jeremiah, to pray and inquire of the Lord
for them, JEREMIAH 37:1. He prophesieth the Chaldeans return and
victory, JEREMIAH 37:6. He is apprehended for a fugitive, beaten, and
put into prison, JEREMIAH... [ Continue Reading ]
This Zedekiah was little better than Jehoiakim; he seemeth by his
story to be of a little better temper, not so cruel and bloody; but he
no more regarded God's word by his prophet than Jehoiakim had done.... [ Continue Reading ]
This was apparently in the time of the siege; for, JEREMIAH 37:5, we
read of Pharaoh's army being come to relieve the besieged, whether it
was before the Babylonians were departed, or no, is uncertain; but it
is plain, if they were departed, the king was afraid they would come
back again. That which... [ Continue Reading ]
We shall read afterward, JEREMIAH 37:15, that he was imprisoned; and
we have heard, JER 32, of two revelations he had while he was in
prison; but as yet he walked at liberty.... [ Continue Reading ]
Zedekiah was set up by the king of Babylon, instead of Jehoiachin,
whom the king of Babylon had carried into Babylon. Zedekiah (as is
usual in those cases, and as it appeareth, EZEKIEL 17:16) had taken an
oath of allegiance to the king of Babylon, but brake it, and the
covenant which he made with hi... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
The word INQUIRE lets us know that Zedekiah did not send to the
prophet only to pray for him, but to inquire of God what the issue
would be of this future contingency; it may be more desirous to know
that, than that Jeremiah should intercede with God for them. The
prophet tells them from God that th... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
The substance of the answer returned by the prophet to the king is
this: That whereas they pleased themselves with fancies that the
Babylonian army now withdrawn to meet with the army of the Egyptians
would return no more to the siege, it was a dream; he assures them
from God they should return, bes... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
The word we translate SEPARATE signifieth _to divide, soften, or make
slippery_, which hath made interpreters vary in the exposition of it.
But the general use of it, especially in _Pihel_, (the conjugation in
which it is here used,) being to signify a dividing or separating, and
the latter signific... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GATE OF BENJAMIN was some gate that looked toward the inheritance
of that tribe, or where those used to go out who went that way; we
read of it JEREMIAH 38:7. Irijah was a captain of the guard that was
set to watch at the gates, to keep people from going out, or at least
some persons; for it sho... [ Continue Reading ]
Though Jeremiah, as the Lord's prophet, faithfully revealed the will
of God, that the Chaldeans should take the city, to warn the people
(if possible) to prevent it by solemn addresses unto God, or at least
to prevent what mischief might be prevented by a timely surrender to
the king of Babylon, yet... [ Continue Reading ]
These princes seem more fierce against the prophet than those that
were in the time of Jehoiakim, for they proceed here upon the
captain's information, cause the prophet to be beaten, and send him to
prison, a prison within the compass of the court, bad enough, as
appeareth by Jeremiah's complaint o... [ Continue Reading ]
The Hebrew words which we translate DUNGEON signify the _house of the
lake_; they certainly signify some pit, or deep hole, or place in the
prison, where were some cells or apartments, in which they were wont
to keep those whom they judged great malefactors, or against whom they
had some special ang... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THERE ANY WORD FROM THE LORD? that is, Hath God revealed any thing
to thee, concerning what will be the issue of the return of the
Chaldean army to the siege of the city? What needed Zedekiah to have
asked this, to whom God by this prophet had so often revealed his will
in this case? Wicked men a... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, What have I done worthy of bonds? I have faithfully
heretofore revealed to you the mind and will of God; if this hath
offended you, I am not to be blamed, I could not but execute God's
commands.... [ Continue Reading ]
You now see what kind of prophets they are, who fed you with hopes
that the king of Babylon's army should return no more to the siege of
the city. I told you they would return, you had other prophets that
told you they should not, judge now who were the true prophets. The
devil in all ages had some... [ Continue Reading ]
Though Jeremiah had dealt very faithfully with the king and princes,
and they had dealt very hardly and cruelly with him, casting him for
no just cause into a nasty prison, and Jeremiah knew well enough that
Zedekiah was very soon to be disarmed of his power; yet (to learn us
our duty) he speaks wit... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMANDED THAT THEY SHOULD COMMIT JEREMIAH INTO THE COURT OF THE
PRISON; so as he was a prisoner still, but in a freer air, where he
did not suffer those inconveniences which he endured in the hole or
dungeon. It is of no great moment to know whether the portion of bread
allowed the prophet by the k... [ Continue Reading ]