Jeremiah 37:1--43:13
Zedekiah <06667> [A.M. 3406-3416. B.C. 598-588. Zedekiah.]
Jeconiah <03659> [Coniah.]
[Jeconiah.]
[Jehoiachin. made.]
officials <05650> [neither.]
prophet <05030> [the prophet. Heb. the hand of the prophet.]
Zephaniah <06846> [Zephaniah.]
pray <06419> [Pray.]
put <05414> [for.]
Pharaoh <06547> [Pharaoh's.]
This was Pharaoh Hophra, or Apries, as he is called by Herodotus, who succeeded his father Psammis on the throne of Egypt, A.M. 3410, B.C. 594, and reigned twenty-five years. Having entered into a confederacy with Zedekiah, (Eze 17:15,) he marched out of Egypt with a great army to his relief; which caused Nebuchadnezzar to raise the siege of Jerusalem to meet him; during which period the transactions detailed here took place.
withdrew <05927> [they.]
<0559> [Thus.]
Pharaoh <06547> [Pharaoh's.]
deceive <05377> [Deceive.]
yourselves <05315> [yourselves. Heb. your souls.]
defeat <05221> [though.]
wounded <0582 01856> [wounded men. Heb. men thrust through.]
get up <06965> [yet.]
forces ......... army <02428> [that.]
withdrawn <05927> [broken. Heb. made to ascend.]
leave <03318> [went.]
territory <0776> [the land.]
divided ... among <02505 08432> [separate himself thence. or, slip away from thence.]
Gate <08179> [in the.]
Hananiah <02608> [Hananiah.]
deserting <05307> [Thou.]
answered <0559> [said.]
lie <08267> [false. Heb. falsehood. or, a lie.]
officials <08269> [the princes.]
put <05414> [put.]
house <01004> [in the.]
prison <01004> [A.M. 3415. B.C. 589. into the dungeon.]
cell <02588> [cabins. or, cells.]
questioned him .... asked him <07592> [asked.]
message <01697> [Is there.]
<05414> [thou shalt.]
Where <0346> [Where.]
prophets <05030> [your.]
grant <06440 05307> [be accepted before. Heb. fall before.]
die <04191> [lest.]
courtyard ...................................... courtyard <02691> [into the.]
ordered <05414> [and that.]
bread ............... bread <03899> [until.]
Jeremiah ...................................... Jeremiah <03414> [Thus.]
Shephatiah <08203> [Shephatiah.]
Jehucal <03116> [Jucal.]
[Jehucal. Pashur.]
[Melchiah.]
[Malchijah.]
Now <08085> [heard.]
stay .................... surrender ............ lives <03427 03318 05315> [He.]
lives <05315> [shall have.]
officials <08269> [the princes.]
<03651> [thus.]
<07965> [welfare. Heb. peace.]
King <04428> [for.]
took <03947> [took.]
cistern ................................. cistern <0953> [into.]
<04428> [Hammelech. or, the king.]
lowered <07971> [and they.]
cistern ................................. cistern <0953> [And in.]
This dungeon, which seems to have belonged to one of Zedekiah's sons, appears to have been a most dreadful place; the horrors of which were probably augmented by the cruelty of the jailor. "The eastern people," observes Sir J. Chardin, "have not different prisons for the different classes of criminals; the judges do not trouble themselves about where the prisoners are confined, or how they are treated, considering it merely as a place of safety; and all that they require of the jailor is, that the prisoner be forthcoming when called for. As to the rest, he is master to do as he pleases; to treat him well or ill; to put him in irons or not; to shut him up close, or hold him in easier restraint; to admit people to him, or to suffer nobody to see him. If the jailor and his servants have large fees, let the person be the greatest rascal in the world, he shall be lodged in the jailor's own apartment, and the best part of it; and on the contrary, if those that have imprisoned a man give the jailor greater presents, or that he has a greater regard for them, he will treat the prisoner with the greatest inhumanity." This adds a double energy to those passages which speak of "the sighing of the prisoner," and to Jeremiah's supplicating that he might not be remanded to the dungeon of Jonathan. (ver. 26; ch. 37:20.)
Ebed Melech <05663> [Ebed-melech.]
An Ethiopian <03569> [Ethiopian.]
court official <05631> [eunuchs.]
royal .............. king <04428> [the king.]
<0582> [these.]
die <04191> [is like to die. Heb. will die. for there]
king <04428> [the king.]
<03027> [with thee. Heb. in thine hand.]
let ... down <07971> [let them.]
Put <07760> [Put.]
pulled <04900> [So.]
Jeremiah ........ Jeremiah <03414> [Jeremiah.]
sent <07971> [sent.]
third <07992> [third. or, principal.]
ask <07592> [I will.]
So .... made .... promise ........ an oath ... promised <07650> [sware.]
<06213> [that made.]
<0582> [of these.]
God who rules over all ... God <0430 06635> [the God of hosts.]
God ....... God ... Israel <0430 03478> [the God of Israel.]
surrender <03318> [If thou.]
surrender <03318> [if thou.]
city <05892> [then.]
afraid <01672> [I.]
torture <05953> [mock.]
obey <08085> [Obey.]
life <05315> [and thy.]
refuse <03986> [if thou.]
what <01697> [this is.]
women <0802> [all.]
saying <0559> [and those.]
Mr. Harmer would render, "and here ({hennah,} or reading {hinneh,} behold,) the women (wont to sing on public occasions) shall say," etc.; observing "that these bitter speeches much better suit the lips of women belonging to the conquering nation, singing before a captive prince, than of his own wives and concubines." This he illustrates by the following extract from Della Valle: When he was at Lar, in Persia, the king of Ormuz was brought thither in triumph; and "this poor unfortunate king entered Lar, with his people, in the morning, music playing, and girls and women singing and dancing before him, according to the custom of Persia, and the people flocking together with a prodigious concourse, and conducting him in a pompous and magnificent manner, particularly with colours displayed, like what the Messenians formerly did to Philopoemen, the general of the Athenians, their prisoner of war, according to the report of Justin."
<0582> [Thy friends. Heb. The men of thy peace.]
misled <05496> [have set.]
feet <07272> [thy feet.]
turned <05472> [they are.]
turned <03318> [they shall.]
city <05892> [shalt cause, etc. Heb. shalt burn, etc.]
told <05046> [and he told.]
what .......... stopped questioning ............ conversation <02790 01697> [left off speaking with him. Heb. were silent from him.]
ninth <08671> [A.M. 3414. B.C. 590. the ninth.]
tenth <06224> [the tenth.]
This was the month Tebeth, (Es 2:16,) which began with the first moon of January; and it was on the 10th of this month that Nebuchadnezzar invested the city.
fourth <07243> [A.M. 3416. B.C. 588. the fourth.]
This was the month Tammuz, which commences with the first moon of July: the siege had lasted just eighteen months.
broke <01234> [was.]
other officers <08269 07611> [all the.]
Nergal-Sharezer .......... Nergal-Sharezer <05371> [Nergalsharezer.]
Nebo-Sarsekim <08310> [Sarsechim.]
These were the principal commanders; but Dr. Blayney thinks that, instead of six persons, we have in reality but three, as the name that follows each is the title of the office. Thus Nergal-Sharezer, who was Samgar-nebo, or keeper, i.e., priest of Nebo; Sarsechim, who was Rab-saris, or chief eunuch; and Nergal-sharezer, who was Rab-mag, or chief magi; as the words {mog} in Persian, {magoos} in Arabic, {magooshai} in Syriac, and [magos <\\See definition 3097\\>,] in Greek, signify; and we learn from Justin and Curtius that the magi attended the king in war.
Zedekiah <06667> [when]
walls <02346> [betwixt.]
[Chaldeans'.]
plains <06160> [in the plains.]
Riblah <07247> [Riblah.]
Hamath <02574> [Hamath.]
sentence <04941 01696> [gave judgment upon him. Heb. spake with him judgments.]
sons put to death ................... put to death <07819 01121> [slew the.]
forced to watch <05869> [before.]
put to death ................ nobles .... put to death <07819 02715> [slew all.]
put out <05786> [he put.]
chains <05178> [chains. Heb. two brasen chains, or fetters.]
burned down <08313> [burned.]
tore <05422> [and brake.]
Nebuzaradan <05018> [Nebuzar-adan.]
captain .... royal guard <02876 07227> [captain of the guard. or, chief marshal. Heb. chief of the executioners, or slaughter-men. and so.]
captive .............. carried <01540> [carried.]
left behind .......... poor <07604 01800> [left of.]
time <03117> [at the same time. Heb. in that day.]
Nebuchadnezzar <05019> [Now.]
Nebuchadnezzar must have frequently heard of Jeremiah's predictions, many of which were now fulfilled, which would dispose him to respect his character and treat him with kindness.
orders <06680> [gave.]
through <03027> [to. Heb. by the hand of.]
look ....... do ....... do <05869 06213> [look well to him. Heb. set thine eyes upon him.]
do anything ...... do <06213 03972> [do him.]
Nebuzaradan <05018> [Nebuzar-adan.]
brought ........................ take <03947> [took.]
over <05414> [committed.]
Ahikam <0296> [Ahikam.]
had ......... confined <06113> [while.]
Ebed-Melech <05663> [Ebed-melech.]
carry out <0935> [Behold.]
<06440> [before thee.]
rescue <05337> [I will.]
<06440> [of whom.]
life <05315> [but.]
trust <0982> [because.]
spoke <01697> [The word.]
This, and the four following chapters, record the events which occurred in Judea from the taking of Jerusalem to the retreat of the remnant of the people to Egypt; and contain several prophecies of Jeremiah concerning them there; which were "the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord." It appears that Jeremiah, after being freed from prison, continued among the Jews, till he was bound, with others of them, and carried to Ramah; where he was set a liberty in the manner related.
after <0310> [after.]
Ramah <07414> [Ramah.]
<0631> [bound.]
chains <0246> [chains. or, manacles.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
sinned <02398> [because.]
turn to leave ........ Go back <07725> [Go back.]
Ahikam <0296> [Ahikam.]
<03212> [or go.]
gave .... food <05414 0737> [gave him.]
food .... present <04864 0737> [victuals and a reward.]
Rather, "victuals, ({aruchah,} a stated allowance, sufficient for the journey,) and a present," {masse„th.}
went <0935> [Then.]
It has been doubted whether Jeremiah acted prudently in this decision, as the event seems to indicate the contrary, and as it was the evident meaning of all his predictions that the Jews should not prosper in their own country till the expiration of seventy years. But he was evidently influenced by the most unbounded love to his country, for whose welfare he had watched, prayed, and lived; and he now chose rather to share her adversities, her sorrows, her wants, her afflictions, and her disgrace, than to be the companion of princes, and to sit at the table of kings. His patriotism was as unbounded as it was sincere: he only ceased to live for country when he ceased to breathe.
Mizpah <04708> [Mizpah.]
[Mizpeh.]
officers <08269> [all the.]
poorer <01803> [the poor.]
So ........ came <0935> [came.]
Ishmael <03458> [even.]
Johanan <03110> [Johanan.]
Jonathan <03129> [Jonathan.]
Netophathite <05200> [Netophathite.]
Maacathite <04602> [Maachathite.]
oath <07650> [sware.]
afraid <03372> [Fear.]
represent <05975> [serve. Heb. stand before.]
harvest <0622> [gather.]
<07019> [summer.]
Judeans <03064> [all the Jews.]
Johanan <03110> [Johanan.]
Johanan and his companions seem to have acted honestly in this affair. They had received intelligence of designs formed against Gedaliah's life, and consequently against the whole new settlement. Ishmael, being a branch of David's family, was probably displeased that another was preferred above him; and the king of the Ammonites, out of hatred to the Jews, employed him to slay Gedaliah. But Gedaliah, conscious of his own integrity and benevolence, took the portrait of others from his own mind; and therefore believed evil of no man, because he felt none towards any in his own breast. He may be reproached for being too credulous and confiding; but this only serves to shew the greatness of his soul; for a little mind is always suspicious, and ready to believe the worst of every person and thing.
son ......... son <01121> [Ammonites.]
Ishmael <03458> [Ishmael.]
kill <05221> [slay thee? Heb. strike thee in soul. believed.]
<03212> [Let.]
kill ............... kill <05221> [wherefore.]
do <06213> [Thou shalt.]
seventh month <02320 07637> [the seventh month.]
This was the month {Tisri,} answering to the new moon of September, the seventh of the sacred, but the first of the civil year; on the third day of which the Jews keep a fast, in commemoration of the death of Gedaliah, to which the prophet Zechariah refers, ch. 8:19; 39:2; 52:6. 2 Ki 25:3, 8, 25. Zec 7:5; 8:19.
Ishmael <03458> [Ishmael.]
Elishama <0476> [Elishama.]
member ........... Zedekiah's <02233 04428> [of the.]
member <02233> [seed.]
eating <0398> [they did.]
killed <05221> [and smote.]
king <04428> [whom.]
murdered <04191> [after.]
arrived ................................ present <0935> [came.]
Shechem <07927> [Shechem.]
Shiloh <07887> [Shiloh.]
Samaria <08111> [Samaria.]
beards <02206> [their beards.]
All these were signs of deep mourning; which, though forbidden on funeral occasions, were customary, and perhaps counted allowable, on seasons of public calamity, and this mourning was probably on account of the destruction of Jerusalem.
temple <01004> [to the.]
cry <01058> [weeping, etc. Heb. in going and weeping.]
slaughtered <07819> [slew.]
kill ............................... kill <04191> [Slay.]
hidden <04301> [treasures.]
These "treasures hid in the field" were doubtless laid up in subterranean pits, similar to the {mattamores} in Barbary, in which, Dr. Shaw informs us, they deposit the grain when winnowed; two or three hundred of them being sometimes together, and the smallest holding four hundred bushels. The same mode of keeping corn prevails in Syria and the Holy Land.
cistern <0953> [the pit.]
This was probably a large reservoir for receiving rain water, which Asa had caused to be made in the midst of the city, in case of a siege.
<03027 01436> [because of Gedaliah. or, near Gedaliah. Heb. by the hand, or the side of Gedaliah. was it.]
<06440> [for fear.]
people ................. rest .... people <07611 05971> [all the.]
royal <04428> [even.]
Nebuzaradan <05018> [whom.]
son ..... son ................. Ammonites <01121> [to the.]
Johanan <03110> [Johanan.]
fight <03898> [to fight.]
large <07227> [the great.]
people <05971> [that when.]
They appear to have been weary of the tyranny of Ishmael, and glad of an opportunity to abandon him.
escape <04422> [escaped.]
eight <0582 08083> [eight men.]
soldiers <01397> [even.]
<03643> [Chimham.]
<03212> [to go.]
As Johanan and the other princes had taken a decided part against Ishmael, they had no sufficient reason to fear that the Chaldeans would revenge on them the murder of Gedaliah; but perhaps Johanan was unwilling to be superseded in the command which he had rightly assumed, and so used his influence to induce the whole company to take refuge in Egypt; and their old attachment to the Egyptians rendered them more ready to concur in this ruinous measure.
were afraid ... what .... might do <03372> [for they.]
Ishmael <06440 03458> [because.]
king <04428> [whom.]
officers ............... people <08269 05971> [all the.]
Jezaniah <03153> [Jezaniah.]
[Jaazaniah.]
every class <06996> [from.]
went <05066> [came.]
grant <05307 06440> [be accepted before thee. Heb. fall before thee.]
pray <06419> [and pray.]
left out <07604> [left.]
Jeremiah <03414> [Jeremiah.]
The princes seem to have wholly neglected Jeremiah, till on this occasion they wanted his sanction to their purpose of going to Egypt. In order to induce him to favour them, they applied to him with one consent, in the most respectful and plausible manner: they used language to prepossess him with a favourable opinion of them, and to move his compassion; and, in words expressing great humility, they entreated his prayers in their behalf, and that he would enquire of the Lord what he would have them to do. The prophet readily acquiesced; and doubted not but that he should receive an answer from God, which he would unreservedly declare to them; and they called the Lord to witness that they would implicitly follow his directions.
pray <06419> [I will pray.]
as <01697> [whatsoever.]
anything <04513> [I will keep.]
Lord .... true ............... Lord <03068 0571> [The Lord be.]
do <06213> [if we.]
<02896> [it be good.]
well <03190> [that it.]
At this time he was waiting for a revelation from God in answer to the enquiries of the people; who probably thus delayed to make known his will, in order to shew them that Jeremiah did not speak of his own mind, but when and as he was directed. The delay was also suited to give time for consideration, and to retard their rash project; and, as it would render them impatient, it tended to detect their hypocrisy, and to shew more clearly their determined rebellion against God.
Johanan <03110> [Johanan.]
said ..... sent .................... says <0559 07971> [unto.]
stay <03427> [abide.]
build <01129> [then.]
sorrow <05162> [for I.]
afraid .......... fear ..... afraid <03372 03373> [afraid.]
save <03467> [for I.]
go <0935> [we will go.]
hear <08085> [nor hear.]
so determined <07760> [If.]
If ye are determined to go into Egypt, the evils which ye dreaded by staying in your own land shall overtake and destroy you there; "and there shall ye die." God turned the policy of the wicked to their own destruction; for while they thought themselves safe in Egypt, there Nebuchadnezzar destroyed both them and the Egyptians.
wars <02719> [that the sword.]
follow <01692> [follow close. Heb. cleave. there ye.]
<0582> [it be with all the men. Heb. all the men be. they shall.]
survive <08300> [none.]
wrath <0639> [As mine.]
The people had witnessed the tremendous effects of the wrath of God, in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem; and had they not been past feeling, this denunciation must have made their ears tingle, and appalled their very souls.
cursed <0423> [ye shall be.]
see <07200> [and ye shall see.]
go <0935> [Go.]
God knew, that such was their miserable propensity to idolatry, that they would adopt the idolatrous worship of Egypt. Add to which, their going thither for protection was in effect refusing to submit to the king of Babylon, to whom God had decreed the rule of Judah and the neighbouring kingdoms.
sure <03045> [know.]
warn ..... now <05749 03117> [admonished you. Heb. testified against you.]
fatal <08582> [For ye.]
God made known to the prophet their dissimulation; which he shunned not to declare to them.
fatal <05315 08582> [dissembled in your hearts. Heb. have used deceit against your souls.]
Pray <06419> [Pray.]
day <03117> [I have.]
obey <08085> [but.]
sure <03045> [know.]
place <04725> [in the.]
go ... live <0935 01481> [to go and to sojourn. or, to go to sojourn.]
finished <03615> [had made.]
things <01697> [all the words.]
Azariah <05838> [Azariah.]
[Jezaniah. Johanan.]
arrogant <02086> [all the.]
telling <01696> [Thou speakest.]
They had no other colour for their rebellion than flatly to deny that God had spoken what the prophet had declared, the constant method of hypocrites and infidels, who pretend that they are not satisfied of the truth of Divine revelation, when the true cause of their unbelief is, that the commands of God contradict their lusts and appetites.
Baruch <01263> [Baruch.]
wants ... hand ....... so that ... will <05414 04616> [to deliver.]
obey <08085> [obeyed.]
stay <03427> [to dwell.]
Instead <03947> [took.]
royal <04428> [the king's.]
off <05315> [every.]
Jeremiah <03414> [Jeremiah.]
went ............. came <0935> [So.]
Tahpanhes <08471> [Tahpanhes.]
[Tahapanhes.]
[Hanes.]
[Tehaphnehes.]
large <01419> [great.]
pavement <04404> [in the brick-kiln.]
<07971> [I will send.]
servant <05650> [my servant.]
royal tent <08237> [his royal.]
attack <05221> [he shall smite.]
die of disease ... die of disease <04194> [such as are for death.]
temples <01004> [in the.]
clean like ...... lice <05844> [array.]
clean like ...... lice <05844> [putteth.]
sacred pillars <04676> [images. Heb. statues, or standing images. Beth-shemesh. or, the house of the sun.]
temples <01004> [and the.]
