Jeremiah is released A. M. cir. 3415. B. C. cir. 589. CHAP. XXXVIII. surely be given into the hand of 4 Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt. 5 Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you. 6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire so Jeremiah sunk in the mire. 7 Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin ;) 8 Ebed-melech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying, 9 My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dun See chap. xxvi. 11. -8 Heb. peace. from the dungeon. 10. Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men m with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die. 11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. 12 And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. 13 So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon and Je. remiah remained in the court of the prison. 14 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me. 15 Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me? Chap. xxxvii. 21. Chap. xxxix. 16. iOr, of the king. Verse 4. Let this man be put to death] And they gave their reasons plain enough: but the proof was wanting. Verse 5. He is in your hand] Ye have power to do as you please; I must act by your counsel. Poor weak prince! you respect the prophet, you fear the cabal, and you sacrifice an innocent man to your own weakness and their malice! Verse 6. So Jeremiah sunk in the mire.] Their obvious design was, that he might be stifled in that place. Verse 7. Ebed-melech] The servant of the king, one of the eunuchs who belonged to the palace. Perhaps it should be read, "Now, a servant of the king, a Cushite, one of the eunuchs," &c. The king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin] To give audience, and to administer justice. We have often seen that the gates of cities were the places of public judicature. n Ver. 6. Heb. he will die.m Heb. in thine hand. Chap. xxxvii. 21. Or, principal. fended it to the last extremity; and it appears that bread had been afforded to the prophet according to the king's commandment, as long as there was any remaining. See chap. xxxvi. 21. Verse 10. Take from hence thirty men] The king was determined that he should be rescued by force, if the princes opposed. Verse 11. Went into the house of the king-and took thence] The eastern kings had their wardrobes al ways well furnished; as garments were a usual present to ambassadors, &c. I cannot think that, in the pro per acceptation of the words, these were in any part of the king's house. Old cast clouts, and old rotten rags] The fact seems to be this: there were several garments that had been used, and would not be used again; and there were others which, through continuing long there, had by insects, &c. been rendered useless. These he took, tied to the cord, let down to the proVerse 9. My lord the king, these men have done evil] phet, that he might roll them round the ropes, and He must have been much in the king's confidence, place them under his arm-pits, so that in being hauled and a humane and noble spirited man, thus to have up he might not suffer injury from the ropes, which in raised his voice against the powerful cabal already this case must sustain the whole weight of his body, mentioned. Verse 14. Into the third entry] A place to enter There is no more bread in the city.] They had de- which two others must be passed through, Zedekiah is advised to A. M. cir. 3415. B. C. cir. 589. 16 So Zedekiah the king sware | feet are sunk in the mire, and A. M. cir. 3415. OL. XLVII. 4. secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, they are turned away back. Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., cir. annum 28. As the LORD liveth, 4 that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life. r 17 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: 18 But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. 19 And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they" mock me.. W B. C. cir. 589. OI. XLVII. 4. Tarquinii Prisca, R. Roman., cir. annum 28. shalt not 23 So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire. 24 Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die. 25 But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; and also what the king said unto thee: 26 Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there. 20 But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver 27 Then came all the princes unto Jethee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the remiah, and asked him: and he told them LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be according to all these words that the king well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. had commanded. So they left off speaking 21 But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the with him; for the matter was not perword that the LORD hath showed me: ceived. 22 And, behold, all the women that are left 28 So Jeremiah abode in the in the king of Judah's house shall be brought court of the prison until the day forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and that Jerusalem was taken: and those women shall say, ▾ Thy friends have set he was there when Jerusalem thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy was taken. A Verse 16. As the Lord liveth, that made us this soul] He is the living God, and he is the Author of that life which each of us possesses; and as sure as he lives, and we live by him, I will not put thee to death, nor give thee into the hands of those men who seek thy life. A very solemn oath; and the first instance on record of the profane custom of swearing by the soul. Verse 17, Wilt assuredly go] On the king's obedience to the advice of the prophet the safety of the city depended.. Unto the king of Babylon's princes] The generals of the army then returning to the siege from the defeat of the Egyptians; for Nebuchadnezzar himself was then at Riblah, in Syria, chap. xxxix, 5, 6, Verse 19. They mock me.] Insult me, and exhibit me in triumph. Verse 22. All the women-brought forth] I think this place speaks of a kind of defection among the women of the harem; many of whom had already A. M. 3415 Ol. XLVII: 4. w Chap. xxxix. 6; xli. 10.- Ver. 18.- Heb. thou shalt burn, &c.- Chap. xxxvii. 28.—a Chap. xxxvii. 15. Heb, they were silent from him. Chap. xxxvii. 21; xxxix. 14. gone forth privately to the principal officers of the Chaldean army, and made the report mentioned in the end of this verse. These were the concubines or women of the second rank, Verse 23. They shall bring out all thy wives and thy children] These were the women of the first rank, by whom the king had children. These had no temptation to go out to the Chaldeans, nor would they have been made welcome; but the others being young, and without children, would be well received by the Chaldean princes. Verse 26. I presented my supplication] This was telling the truth, and nothing but the truth, but not the whole truth. The king did not wish him to defile his conscience, nor did he propose any thing that was not consistent with the truth. Verse 27. The matter was not percewed.] They did not question him farther; and the king's commandment to remove him from the house of Jonathan being This chapter gives an account of the siege and taking of Jerusalem; the flight, capture, and punishment of Zedekiah; the burning of the city; and the carrying away of the people, (a few of the meanest excepted,) to Babylon, 1-10; also of the release of Jeremiah, and the special orders of Nebuchadnezzar concerning him, 11–14. The remaining verses relate to the subject of the preceding chapter; and contain promises of personal safety to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian amidst the public calamities, on account of his piety, and his humanity to the prophet, 15-18. A. M. 3414 B. 590. Ol. XLVII. 3. Anno A. M. 3416. B. C. 588. Anno Ol. XLVIII. 1. Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., 29. 4 And it came to pass, that IN the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth when Zedekiah the king of Judah Tarquinii Prisci, month, came Nebuchadrezzar saw them, and all the men of war, R. Roman., 27. king of Babylon and all his army then they fled, and went forth against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. out of the city by night, by the way of the 2 And in the eleventh year of king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two Zedekiah, in the fourth month, walls: and he went out the way of the plain. the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. A. M. 3416. B. C. 588. Anno OL. XLVIII. 1. Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., 29. d 5 But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him. 6 Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the Chap. xxxviii. 17. d Chap. xxxii. 4; xxxviii. 18, 23.- 2 Kings xxiii. 33.c2 Kings xxv. 4, &c.; chap. lii. 7, &c. spake with him judgments; chap. iv. 12. 3 b And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon. a 2 Kings xv. 1-4; chap. lii. 4-7. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXIX. Verse 1. In the ninth year of Zedekiah-in the tenth month] This month is called Tebeth in Esther ii. 16. It began with the first new moon of our January, and it was on the tenth day of this month that Nebuchadnezzar invested the city. Verse 2. The eleventh year—in the fourth month] This month in the Hebrew calendar is called Thammuz, and commences with the first new moon of our July. The siege had lasted just eighteen months. The city was broken up.] A breach was made in the wall by which the Chaldeans entered. Verse 3. Sat in the middle gate] The city of Jerusalem stood upon two hills, Sion to the south, and Acra to the north, with a deep valley between them. The gate of the centre, as the term seems plainly to import was a gate of communication in the middle of the valley, between the two parts of the city, sometimes called the higher and the lower city. The Chaldeans entered the city on the north side by a breach in the walls, and rushing forward and posting themselves in this gate, in the very heart or centre of the city, became thereby masters at will of the whole. Zedekiah with his troop, perceiving this, fled out of the opposite gate on the south side. See Blayney. This is likely; but we know nothing positively on this subject, f Heb. Nergal-sharezer] 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 a title of office. Thus, Nergal-sharezer, who was Samgar; Nebu-sarsechim, who was Rab-saris; and Nergal-sharezer, who was Rab-mag. As Nergal-sharezer occurs twice here, and we know that Nebuzar-adan was general-in-chief, the first Nergal-sharezer is probably a mistake for Nebuzar-adan, or some other of the commanders. But these things are as uncertain as they are unimportant. Verse 4. Went forth out of the city by night] Probably there was a private passage under ground, leading without the walls, by which Zedekiah and his followers might escape unperceived, till they had got some way from the city. The way of the plain.] There were two roads from Jerusalem to Jericho, One passed over the mount of Olives; but, as this might have retarded his flight, he chose the way of the plain, and was overtaken near Jericho, perhaps about sixteen or eighteen miles from Jerusalem. He had probably intended to have passed the Jordan, in order to escape to Egypt, as the Egyptians were then his professed allies. Verse 5. To Riblah] This city was situated on the northern frontier of Palestine, and Hamath was a large city belonging also to Syria. See Gen. x. 18. Jeremiah is treated kindly A. M. 3416. B. C. 588. Anno Ol. XLVII. 1. Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., 29. king of Babylon slew all the sharezer, Rab-mag, and all the 7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon. 8 And the Chaldeans burnt the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem. m 9 Then Nebuzar-adan the 'captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained. 10 But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time. 11 Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge.concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, 12 Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee. 13 So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rab-saris, and Nergal& Ezek. xii. 13, compared with chap. xxxii. 4.- Heb. with two brazen chains or fetters.- 42 Kings xxv. 9; chap. xxxviii. 18; lii. 13.- 2 Kings xxv. 11, &c.; chap. li. 15, &c. Or, chief marshal. Heb. chief of the executioners, or slaughtermen; and so ver. 10, 11, &c.; see Gen. xxxvii. 26. Verse 7. Bound him with chains] Margin: "Two brazen chains;" one for his hands, and the other for his feet. Verse 9. Those that fell away] That deserted to the Chaldeans during the siege. Verse 10. Left of the poor of the people] The very refuse of the inhabitants, who were not worthy of being carried away; and among them he divided the fields and vineyards of those whom he took away. Verse 12. Take him—look well to him] Nebuchadnezzar had heard that this prophet had foretold his capture of the city, and had frequently used all his in A. M. 3416. B. C. 588. OI. XLVIII. 1. Anno 14 Even they sent, and took Tarquinii Prisci, Jeremiah out of the court of the R. Roman., 29. prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people. 15 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold "I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. 17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. V 18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD. fluence to induce Zedekiah to pay the tribute, and not rebel against him; and on this account would be inclined to show the prophet especial favour. Verse 16. Go and speak to Ebed-melech] The king's servant, the Cushite. Verse 18. I will surely deliver thee] Thou hast feared the Lord, and not the king, nor his princes, and thou hast taken the part of the prophet, and become his intercessor. Thou shalt not be slain. Thou hast put thy trust in me; thou shalt therefore be safe whithersoever thou goest. They that fear God need fear nothing besides. CHAPTER XL. This and the four following chapters contain a distinct account of what passed in the land of Judah from the taking of Jerusalem to the retreat of the remnant of the people to Egypt; together with the prophecies of Jeremiah concerning that place, whither he himself accompanied them. In this chapter we have an account of the enlargement of Jeremiah by Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the guard, who advises him to put himself under the jurisdiction of Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor, over the land of Judea, 1-5. The prophet and many of the dispersed Jews repair to Gedaliah, 6-12. Johanan acquaints the governor of a conspiracy against him, but is not believed, 13-16. 360 The prophet and people A. M. AMC3416 B. C. 588. OI. XLVIII. 1. Anno a A. M. 3416. O1. XLVIII. 1. Anno R. Roman., 29. THE word that came to Jere- son of Ahikam to Mizpah; miah from the LORD, after and dwelt with him among the Tarquinii Prisci, that Nebuzar-adan the captain of people that were left in the Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., 29. the guard had let him go from land. Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon. 2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. 3 Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: " because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. e 4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. 5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go. 6Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the Chap. xxxix. 14.b Or, manacles. c Chap. 1.7.xxix. 24, 25; Dan. ix. 11. Or, are upon thine hand. xxxix. 12. Heb. I will set mine eye upon thee. NOTES ON CHAP. XL. 7 m Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of " the poor.of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon; 8 Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. 9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, P to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken. 11 Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a d Deut. Chap. 1 h Gen. xx. 15. Judg. xx. 1. This Verse 1. The word that came to Jeremiah] and the four following chapters contain a particular account of what passed in the land of Judea from the taking of the city to the retreat of the people into Egypt, and the prophecies of Jeremiah concerning them there. Had let him go from Ramah] This has embarrassed most of the commentators. Dr. Blayney has thrown much light upon it by his translation and note: "The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that Nebu-Zaradan captain of the guards had taken him, and let him go from Ramah: for he had been bound with chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon." "HAD TAKEN HIM, AND LET HIM GO.-Most interpreters have understood in bekachto otho of Nebuchadnezzar's having first taken Jeremiah as a • Chap. xli. 1. ת. 2 Kings xxv. 22, &c.- Chap. xxxix. 14. m2 Kings xxv. 23, &c.- Chap. xxxix. 10. -P Heb. to stand before; Deut. i. 38. captive unto Ramah. But if the order of the sentence be well observed, as well as the more common use of the verb np lakach, it will, I think, rather appear that those words relate to his taking or having him brought to him, in order to give him his discharge." Verse 2. The Lord thy God hath pronounced] I know that thou art a true prophet, for what thou hast predicted from thy God is come to pass. Verse 4. Come; and I will look well unto thee] Thou art now at full liberty to do as thou pleasest; either to come to Babylon, or to stay in thy own land. Verse 5. Go back also to Gedaliah] If thou wilt stay in thy own land, thou hadst best put thyself under the protection of thy countryman Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon has made governor of the land. Verse 8. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah] This is he who afterwards murdered Gedaliah. He had been employed to do this by Baalis, king of the Ammonites, |