_Then Shephaliah_, &c. Here are four of the great men, counsellors or chief officers to Zedekiah, named, of whom we have no further mention in holy writ; nor do they deserve to have much inquiry made after them. Some of them were sent by Zedekiah to Jeremiah to inquire concerning the event of the si... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord, He that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live_ This had been the constant tenor of this prophet's prophecies. The crime of which he was now accused, seems to lie in this, that in such a time of danger he should repeat this prophecy, and also advise the people to leave the cit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah_ A place of much the same nature with that mentioned Jeremiah 37:16, but in another prison. _And they let down Jeremiah with cords_ It seems there was no passage into this dungeon by stairs, and, as it was deep, they were obliged to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian_ Or _Cushite_, as the Hebrew is. His country seems to be mentioned to let us know that this prophet of the Lord found more kindness from a stranger, who was a native heathen, than from his own countrymen; _one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house_ That is,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the king commanded_, &c. The king, who a little while ago durst do nothing against the princes, has now his heart wonderfully and suddenly changed, and will have Jeremiah released in defiance of them; ordering no fewer than thirty men, and those probably of the life-guard, to be employed in fe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Zedekiah sent_, &c. Here we have an account of the honour which the king did the prophet after he was fetched out of the dungeon: he sent for him to advise with him privately what measures it would be best to take in the present calamitous state of public affairs. The interview took place _in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Jeremiah said, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death?_ “The prophet had so much experience of the unsteadiness of the king's temper, of his backwardness in following good counsel, and want of courage to stand by those that durst advise him well, that he might, with go... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king sware, As the Lord liveth, that made this soul_ That is, who gave me my life and thee thine, and who, as he is the author, so he is the preserver, of our life and being: who may uphold or take them away as and when he pleases. _I will not put thee to death_, &c. Zedekiah says nothing to th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Jeremiah, Thus saith the Lord_ Here we have the good advice which Jeremiah gave him, with the reasons why the king ought to take it; reasons drawn, not from any prudence or politics of his own, but in the _name of the Lord, the God of hosts, and God of Israel. If thou wilt assuredly go fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zedekiah said, I am afraid of the Jews_, &c. The sense seems to be, that he was afraid lest the Chaldeans, when he had given himself up to them, should deliver him into the hands of those Jews who had fallen to them, and they should insult over and deride him, as being obliged at last to do what he... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if thou refuse, this is the word that the Lord hath showed me_ Namely, what follows in the next two verses. _Behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house_ The king's wives, his daughters, and the other women that belong to the king's court and family, shall become a prey to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Zedekiah, Let no man know of these words_, &c. Keep what has passed between us secret, and I will keep my promise to thee of preserving thy life. These words sufficiently show that Zedekiah stood in fear of his courtiers. This is the righteous judgment of God, that those who will not _san... [ Continue Reading ]