The Book of Jeremiah
Chapters 33 to 36
A Biblical Commentary Courtesy of Brit-Am
The Book of Jeremiah
Chapters 33 to 36
A Biblical Commentary Courtesy of
Brit-Am
Jeremiah 37
[Jeremiah 37:1] AND KING ZEDEKIAH THE SON OF JOSIAH REIGNED INSTEAD OF
CONIAH THE SON OF JEHOIAKIM, WHOM NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON MADE KING IN
THE LAND OF JUDAH.
There is here a jump in time from the fifth year of
JEHOIAKIM to towards the end of the reign of Zedekiah. The time gap close to
twenty years.
[Jeremiah 37:2] BUT NEITHER HE, NOR HIS SERVANTS, NOR THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND,
DID HEARKEN UNTO THE WORDS OF THE LORD, WHICH HE SPAKE BY THE PROPHET
JEREMIAH.
[Jeremiah 37:3] AND ZEDEKIAH THE KING SENT JEHUCAL THE SON OF SHELEMIAH AND
ZEPHANIAH THE SON OF MAASEIAH THE PRIEST TO THE PROPHET JEREMIAH, SAYING, PRAY
NOW UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD FOR US.
[Jeremiah 37:4] NOW JEREMIAH CAME IN AND WENT OUT AMONG THE PEOPLE: FOR THEY HAD
NOT PUT HIM INTO PRISON.
[Jeremiah 37:5] THEN PHARAOH'S ARMY WAS COME FORTH OUT OF EGYPT: AND WHEN THE
CHALDEANS THAT BESIEGED JERUSALEM HEARD TIDINGS OF THEM, THEY DEPARTED FROM
JERUSALEM.
Pharaoh Hofra (589-569 BCE) advanced against the
Babylonians and this aroused Jewish anticipations of liberation from the
Babylonian siege.
[Jeremiah 37:6] THEN CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO THE PROPHET JEREMIAH
SAYING,
[Jeremiah 37:7] THUS SAITH THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; THUS SHALL YE SAY TO THE
KING OF JUDAH, THAT SENT YOU UNTO ME TO ENQUIRE OF ME; BEHOLD, PHARAOH'S ARMY,
WHICH IS COME FORTH TO HELP YOU, SHALL RETURN TO EGYPT INTO
THEIR OWN LAND.
[Jeremiah 37:8] AND THE CHALDEANS SHALL COME AGAIN, AND FIGHT AGAINST THIS CITY,
AND TAKE IT, AND BURN IT WITH FIRE.
[Jeremiah 37:9] THUS SAITH THE LORD; DECEIVE NOT YOURSELVES, SAYING, THE
CHALDEANS SHALL SURELY DEPART FROM US: FOR THEY SHALL NOT
DEPART.
[Jeremiah 37:10] FOR THOUGH YE HAD SMITTEN THE WHOLE ARMY OF THE CHALDEANS THAT
FIGHT AGAINST YOU, AND THERE REMAINED BUT WOUNDED MEN AMONG THEM, YET SHOULD
THEY RISE UP EVERY MAN IN HIS TENT, AND BURN THIS CITY WITH FIRE.
No matter what would happen the Prophecy would be
fulfilled. God can do anything anyway. God prefers to work through natural
agencies and therefore even weak insignificant agencies can effect the will of
God when necessary.
[Jeremiah 37:11] AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHEN THE ARMY OF THE CHALDEANS WAS
BROKEN UP FROM JERUSALEM FOR FEAR OF PHARAOH'S ARMY,
[Jeremiah 37:12] THEN JEREMIAH WENT FORTH OUT OF JERUSALEM TO GO INTO THE LAND
OF BENJAMIN, TO SEPARATE HIMSELF THENCE IN THE MIDST OF THE PEOPLE.
Jeremiah was a Cohen (of Priestly Family) descended from
Aaron the brother of Moses. He came from Anathoth in the territory of
Benjamin.
[Jeremiah 37:13] AND WHEN HE WAS IN THE GATE OF BENJAMIN, A CAPTAIN OF THE WARD
WAS THERE, WHOSE NAME WAS IRIJAH, THE SON OF SHELEMIAH, THE SON OF HANANIAH;
AND HE TOOK JEREMIAH THE PROPHET, SAYING, THOU FALLEST AWAY
TO THE CHALDEANS.
[Jeremiah 37:14] THEN SAID JEREMIAH, IT IS FALSE; I FALL NOT AWAY TO THE
CHALDEANS. BUT HE HEARKENED NOT TO HIM: SO IRIJAH TOOK JEREMIAH, AND BROUGHT HIM
TO THE PRINCES.
[Jeremiah 37:15] WHEREFORE THE PRINCES WERE WROTH WITH JEREMIAH, AND SMOTE HIM,
AND PUT HIM IN PRISON IN THE HOUSE OF JONATHAN THE SCRIBE: FOR THEY HAD MADE
THAT THE PRISON.
[Jeremiah 37:16] WHEN JEREMIAH WAS ENTERED INTO THE DUNGEON, AND INTO THE
CABINS, AND JEREMIAH HAD REMAINED THERE MANY DAYS;
It was apparently a former residential dwelling and
adjacent workshops that had been turned into a prison complex.
[Jeremiah 37:17] THEN ZEDEKIAH THE KING SENT, AND TOOK HIM OUT: AND THE KING
ASKED HIM SECRETLY IN HIS HOUSE, AND SAID, IS THERE ANY WORD FROM THE LORD" AND
JEREMIAH SAID, THERE IS: FOR, SAID HE, THOU SHALT BE DELIVERED INTO THE HAND OF
THE KING OF BABYLON.
[Jeremiah 37:18] MOREOVER JEREMIAH SAID UNTO KING ZEDEKIAH, WHAT HAVE I OFFENDED
AGAINST THEE, OR AGAINST THY SERVANTS, OR AGAINST THIS PEOPLE, THAT YE HAVE PUT
ME IN PRISON"
[Jeremiah 37:19] WHERE ARE NOW YOUR PROPHETS WHICH PROPHESIED UNTO YOU, SAYING,
THE KING OF BABYLON SHALL NOT COME AGAINST YOU, NOR AGAINST THIS
LAND"
[Jeremiah 37:20] THEREFORE HEAR NOW, I PRAY THEE, O MY LORD THE KING: LET MY
SUPPLICATION, I PRAY THEE, BE ACCEPTED BEFORE THEE; THAT THOU CAUSE ME NOT TO
RETURN TO THE HOUSE OF JONATHAN THE SCRIBE, LEST I DIE
THERE.
[Jeremiah 37:21] THEN ZEDEKIAH THE KING COMMANDED THAT THEY SHOULD COMMIT
JEREMIAH INTO THE COURT OF THE PRISON, AND THAT THEY SHOULD GIVE HIM DAILY A
PIECE OF BREAD OUT OF THE BAKERS' STREET, UNTIL ALL THE
BREAD IN THE CITY WERE SPENT. THUS JEREMIAH REMAINED IN THE COURT OF THE PRISON.
Jeremiah 38
[Jeremiah 38:1] THEN SHEPHATIAH THE SON OF MATTAN, AND GEDALIAH THE SON
OF PASHUR, AND JUCAL THE SON OF SHELEMIAH, AND PASHUR THE SON OF MALCHIAH, HEARD
THE WORDS THAT JEREMIAH HAD SPOKEN UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE,
SAYING,
[Jeremiah 38:2] THUS SAITH THE LORD, HE THAT REMAINETH IN THIS CITY SHALL DIE BY
THE SWORD, BY THE FAMINE, AND BY THE PESTILENCE: BUT HE THAT GOETH FORTH TO THE
CHALDEANS SHALL LIVE; FOR HE SHALL HAVE HIS LIFE FOR A PREY, AND SHALL
LIVE.
[Jeremiah 38:3] THUS SAITH THE LORD, THIS CITY SHALL SURELY BE GIVEN INTO THE
HAND OF THE KING OF BABYLON'S ARMY, WHICH SHALL TAKE IT.
[Jeremiah 38:4] 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.
[Jeremiah 38:5] THEN ZEDEKIAH THE KING SAID, BEHOLD, HE IS IN YOUR HAND: FOR THE
KING IS NOT HE THAT CAN DO ANY THING AGAINST YOU.
[Jeremiah 38:6] 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.
"THE DUNGEON" (in Hebrew "bor") was actually a disused
water hole. They would dig a bell-shaped underground storage area for water that
was collected from gutters and off roof-tops. The hole was plastered when in
use. When out of use the plaster would be allowed to deteriorate and mud and
refuse would collect on the floor. Jeremiah was cast into damp mud and darkness.
The climate of Jerusalem can be intemperate and the life of Jeremiah was in
danger.
[Jeremiah 38:7] NOW WHEN EBEDMELECH 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;
"EBEDMELECH THE ETHIOPIAN": "EBEDMELECH" (i.e. "Ebed-melech")
means "Servant of the King". "THE ETHIOPIAN", in Hebrew the "Cushi". This term
could be applied to any dark person from Africa or India. EBEDMELECH was a good
man and tried to intercede on behalf of Jeremiah. The word for "eunuch" is
"Saris" in Hebrew. This word can also mean official. If however Ebedmelech
really was a eunuch he had probably been made so in the land of his origin and
then sold as a slave. Israelites were forbidden to castrate themselves or
others. It was forbidden to even castrate animals. In former times eunuchs were
employed in harems and as slaves in general. They were considered easier to
control in some ways. In Saudi Arabia and in the Muslim world eunuch slaves
still exist. These slaves are usually of African origin. There were cases of
black Muslims making the pilgrimage to Mecca in Arabia and being kept there as
slaves. Consequently certain African countries dissuade their subjects from
making this pilgrimage.
[Jeremiah 38:8] EBEDMELECH WENT FORTH OUT OF THE KING'S HOUSE, AND SPAKE TO THE
KING SAYING,
[Jeremiah 38:9] 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 DUNGEON; AND HE IS
LIKE TO DIE FOR HUNGER IN THE PLACE WHERE HE IS: FOR THERE IS NO MORE BREAD IN
THE CITY.
[Jeremiah 38:10] THEN THE KING COMMANDED EBEDMELECH THE ETHIOPIAN, SAYING, TAKE
FROM HENCE THIRTY MEN WITH THEE, AND TAKE UP JEREMIAH THE PROPHET OUT OF THE
DUNGEON, BEFORE HE DIE.
"THIRTY MEN" is a large number of men to use to pull one man up out of a pit but
possibly they had all been greatly weakened by hunger and
so a large number was necessary. Also the "hole" or dungeon and the mud made
it physically complicated to pull Jeremiah up.
[Jeremiah 38:11] SO EBEDMELECH 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.
[Jeremiah 38:12] AND EBEDMELECH THE ETHIOPIAN SAID UNTO JEREMIAH, PUT NOW THESE
OLD CAST CLOUTS AND ROTTEN RAGS UNDER THINE ARMHOLES UNDER THE CORDS. AND
JEREMIAH DID SO.
They needed to put the rags under the cords so that the
rope would not cut into the flesh of Jeremiah when pulling him out. Hunger had
not only weakened everybody but it had also made their bodies much more
susceptible to damage from external pressure.
[Jeremiah 38:13] SO THEY DREW UP JEREMIAH WITH CORDS, AND TOOK HIM UP OUT
OF THE DUNGEON: AND JEREMIAH REMAINED IN THE COURT OF THE
PRISON.
[Jeremiah 38:14] 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.
[Jeremiah 38:15] 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"
[Jeremiah 38:16] SO ZEDEKIAH THE KING SWARE SECRETLY UNTO JEREMIAH, SAYING, AS
THE LORD LIVETH, 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.
[Jeremiah 38:17] 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:
[Jeremiah 38:18] 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.
[Jeremiah 38:19] 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.
Zedekiah was afraid of the Jews that had deserted and gone
over to the Babylonians. We see from this incident that Zedekiah had already
realized that Jeremiah was in the right and that his advice was correct.
Zedekiah was playing with the idea of doing what Jeremiah suggested but could
not bring himself to overcome the pressures against such
acceptance.
[Jeremiah 38:20] BUT JEREMIAH SAID, THEY SHALL NOT DELIVER THEE. OBEY, I BESEECH
THEE, THE VOICE OF THE LORD, WHICH I SPEAK UNTO THEE: SO IT SHALL BE WELL UNTO
THEE, AND THY SOUL SHALL LIVE.
[Jeremiah 38:21] BUT IF THOU REFUSE TO GO FORTH, THIS IS THE WORD THAT THE LORD
HATH SHEWED ME:
[Jeremiah 38:22] AND, BEHOLD, ALL THE WOMEN THAT ARE LEFT IN THE KING OF JUDAH'S
HOUSE SHALL BE BROUGHT FORTH TO THE KING OF BABYLON'S PRINCES, AND THOSE WOMEN
SHALL SAY, THY FRIENDS HAVE SET THEE ON, AND HAVE PREVAILED AGAINST THEE: THY
FEET ARE SUNK IN THE MIRE, AND THEY ARE TURNED AWAY BACK.
The women from the harem of the king will be brought out
and given to the Babylonian princes. They will sing a song of mockery against
the king who let himself be misled by his friends and advisors. Buleh (Daat
Mikrah) says that such a song already existed and was part of the traditional
repertoire and was song at times of defeat. In those times popular songs and
sayings and long refrains were known by heart by many people. They did not have
television or newspapers and many of the women and common people were probably
illiterate. Even if they could read they did so on rare occasions. They
developed the powers of memorizing and chanting various ballads and repeated
them on appropriate occasions. The ballads could be joyful and exultant or sad
and bitter according to the event. A similar culture existed until not long ago
in Celtic communities such as those of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.
Incidentally the romans referred to Britain as "Happy Arabia" and "Arabia" in
Roman terms meant that portion of Israel east of the Jordan River.
Zedekiah should have hearkened to Jeremiah. It will be as if the feet of the
king were in the mud and he will be unable to move them. In the same was as the
king had allowed Jeremiah to be physically thrown into the mud so to will the
king be punished in a figurative-psychological sense. "Measure for measure"
concerning punishment and reward, "As you have done, so shall it be done unto
you", is a recurring theme in scripture. It works both ways, just as one is
punished for bad deeds so too is one rewarded for good deeds. Good deeds include
refraining from bad ones. The word for mire or Mud is "botz" and for
a swamp where the ground is mixed with water is "baitsa". This could be
pronounced similarly to the English word "beach" and is probably the source of
that word.
For the past few years I have been learning the Book of Jeremiah at
a class given once a week by Rabbi Mordecai Machles in Jerusalem. Rabbi Machles
suggests that the "mud" or "mire" that was endangering the life of Jeremiah was
similar to quicksand and in the darkness of the pit he was interred in Jeremiah
was in danger of suffocating in it.
[Jeremiah 38:23] SO THEY SHALL BRING OUT ALL THY WIVES AND THY CHILDREN TO THE
CHALDEANS: AND THOU SHALT NOT 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.
[Jeremiah 38:24] THEN SAID ZEDEKIAH UNTO JEREMIAH, LET NO MAN KNOW OF THESE
WORDS, AND THOU SHALT NOT DIE.
[Jeremiah 38:25] 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; ALSO WHAT THE
KING SAID UNTO THEE:
[Jeremiah 38:26] 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.
[Jeremiah 38:27] THEN CAME ALL THE PRINCES UNTO JEREMIAH, AND ASKED HIM: AND HE
TOLD THEM ACCORDING TO ALL THESE WORDS THAT THE KING HAD COMMANDED. SO THEY LEFT
OFF SPEAKING WITH HIM; FOR THE MATTER WAS NOT PERCEIVED.
[Jeremiah 38:28] SO JEREMIAH ABODE IN THE COURT OF THE PRISON UNTIL THE DAY THAT
JERUSALEM WAS TAKEN: AND HE WAS THERE WHEN JERUSALEM WAS
TAKEN.
Jeremiah 39
[Jeremiah 39:1] IN THE NINTH YEAR OF ZEDEKIAH KING OF JUDAH, IN THE TENTH
MONTH, CAME NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON AND ALL HIS ARMY AGAINST JERUSALEM,
AND THEY BESIEGED IT.
[Jeremiah 39:2] AND IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR OF ZEDEKIAH, IN THE FOURTH MONTH, THE
NINTH DAY OF THE MONTH, THE CITY WAS BROKEN UP.
This happened on the 9th of the month of Ab.
Enemies of the Jews have often deliberately chosen this day to attack Jews upon.
The Jews were expelled from Spain on this day. The Nazis would step up their
killing of the Jews and tormenting them on this day.
[Jeremiah 39:3] AND ALL THE PRINCES OF THE KING OF BABYLON CAME IN, AND
SAT IN THE MIDDLE GATE, EVEN NERGALSHAREZER, SAMGARNEBO, SARSECHIM, RABSARIS,
NERGALSHAREZER, RABMAG, WITH ALL THE RESIDUE OF THE PRINCES OF THE KING OF
BABYLON.
[Jeremiah 39:4] AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHEN ZEDEKIAH THE KING OF JUDAH SAW
THEM, AND ALL THE MEN OF WAR, THEN THEY FLED, AND WENT FORTH OUT OF THE CITY BY
NIGHT, BY THE WAY OF THE KING'S GARDEN, BY THE GATE BETWIXT THE TWO WALLS: AND
HE WENT OUT THE WAY OF THE PLAIN.
[Jeremiah 39:5] 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.
Hamath was in Northern Syria.
[Jeremiah 39:6] THEN THE KING OF BABYLON SLEW THE SONS OF ZEDEKIAH IN RIBLAH
BEFORE HIS EYES: ALSO THE KING OF BABYLON SLEW ALL THE NOBLES OF
JUDAH.
[Jeremiah 39:7] MOREOVER HE PUT OUT ZEDEKIAH'S EYES, AND BOUND HIM WITH CHAINS,
TO CARRY HIM TO BABYLON.
[Jeremiah 39:8] AND THE CHALDEANS BURNED THE KING'S HOUSE, AND THE HOUSES OF THE
PEOPLE, WITH FIRE, AND BRAKE DOWN THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM.
[Jeremiah 39:9] THEN NEBUZARADAN 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.
[Jeremiah 39:10] BUT NEBUZARADAN 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.
Most of the people of Jerusalem were taken into Exile.
Residents of towns in Judah outside of Jerusalem had already been exiled. They
were taken to Babylon. A portion of them were to return under Ezra and Nehemiah
and later during the time of the Second Temple. Most remained in their places of
Exile and this was the real beginning of the Jewish Diaspora. Those Jews who did
return and rebuild Jerusalem were ultimately to be exiled and scattered by the
Romans. The Jewish people at present may now be divided into two cultural
groupings:
1. Sephardic Jews whose spiritual dominance stems from the Jews of Spain.
Sephardic Jews were linked more to the leadership of Jewish learning centers in
Babylon.
2. Ashkenazic Jews whose leadership had at one stage dwelt in Germany. The
Ashkenazic Jews had customs and traditions that were more pertinent to the Jews
of the Land of Israel.
[Jeremiah 39:11] NOW NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON GAVE CHARGE CONCERNING
JEREMIAH TO NEBUZARADAN THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD, SAYING,
Nebuchadnezzar himself commanded his chief military
commander to take god care of Jeremiah the Prophet.
[Jeremiah 39:12] TAKE HIM, AND LOOK WELL TO HIM, AND DO HIM NO HARM; BUT DO UNTO
HIM EVEN AS HE SHALL SAY UNTO THEE.
[Jeremiah 39:13] SO NEBUZARADAN THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD SENT, AND NEBUSHASBAN,
RABSARIS, AND NERGALSHAREZER, RABMAG, AND ALL THE KING OF BABYLON'S
PRINCES;
[Jeremiah 39:14] EVEN THEY SENT, AND TOOK JEREMIAH OUT OF THE COURT OF THE
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.
[Jeremiah 39:15] NOW THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO JEREMIAH, WHILE HE WAS SHUT
UP IN THE COURT OF THE PRISON, SAYING,
[Jeremiah 39:16] GO AND SPEAK TO EBEDMELECH 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.
[Jeremiah 39:17] 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.
Apparently there were those who wished to harm Ebed-Melech
either because he had assisted Jeremiah or for some other reason. People in
Poland who helped save Jews in the holocaust were in danger of being persecuted
and killed by their neighbors after the War.
[Jeremiah 39:18] 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.
Ebedmelch had saved the life of Jeremiah. Jeremiah
returned the favor.
Jeremiah 40
[Jeremiah 40:1] THE WORD THAT CAME TO JEREMIAH FROM THE LORD, AFTER THAT
NEBUZARADAN THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD HAD LET HIM GO FROM 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.
[Jeremiah 40:2] AND THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD TOOK JEREMIAH, AND SAID UNTO HIM,
THE LORD THY GOD HATH PRONOUNCED THIS EVIL UPON THIS PLACE.
The Babylonian officer recognized that disaster had
befallen Judah due to the sin of Judah against God rather than through the might
of Babylon.
[Jeremiah 40:3] 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.
[Jeremiah 40:4] 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.
[Jeremiah 40:5] 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.
[Jeremiah 40:6] THEN WENT JEREMIAH UNTO GEDALIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM TO MIZPAH;
AND DWELT WITH HIM AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT WERE LEFT IN THE LAND.
Jeremiah had advised the people to choose captivity and
exile over death and defeat under the circumstances then prevailing. Jeremiah
himself when given the choice remained with the Land.
Gedaliah was from an important family of nobles. His grandfather had been the
scribe of King Josiah (2-Kings 23;3), and his brother a prince under Josiah and
Jehoiakim. His brother had saved the life of Jeremiah (26;24). Seals belonging
to Gedaliah and members of his family have been found at Lachish. Gedaliah
apparently had been marked for adopting a pro-Babylonian stance in the past as
against the pro-Egyptian attitude of the others.
[Jeremiah 40:7] 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;
[Jeremiah 40:8] 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.
[Jeremiah 40:9] 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.
[Jeremiah 40:10] AS FOR ME, BEHOLD, I WILL DWELL AT MIZPAH, 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.
[Jeremiah 40:11] 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 REMNANT OF JUDAH, AND THAT HE HAD SET
OVER THEM GEDALIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM THE SON OF SHAPHAN;
[Jeremiah 40:12] EVEN ALL THE JEWS RETURNED OUT OF ALL PLACES WHITHER THEY WERE
DRIVEN, AND CAME TO THE LAND OF JUDAH, TO GEDALIAH, UNTO MIZPAH, AND GATHERED
WINE AND SUMMER FRUITS VERY MUCH.
People had fled Judah due to the war with Babylon. After
the war the land was relatively empty but it was seen that Gedaliyah had been
placed in command and was encouraging refugees from Judah to
return.
[Jeremiah 40:13] MOREOVER JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH, AND ALL THE CAPTAINS OF THE
FORCES THAT WERE IN THE FIELDS, CAME TO GEDALIAH TO MIZPAH,
[Jeremiah 40:14] AND SAID UNTO HIM, DOST THOU CERTAINLY KNOW THAT BAALIS THE
KING OF THE AMMONITES HATH SENT ISHMAEL THE SON OF NETHANIAH TO SLAY THEE" BUT
GEDALIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM BELIEVED THEM NOT.
[Jeremiah 40:15] THEN JOHANAN THE SON OF KAREAH SPAKE TO GEDALIAH IN MIZPAH
SECRETLY SAYING, LET ME GO, I PRAY THEE, AND I WILL SLAY ISHMAEL THE SON OF
NETHANIAH, AND NO MAN SHALL KNOW IT: WHEREFORE SHOULD HE
SLAY THEE, THAT ALL THE JEWS WHICH ARE GATHERED UNTO THEE SHOULD BE SCATTERED,
AND THE REMNANT IN JUDAH PERISH"
[Jeremiah 40:16] BUT GEDALIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM SAID UNTO JOHANAN THE SON OF
KAREAH, THOU SHALT NOT DO THIS THING: FOR THOU SPEAKEST FALSELY OF ISHMAEL.
Gedaliah was evidently some sort of righteous individual
and refused to receive a bad report about somebody that could not be confirmed.
He was mistaken. Ishmael really was going to kill him. King Solomon had foreseen
cases like these: "BE NOT RIGHTEOUS OVER MUCH; NEITHER MAKE THYSELF OVER WISE:
WHY SHOULDEST THOU DESTROY THYSELF"" [The Preacher 7:16].
 Jeremiah chs. 33 to 36 |
