Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

37:1 Zedekiah. Reigned c. 597-586 b.c. Coniah. Another name for Jehoiachin, who reigned for only three months in 598-597 b.c. (2 Kings 24:8-9); also called Jeconiah (Jer. 24:1). He was removed in keeping with the prophecy found in 36:30.

37:2 A new regime did not mean a new attitude toward God's words.

37:3 pray for us. See 21:1-2.

37:4 not yet been put in prison. See 29:24-32 and 37:11-38:6.

37:5-9 Egypt marched against Babylon c. 588 b.c., drawing the Babylonians away from Jerusalem. But God's word for Zedekiah is that Babylon will come back. Believing anything else is self-deception.

37:10 God's word is that Babylon could defeat Judah with only wounded men for soldiers, for God has decided to give Jerusalem to Babylon.

37:11-12 when . . . had withdrawn. See 37:5. land of Benjamin. Jeremiah's home territory. See 1:1-3. The meaning of receive his portion is uncertain. It may relate to the field he had purchased (32:1-15).

37:13 The Benjamin Gate opened to the north toward the land of Benjamin. sentry. Literally, "master of the guard," thus an important officer. Irijah. Mentioned only here and in v. 14. deserting to the Chaldeans. A natural assumption, since Jeremiah had counseled surrender (21:9).

37:14 Despite Jeremiah's denials and his long track record of truth-telling, Irijah detained him and brought him to the officials (26:10-24).

37:15 enraged. At Jeremiah's teaching and denial (36:29). beat him. See 20:1-2. house of Jonathan. See 37:16. Perhaps other prisons were full. Regardless, it proved a terrible place (v. 20).

37:16 dungeon cells. The phrase refers to either a cell in a cistern (see note on 38:6) or a vaulted room underground. Either option indicates a damp, unhealthy place.

37:17 Desperate for good news (21:1-2), Zedekiah sends for Jeremiah, only to learn that God's word remains one of judgment.

37:18-19 What wrong? Indeed Jeremiah had done no wrong, other than deliver an unpleasant truth when asked. Where are your prophets? Those who had told him lies (23:9-40; 28:1-17). Jeremiah's words have proven true, so why should he be punished?

37:20 humble plea. Jeremiah genuinely feared for his life, so he asked for a new prison.

37:21 court of the guard. Next to the palace (32:1-2). loaf of bread. A day's ration in time of war, siege, and famine (14:1-12). until all the bread . . . was gone. Eventually Jerusalem faced great privation, if not actual starvation.

38:1 Even after imprisonment, Jeremiah did not stop speaking God's truth. Shephatiah . . . Gedaliah. Not mentioned elsewhere. Jucal. Another name for Jehucal. See 37:3. Pashhur. See 21:1. All these courtiers were apparently pro-Egyptian in foreign policy matters.

38:2-3 This is a summary of Jeremiah's message concerning Jerusalem for all 10 years of Zedekiah's reign. See 27:1-15.

38:4 Unlike in 26:16-24, the officials think Jeremiah should die. They believe his words undermine the war effort. Ironically, though his advice is sound, they believe it will harm the people.

38:5 Forsaking his responsibility, Zedekiah gives Jeremiah to his opponents, but God has promised to protect his life (1:17-19).

38:6 Unlike in 37:20-21, Jeremiah cannot avoid imprisonment in a cistern. Cisterns were dug out of rock, had a small opening, and spread out at the bottom. Escape from such a place was virtually impossible, so perhaps only notorious prisoners were put there (cf. Gen. 37:20, with ESV footnote). sank in the mud. A slow, filthy way to die.

38:7 Ebed-melech. Means "servant of the king." the Ethiopian. A foreigner who most likely was forced to serve Judah's king. eunuch. Maybe, as in Gen. 37:36, a generic term for "officer." Ebed-melech may or may not have been a physical eunuch. Benjamin Gate. See Jer. 37:13.

38:8-9 Ebed-melech shows himself superior in character to the weak Zedekiah. He recognizes the injustice Jeremiah has suffered and his life-threatening circumstances (cf. 39:16-18).

38:11-13 Ebed-melech continues to prove resourceful on Jeremiah's behalf. Using old rags and worn-out clothes to cushion the ropes, he and his helpers liberate Jeremiah, once again fulfilling God's promise of protection (cf. 1:17-19). They drew Jeremiah up out of the mud (cf. David's words of praise in Ps. 40:2).

38:14 third entrance. Unmentioned elsewhere. Perhaps the king's private entrance. hide nothing. As if Jeremiah has been doing so! See 37:17.

38:15 Jeremiah suspects that the king will not listen this time any more than he did previously. Jeremiah also dreads further punishment (cf. 32:1-2).

38:16 secretly. Zedekiah's promise had no public weight (37:17). men who seek your life. Zedekiah was well aware of the dangers Jeremiah faced (38:5).

38:17-18 Once again Jeremiah counsels surrender (21:1-10; 27:1-15; 32:1-5; 38:1-5).

38:19-20 Zedekiah feared displeasing people in Jerusalem (vv. 4-5) and feared being turned over to Judeans who had already surrendered to Babylon. But Jeremiah promises that obedience to God's word (27:1-15) will result in his survival.

38:21-22 Refusal to obey carries dire consequences. women . . . being led out. To exile. trusted friends. The king's counselors and lying prophets (37:19; 38:1-5). feet are sunk in the mud. Zedekiah's political fortunes were sinking even as Jeremiah had been sinking in the cistern (v. 6). they turn away. When disaster comes.

38:23 Without obedience to God's word, Zedekiah, his family, and Jerusalem will all suffer terrible fates.

38:24 Let no one know. Jeremiah's future seems to lie in Zedekiah's hands, but God has promised him protection (1:17-19).

38:25-27 If the officials . . . say to you. Once again, Zedekiah has no control over the situation. "I made a humble plea." Cf. 37:20. the conversation had not been overheard. The king's secret was safe.

38:28 court of the guard. See 37:21. the day that Jerusalem was taken. Babylon renewed the siege, as Jeremiah had promised (see 37:6-10), and eventually triumphed.

39:1 ninth year . . . tenth month. Perhaps December 589/January 588 b.c. Babylon . . . came against Jerusalem. See map.

39:2 eleventh year . . . fourth month. Perhaps June/July 587 b.c. The siege lasted over two years. a breach. Babylon broke through the defenses and walls in the middle of the city. See v. 3.

39:3 middle gate. Mentioned only here. Perhaps in the middle of the northern wall, since Babylon would likely have attacked from the north, the flattest terrain. The officials . . . sat in the gate, thus asserting judicial authority. Nergal-sar-ezer. Perhaps Neviglissar, who succeeded Nebuchadnezzar's son on Babylon's throne (c. 560-556 b.c.). Rab-saris. A chief attendant. Rab-mag. A court official.

39:4 Zedekiah now learns that Jeremiah was God's true prophet. king's garden. Most likely on the south side of Jerusalem. Arabah. A region extending from the Jordan River Valley to the area south of the Dead Sea.

39:5 In fleeing (v. 4), Zedekiah did not get far; the plains of Jericho were perhaps as few as 14 miles (23 km) east of Jerusalem. Riblah. In Syria, 65 miles (105 km) north of Damascus; Nebuchadnezzar ruled his armies and pronounced judgment on enemies here.

39:6-7 Nebuchadnezzar was harsher than what Zedekiah feared from his countrymen (38:19). He slaughtered Zedekiah's sons and nobles, blinded him, and took him in chains to Babylon.

39:8 As Jeremiah had predicted (21:1-10; 27:1-15; 32:1-5; 37:1-10), Babylon sacked, burned, and destroyed Jerusalem.

39:9-10 Babylon took the people who were left in the city and those who had deserted to Babylon. Not every Judean was taken, for the poorest people, who owned nothing, were given what remained in Judea.

39:11-12 Apparently Nebuchadnezzar had learned of Jeremiah from those who had surrendered (see 38:19). do him no harm. God was still protecting Jeremiah (cf. 1:19).

39:13-14 Nebuchadnezzar's officials (v. 3) released Jeremiah from prison, which probably branded him as a collaborator in some Judeans' minds. Gedaliah. A Judean who was named governor by Nebuchadnezzar. take him home. To the governor's house. lived among the people. Those described in v. 10.

39:15-16 Before Jerusalem fell, God sent a word concerning Ebed-melech, who had saved Jeremiah from the cistern (38:7-13).

39:17 I will deliver you. This is the same promise that God gave Jeremiah at the outset of his ministry (1:19). on that day. God's day of judgment on Jerusalem (39:1-10). you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. Unlike Zedekiah, who was caught by those he feared (vv. 4-7), Ebed-melech will be protected.

39:18 Ebed-melech will have his life as a prize of war, when so many others will die. See 21:9; 45:5. put your trust in me. Ebed-melech, though a Gentile (an Ethiopian), had saving faith in God.