Jeremiah 37 - Introduction

Jeremiah 37:1-21. Incidents in Jeremiah's history connected with the siege

For a similar incident to the one described in Jeremiah 37:1 see introductory note to ch. 21.

The ch. may be summarized as follows. (i) Jeremiah 37:1. Explanatory introduction. (ii) Jeremiah 37:3. In the face of imminent danger from the Chaldaeans Zedekiah sends to ask for the prayers of Jeremiah, who was not yet imprisoned. The enemy, fearing that the Egyptian army were about to take them in the rear, had raised the siege. The prophet is directed to announce that Pharaoh's army will return to Egypt without rendering aid and that the Chaldaeans will undoubtedly recommence the investiture of the city, capture it, and destroy it by fire. (iii) Jeremiah 37:11. Taking the opportunity of the investing army's absence, Jeremiah is going out of the city on business, when he is arrested on the charge of desertion to the enemy. He denies it, but is disbelieved by the princes, who confine him in a dungeon in the house of Jonathan the scribe. (iv) Jeremiah 37:16. After many days" detention the king sends for him secretly to consult him. The prophet tells Zedekiah that he shall be made prisoner by the king of Babylon. He moreover protests against his own imprisonment as unjust, points to the hostile prophets" predictions as falsified by events, and begs to be released from the dungeon. Zedekiah accordingly transfers him to the guard-court, and orders that he be provided with food as long as the siege lasts.