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Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
Verse 1. Sedecias. He was less impious than his two predecessors; but too weak to do good.
But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, listened to the LORD’s words, which he spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.
Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Pray now to the LORD our God for us.”
Verse 3. Pray, or consult. He wished to know whether the Chaldees would return. Calmet.—He feared, yet ill-treated the prophet, as Herod did the baptist. Worthington.
Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people, for they had not put him into prison.
Pharaoh’s army had come out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.
Then the LORD’s word came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
Verse 6. Return, routed. Calmet. 46:15. His army was small. Ezekiel 17:17 and 30:21. This king Ephree, (Calmet. 44:30) or Apries, had succeeded Psammis, after an interregnum of ten years’ continuance. Herod. ii. 161.—He foresaw that his own dominions would be invaded, after Jerusalem, the key, was taken. The other allies of Juda perfidiously sat still, or joined the Chaldees. Calmet.
“The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘You shall tell the king of Judah, who sent you to me to inquire of me: “Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to help you, will return to Egypt into their own land.
The Chaldeans will come again, and fight against this city. They will take it and burn it with fire.”’
Verse 8. Away. They departed indeed, but for a short time.
“The LORD says, ‘Don’t deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely depart from us;” for they will not depart.
Verse 9. Tent. So easy it is for God to destroy by few as well as by many! Bible.
For though you had struck the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and only wounded men remained among them, they would each rise up in his tent and burn this city with fire.’”
When the army of the Chaldeans had withdrawn from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,
Verse 11. Possession, lately purchased. Calmet. 32. Lyran.—Yet some think this had not yet taken place. Calmet.—Septuagint “to buy provisions among.” Hebrew “to slip away thence in the midst of the people.” Bible.—He wished to escape the fury of his enemies at Jerusalem. Calmet.—It is an old device of persecutors to lay false charges on the innocent, as Julian and the Arians did. Hist. Tripart. vi. 27. Worthington.
then Jeremiah went out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to receive his portion there, in the middle of the people.
When he was in Benjamin’s gate, a captain of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans!”
Then Jeremiah said, “That is false! I am not defecting to the Chaldeans.” But he didn’t listen to him; so Irijah seized Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
Verse 14. Beat him, as a traitor and fugitive.—Prison, very deep. verse 19. Calmet.
The princes were angry with Jeremiah, and struck him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that the prison.
Verse 15. Prison. Lit. “lake or pit,” ( Bible.) such as was used to keep wine. Thus God tries his chosen friends, according to their strength!
When Jeremiah had come into the dungeon house and into the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days,
then Zedekiah the king sent and had him brought out. The king asked him secretly in his house, “Is there any word from the LORD?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” He also said, “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”
Moreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you, against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison?
Verse 18. Prophets. He insults over these impostors, and speaks boldly. The Chaldees were now returned. Calmet. 38.
Now where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you, nor against this land’?
Verse 19. Be. Hebrew “fall prostrate.” Calmet. 36:7.
Now please hear, my lord the king: please let my supplication be presented before you, that you not cause me to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.”
Verse 20. Entry, where he had been already. Calmet. 32:1 and 34:1. 7.—Piece. Roll, sufficient for a day’s maintenance. Calmet.—Prot. “a piece of bread (Septuagint a loaf) out of the baker’s street.” Bible.
Then Zedekiah the king commanded, and they committed Jeremiah into the court of the guard. They gave him daily a loaf of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.