The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah
Jeremiah 37
Chapter XXXVII · Vol. III, pp. 1278–1279
1 The Egyptians having raised the siege of the Chaldeans, king Zedekiah sendeth to Jeremiah to pray for the people. 6 Jeremiah prophesieth the Chaldeans' certain return and victory. 11 He is taken up for a fugitive, beaten, and put in prison. 16 He assureth Zedekiah of the captivity. 18 Entreating for his liberty, he obtaineth some favour.
1 And king aZedekiah, the son of Josiah, reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon bmade king in the land of Judah.1
B.C. cir. 599.
a 2 Ki.24.12,17. 2 Ch.36.9,10. ch.22.24.
b Eze.17.13.
1 Coniah is a contraction of Jechoniah, another form of Jehoiachin. He was son of Jehoiakim, and when his father was slain he, by permission of the king of Babylon, ascended the throne. He appears to have countenanced rebellion, and three months after his accession he was dethroned by the Babylonian monarch, sent away a captive to Babylon, and Zedekiah appointed king in his stead.—P.
2 But cneither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the LORD, which he spake by the 2prophet Jeremiah.
c 2 Ki.24.19,20. 2 Ch.36.11-16. Pr.29.12. Eze.21.25.
A.M. cir. 3405. B.C. cir. 599.
2 Heb. by the hand of the prophet.
3 And dZedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, ePray now unto the LORD our God for 3us.
B.C. cir. 589.
d ch.21.1,2. Ex.8.8,28;9.28. 1 Ki.13.6. Ac.8.24. Ps.78.34. 1 Sa.7.8; 12.19, with ch.29.25;52.24.
e ch.2.27;42.2,20.
3 A call for intercessory prayer is no proof either of the faith or repentance of him that calls for it. It is possible to have just such confidence in prayer as the ignorant and superstitious often have in amulets and charms. Such was evidently the case with Zedekiah, for 'neither he nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the Lord by Jeremiah,' and yet they expect that God will hear Jeremiah for them, while they refuse to hear God.—Note, Intercessory prayer for the sick is undoubtedly an ordinance of God (Ja.5.14,15), both for healing and forgiveness; but it is carefully to be observed, that the apostle places the personal prayer of the sick himself before the intercessory, ver.13. 'Is any among you afflicted (in any manner, sickness included), let him pray.' 'Is any sick (a special affliction), let him send for the elders, and let them pray over him.' In dealing with the sick this is a matter that requires much tenderness, but much faithfulness; for the heart is deceitful and souls are precious.—C.
4 Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people; for gthey had not put him into prison.
g As ver.15; ch.32.2.
5 Then hPharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they ideparted from Jerusalem.
h 2 Ki.24.7. Eze.17.7,15. ver.7.
i Is.26.10. ch.34.11,21,22. ver.11.
6 Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
7 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, jthat sent you unto me to inquire of me; kBehold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return4 to Egypt into their own land.
8 And lthe Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.
l ch.32.29; 34.21,22; 38.2,18,23;39.2-8; 52.4-14. 2 Ki.4.9,10. 2 Ch.36.17,19.
9 Thus saith the LORD, nDeceive not yourselves,5 saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.
10 For, though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded6 men among them, oyet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.7
11 And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken8 up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army,
8 Heb. made to ascend, ver.5.
12 Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of pBenjamin, to separate himself9 thence in the midst of the 1people.
p ch.1.1. Jos.21.17,18.
9 Or, to slip away from, ver.15,16. Mat.10.16,17,23. 1 Th.5.22. Phi.4.8.
1 Blayney's translation—'to receive a portion thereof among his people'—seems preferable, especially as Jeremiah had purchased the field of Hanameel (ch.32.9), and by taking public possession of it, might intend still further to attract attention to the judgments and promises of God.—C.
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, qThou fallest away to the Chaldeans.
q ch.20.8,10. Ps.35.11, with ch.27.6-18; 28.14;34.2,3.
14 Then said Jeremiah, It is false,2 I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
2 Heb. falsehood or a lie, Ne.6.8. Mat.5.11,12.
15 Whereforer the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison ins the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that the prison.
r 2 Co.11.23-27. ch.26.20,21. Mat.21.35; 23.34;5.12. Ac.5.40;23.2,3;16.22-24. Re.2.10. Ge.39.19. 2 Ch.16.10.
A.M. cir. 3415. B.C. cir. 589.
s ch.38.26;ver.20.
16 When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the 3cabins,4 and Jeremiah had remained there many days;
3 Or, cells, ch.38.6.
4 Probably reference is made to arched vaults, which are very common in Jerusalem, and may have been used as prisons. They are found under the temple area, and under many of the private houses in the city.—P.
17 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out; and the king asked him secretly5 in his house, and said, tIs there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, uthou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.
5 For fear of the princes, ch.38.5,24,25.
t Mar.6.20. ver.3, ch.21.1,2;23.33?.
u ch.13.18; 21.7,12; 24.8;32.4,5,&c.
18 Moreover, Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, vWhat have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?
19 Wherex are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon yshall not come against you, nor against this land?
20 Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted6 before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, zlest I die there.7
6 Heb. fall.
z Ex.20.13. Job 2.4. Ep.5.29. He.12.11?.
7 An eastern jailer is uncontrolled master of his prisoner, to treat well or ill; to put him in irons, or to allow him comparative freedom; to feed him with wholesome or unwholesome food, and to admit or exclude his friends, according as they are able or willing to bribe for the privilege.—C.
Notes
Ver. 15. Eastern prisons are not public buildings, but a part of the house of the criminal judge. And such confinement in private houses was common in great Britain down to a period comparatively modern. The city of Aberdeen still contains the private dwelling in which Rutherford was imprisoned; and many continue to look upon it with great 'searchings of heart,' and deep musings both on the past and the present. C.
Reflections.—Hard are their hearts who can both see and feel the judgments of God without being humbled. And often they who in health and prosperity despised Christ's ministers, entreat their counsels and prayers in a day of distress. Many would gladly be rid of their sufferings who have no heart to part with their sins. And often they use the intermissions, or slow progress, of God's judgments to harden themselves, while they easily credit the flatteries and lies which their corrupt inclinations wish to be true. Even Satan could not deceive men if they deceived not themselves. No created help can avail but as God pleases; and no created power can withstand the weakest instruments in his hand. When we have no call from God to stay, it is prudent to retire into privacy, and shun the evils which we foresee. But the purest characters and conduct may be blackened with the vilest aspersions; and every lie, however improbable, is easily believed against a man obnoxious for his piety and reproofs. And if passion and prejudice ascend the chair of the magistrate, we need not expect any justice It is the best of men that have to suffer most for conscience' sake. But God can provide them relief from whence they little expected it. If men will cheerfully, but prudently, expose their life for God, he will take care that they shall be no losers, but their very affliction be the mean of substantial blessing. But they who will not regard God's calls to repentance, need not expect messages of peace. And they who have wilfully shut their eyes to their danger, deserve to be upbraided with their folly.