XXXVII. (1) AND KING ZEDEKIAH THE SON OF JOSIAH... — The eight Chapter s that follow form a continuous narrative of the later work and fortunes of the prophet. They open with recording the accession of Zedekiah, following on the deposition of Coniah or Jeconiah. Here, as in Jeremiah 22:24, we have... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NEITHER HE, NOR HIS SERVANTS... — The verse gives a general survey of the character of Zedekiah’s reign preparatory to the actual history that follows, which falls towards its close, probably in the seventh or eighth year of his reign. It will be noted that the “servants” here, as in Jeremiah 36... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ZEDEKIAH THE KING SENT JEHUCAL... — The time and, probably, occasion of the mission is given in Jeremiah 37:5. The Chaldæans had raised the siege of Jerusalem on hearing of the approach of the Egyptian army under Pharaoh-Hophra, the Apries of Herodotus (Herod. ii. 161-169. Ezekiel 17:15; Ezekiel... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH CAME IN AND WENT OUT AMONG THE PEOPLE. — The statement is made in reference to the event narrated in Jeremiah 37:15. He was free when the king’s message came to him: it was his answer to that message that led to his imprisonment.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PHARAOH’S ARMY WAS COME FORTH OUT OF EGYPT. — The despatch of the Egyptian army was the result of negotiations which Zedekiah had opened with Pharaoh-Hophra, with a view to resisting the power of Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 17:15). Like the Egyptian armies in general, it was strong in chariots and... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, PHARAOH’S ARMY, WHICH IS COME FORTH TO HELP YOU, SHALL RETURN TO EGYPT. — A like prediction as to the fate of the Egyptian army is found in Ezekiel 17:17, and is there connected with the fact that Zedekiah’s application to Egypt was a distinct breach of the compact which he had made with the... [ Continue Reading ]
DECEIVE NOT YOURSELVES... — Literally, _Deceive not your souls._ The words indicate that the king and his counsellors had buoyed themselves up with expectations of deliverance. The chariots and horses of Egypt were, they thought, certain to defeat the Chaldæans in a pitched battle. The prophet tells... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JEREMIAH WENT FORTH OUT OF JERUSALEM... — The prophet’s motive in leaving the city may well have been his apprehension that the answer he had sent would move the king’s anger, and lead, as it actually led, to an order for his arrest. The fact that the Chaldæans had raised the siege gave him fre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE WAS IN THE GATE OF BENJAMIN... — The prophet’s fears were not groundless. He had to leave the city by the entrance known as the gate of Benjamin (Jeremiah 38:7), on the north side (Zechariah 14:10). The officer in command, Irijah, the son of Shelemiah (probably, therefore, the brother of... [ Continue Reading ]
IRIJAH TOOK JEREMIAH, AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE PRINCES. — These were probably, as a body, identical with those named in Jeremiah 36:12, but the party opposed to the prophet were now apparently stronger than they had been. Neither they nor Irijah would listen to the prophet’s denial of the accusation.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRINCES... PUT HIM IN PRISON IN THE HOUSE OF JONATHAN THE SCRIBE. — The house was probably chosen as being under the direct control of one who, as scribe, exercised functions like those of A minister of police. It had not only the subterranean dungeon and pit common to all Eastern prisons, but s... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ZEDEKIAH THE KING SENT, AND TOOK HIM OUT... — The king seems to have been at once better than his counsellors, and afraid of them. He regrets the severity of the prophet’s treatment, and hopes that there may yet be “a word of the Lord” less harsh than before, and with this view summons him to h... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HAVE I OFFENDED AGAINST THEE...? — The cruelty of his treatment draws from the prophet an indignant protest. Of what crime had he been guilty, but that of speaking the word which the Lord had given him to speak, and was this a crime in the eyes of any true Israelite? No act of treachery or dese... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE ARE NOW YOUR PROPHETS...? — The failure of the past predictions of the false prophets is urged on the king as a reason why he should not trust them in the present crisis. They had assured him (Jeremiah 28:3) that within two years the city should be delivered, and the result had been that it ha... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU CAUSE ME NOT TO RETURN TO THE HOUSE OF JONATHAN THE SCRIBE... — The petition shows the cruelty with which the prophet had been treated. Half-starved, and thrust into a foul and fœtid dungeon, he felt that to return to it would be death.... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE COURT OF THE PRISON... — This was obviously a concession to Jeremiah’s request, and here he remained (see Jeremiah 32:2; Jeremiah 33:1), with one brief exception (Jeremiah 38:6), till the capture of the city. It was “in the king’s house,” above ground, with free access for light and air, an... [ Continue Reading ]