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Text -- Jeremiah 38:1-26 (NET)

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Jeremiah Is Charged with Treason and Put in a Cistern to Die
38:1 Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah had heard the things that Jeremiah had been telling the people. They had heard him say, 38:2 “The Lord says, ‘Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives.’” 38:3 They had also heard him say, “The Lord says, ‘This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon. They will capture it.’” 38:4 So these officials said to the king, “This man must be put to death. For he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in the city as well as all the other people there by these things he is saying. This man is not seeking to help these people but is trying to harm them.” 38:5 King Zedekiah said to them, “Very well, you can do what you want with him. For I cannot do anything to stop you.” 38:6 So the officials took Jeremiah and put him in the cistern of Malkijah, one of the royal princes, that was in the courtyard of the guardhouse. There was no water in the cistern, only mud. So when they lowered Jeremiah into the cistern with ropes he sank in the mud.
An Ethiopian Official Rescues Jeremiah from the Cistern
38:7 An Ethiopian, Ebed Melech, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put in the cistern. While the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate, 38:8 Ebed Melech departed the palace and went to speak to the king. He said to him, 38:9 “Your royal Majesty, those men have been very wicked in all that they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have thrown him into a cistern and he is sure to die of starvation there because there is no food left in the city. 38:10 Then the king gave Ebed Melech the Ethiopian the following order: “Take thirty men with you from here and go pull the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies.” 38:11 So Ebed Melech took the men with him and went to a room under the treasure room in the palace. He got some worn-out clothes and old rags from there and let them down by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. 38:12 Ebed Melech called down to Jeremiah, “Put these rags and worn-out clothes under your armpits to pad the ropes. Jeremiah did as Ebed Melech instructed. 38:13 So they pulled Jeremiah up from the cistern with ropes. Jeremiah, however, still remained confined to the courtyard of the guardhouse.
Jeremiah Responds to Zedekiah’s Request for Secret Advice
38:14 Some time later Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah brought to him at the third entrance of the Lord’s temple. The king said to Jeremiah, “I would like to ask you a question. Do not hide anything from me when you answer.” 38:15 Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I answer you, you will certainly kill me. If I give you advice, you will not listen to me.” 38:16 So King Zedekiah made a secret promise to Jeremiah and sealed it with an oath. He promised, “As surely as the Lord lives who has given us life and breath, I promise you this: I will not kill you or hand you over to those men who want to kill you.” 38:17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “The Lord, the God who rules over all, the God of Israel, says, ‘You must surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon. If you do, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down. Indeed, you and your whole family will be spared. 38:18 But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be handed over to the Babylonians and they will burn it down. You yourself will not escape from them.’” 38:19 Then King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Babylonians. The Babylonians might hand me over to them and they will torture me.” 38:20 Then Jeremiah answered, “You will not be handed over to them. Please obey the Lord by doing what I have been telling you. Then all will go well with you and your life will be spared. 38:21 But if you refuse to surrender, the Lord has shown me a vision of what will happen. Here is what I saw: 38:22 All the women who are left in the royal palace of Judah will be led out to the officers of the king of Babylon. They will taunt you saying, ‘Your trusted friends misled you; they have gotten the best of you. Now that your feet are stuck in the mud, they have turned their backs on you.’ 38:23 “All your wives and your children will be turned over to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape from them but will be captured by the king of Babylon. This city will be burned down.” 38:24 Then Zedekiah told Jeremiah, “Do not let anyone know about the conversation we have had. If you do, you will die. 38:25 The officials may hear that I have talked with you. They may come to you and say, ‘Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you. Do not hide anything from us. If you do, we will kill you.’ 38:26 If they do this, tell them, ‘I was pleading with the king not to send me back to die in the dungeon of Jonathan’s house.’”
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Babylon a country of Babylon in lower Mesopotamia
 · Benjamin the tribe of Benjamin of Israel
 · Ebed-melech a man from Ethiopia; a eunuch who served King Zedekiah
 · Ebed-Melech a man from Ethiopia; a eunuch who served King Zedekiah
 · Ethiopian a man of Ethiopia,a member of the nation of Ethiopia
 · Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan,son of Jeduthun (Levi); worship leader under Jeduthun and David,a priest of the Jeshua clan who put away his heathen wife,son of Amariah (Hezekiah); grandfather of Zephaniah the prophet,son of Pashhur; a prince under King Zedekiah
 · Israel a citizen of Israel.,a member of the nation of Israel
 · Jeremiah a prophet of Judah in 627 B.C., who wrote the book of Jeremiah,a man of Libnah; father of Hamutal, mother of Jehoahaz, king of Judah,head of an important clan in eastern Manasseh in the time of Jotham,a Benjamite man who defected to David at Ziklag,the fifth of Saul's Gadite officers who defected to David in the wilderness,the tenth of Saul's Gadite officers who defected to David in the wilderness,a man from Anathoth of Benjamin; son of Hilkiah the priest; a major prophet in the time of the exile,an influential priest who returned from exile with Zerubbabel, who later signed the covenant to obey the law, and who helped dedicate Nehemiah's wall,one of Saul's Gadite officers who defected to David in the wilderness
 · Jew the people descended from Israel
 · Jonathan a man who was a descendant of Gershom son of Moses,son of Saul of Benjamin,son of the high priest Abiathar in David's time,the son of Shime-i, David's brother,son of Shammah/Shagee; one of David's military elite,son of Jada of Judah,son of Uzziah; overseer of the country treasuries for King David,a man who was uncle and counselor of King David,father of Ebed who accompanied Ezra leading the clan of Adin back from exile,a man who opposed Ezra's reforms; son of Asahel,a chief priest; son of Joiada,priest and head of the house of Malluchi under High Priest Joiakim in the time of Nehemiah,son of Shemaiah of Asaph of Levi; father of Zechariah,a man who was secretary and dungeon keeper for King Zedekiah; son of Kareah
 · Jucal son of Shelemiah; one of the men who accused Jeremiah of treason
 · Judah the son of Jacob and Leah; founder of the tribe of Judah,a tribe, the land/country,a son of Joseph; the father of Simeon; an ancestor of Jesus,son of Jacob/Israel and Leah; founder of the tribe of Judah,the tribe of Judah,citizens of the southern kingdom of Judah,citizens of the Persian Province of Judah; the Jews who had returned from Babylonian exile,"house of Judah", a phrase which highlights the political leadership of the tribe of Judah,"king of Judah", a phrase which relates to the southern kingdom of Judah,"kings of Judah", a phrase relating to the southern kingdom of Judah,"princes of Judah", a phrase relating to the kingdom of Judah,the territory allocated to the tribe of Judah, and also the extended territory of the southern kingdom of Judah,the Province of Judah under Persian rule,"hill country of Judah", the relatively cool and green central highlands of the territory of Judah,"the cities of Judah",the language of the Jews; Hebrew,head of a family of Levites who returned from Exile,a Levite who put away his heathen wife,a man who was second in command of Jerusalem; son of Hassenuah of Benjamin,a Levite in charge of the songs of thanksgiving in Nehemiah's time,a leader who helped dedicate Nehemiah's wall,a Levite musician who helped Zechariah of Asaph dedicate Nehemiah's wall
 · Mattan a priest of Baal which Joash had executed,father of Shephatiah who reported Jeremiah to the king
 · Pashhur son of Malchijah; a priest whose children returned from exile,a priest who signed the covenant to keep God's law,son of Immer; priest, temple chief, and Jeremiah's enemy,son of Malchiah in the time of Jeremiah
 · Shelemiah a Levite who had charge of the east gate in David's time,a layman of the Binnui Clan who put away his heathen wife,father of Hananiah who repaired part of the wall of Jerusalem,a priestly treasurer over the storehouses under Nehemiah,son of Cushi in Jehoiakim's time; grandfather of Jehudi,son of Abdeel; an officer of King Jehoiakim of Judah,father of Jehucal, messenger of King Zedekiah to Jeremiah,son of Hananiah; father of Irijah, Zedekiah's sentry
 · Shephatiah son of David and Abital,son of Reuel of Benjamin whose descendants returned from exile,one of the Benjamite men who defected to David at Ziklag,son of Maacah; David's chief officer over the Simeonites,son of King Jehoshaphat,a man whose descendants returned from exile in Babylon,leader of "Solomon's Servants" Clansmen back from exile,forefather of a clan returned from exile headed by Zebadiah,son of Ma-Halalel of Judah,son of Mattan; a prince who charged Jeremiah with treason
 · Zedekiah son of Chenaanah; a false prophet in the kingdom of King Ahab,son of King Josiah; made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar,son of King Jehoiachin,a signer of the covenant to obey the law with Nehemiah,son of Maaseiah; a false prophet in the time of King Jehoiachin,son of Hananiah; a prince of Judah in the time of Jehoiakim


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Malice | Zedekiah | Jeremiah | Ebed-Melech | Prisoners | PASHHUR, PASHUR | ZEDEKIAH (2) | Pashur | Shephatiah | Ethiopia | Eunuch | God | Intercession | Foreknowledge of God | Minister | Persecution | King | Mattan | Jehucal | Israel | more
Table of Contents

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Jer 38:1 J. Bright (Jeremiah [AB], 226, 30) is probably correct in translating the verbs here as pluperfects and in explaining that these words are prophecies ...

NET Notes: Jer 38:2 See Jer 21:9 for this prophecy.

NET Notes: Jer 38:3 See Jer 21:10; 32:28; 34:2; 37:8 for this same prophecy. Jeremiah had repeatedly said this or words to the same effect.

NET Notes: Jer 38:4 Or “is not looking out for these people’s best interests but is really trying to do them harm”; Heb “is not seeking the welfar...

NET Notes: Jer 38:5 Heb “For the king cannot do a thing with/against you.” The personal pronoun “I” is substituted in the English translation due ...

NET Notes: Jer 38:6 Heb “And they let Jeremiah down with ropes and in the cistern there was no water, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.” The clauses hav...

NET Notes: Jer 38:7 Heb “And the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate.” This clause is circumstantial to the following clause; thus “while the king was...

NET Notes: Jer 38:9 “Because there isn’t any food left in the city” is rhetorical exaggeration; the food did not run out until just before the city fell...

NET Notes: Jer 38:10 Some modern English versions (e.g., NRSV, REB, TEV) and commentaries read “three” on the basis that thirty men would not be necessary for ...

NET Notes: Jer 38:11 Heb “worn-out clothes and worn-out rags.”

NET Notes: Jer 38:12 Or “Jeremiah did so.” The alternate translation is what the text reads literally.

NET Notes: Jer 38:13 Heb “Jeremiah remained/stayed in the courtyard of the guardhouse.” The translation is meant to better reflect the situation; i.e., Jeremia...

NET Notes: Jer 38:14 The words “when you answer” are not in the text but are implicit in the connection. They are supplied in the translation for the sake of c...

NET Notes: Jer 38:15 Or “you will most certainly kill me, won’t you?” Heb “Will you not certainly kill me?” The question is rhetorical and ex...

NET Notes: Jer 38:16 Heb “who are seeking your life.”

NET Notes: Jer 38:17 Heb “Your life/soul will live.” The quote is a long condition-consequence sentence with compound consequential clauses. It reads, “I...

NET Notes: Jer 38:18 Zedekiah held out this hope of escape until the end and attempted to do so but was unsuccessful (cf. 39:4-5).

NET Notes: Jer 38:19 Or “and they will badly abuse me.” For the usage of this verb in the situation presupposed see Judg 19:25 and 1 Sam 31:4.

NET Notes: Jer 38:20 Heb “your life [or you yourself] will live.” Compare v. 17 and the translator’s note there for the idiom.

NET Notes: Jer 38:22 The taunt song here refers to the fact that Zedekiah had been incited into rebellion by pro-Egyptian nobles in his court who prevailed on him to seek ...

NET Notes: Jer 38:23 This translation follows the reading of the Greek version and a few Hebrew mss. The majority of the Hebrew mss read “and you will burn down this...

NET Notes: Jer 38:24 This is probably not a threat that the king himself will kill Jeremiah, but a premonition that if the pro-Egyptian party that was seeking to kill Jere...

NET Notes: Jer 38:25 Or “lest we kill you”; Heb “and we will not kill you,” which as stated in the translator’s note on 37:20 introduces a ne...

NET Notes: Jer 38:26 See Jer 37:15-16, 20.

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