Jeremiah 38 - Introduction

Jeremiah 38:1-13. Further incidents in Jeremiah's history connected with the siege

This section may be summarized as follows.

(i) Jeremiah 38:1. Four of the princes, in view of Jeremiah's declarations that those who remained in the city should perish, while those who went forth should live, demand of the king that the prophet should be put to death as discouraging the defenders and as disloyal to his nation. Zedekiah declares himself unable to resist them, and Jeremiah is consigned to a miry dungeon. (ii) Jeremiah 38:7. Ebed-melech points out to the king that Jeremiah is in danger of starvation owing to the scarcity of provisions. Zedekiah accordingly bids that he be drawn up from the dungeon. This is done, and he is placed again in the guard-court.