Meantime the Chaldean army has returned, and reinvested the city. Zedekiah, in his anxiety, sends for Jeremiah privately to his palace. Thou shalt be delivered, etc. (comp. Jeremiah 32:3 , Jeremiah 32:4 ; Jeremiah 34:2 , Jeremiah 34:3 ). read more
The secret question of a king and the bold answer of a prophet. I. THE SECRET QUESTION OF A KING . 1 . The secrecy. Why should a king with all his authority do a thing in secrecy? Was it policy or fear that dictated this secret consultation with Jeremiah? Fear, probably, was the largest element. He was afraid of what the princes and courtiers around him would say. Note other secret interviews sought by men of rank and authority. Herod, a king, privily calls the wise men... read more
Jeremiah 37:17. Then Zedekiah the king sent and took him out When the vain hopes with which they had fed themselves, and on the ground of which they had re-enslaved their servants, were all vanished away, then they were in a greater consternation than ever: and then the king sent, in all haste, for the prophet, to see if he could give him any hope of their deliverance. When the Chaldeans were withdrawn, he only sent to desire the prophet to pray for him, but now, the city being again... read more
Jeremiah 37:18-21. Moreover Jeremiah said, What have I offended against thee What law have I broken? What injury have I done to thee, or thy people, or government, that ye have put me in prison Have put me into the pit or dungeon, as a malefactor of the worst kind? Where are now your prophets That is, your false prophets? Surely the event has now convinced you, how much they have deceived you: for you see the siege renewed, and the city in imminent danger of being taken. Here we see... read more
Jeremiah imprisoned (37:1-21)Having dealt with events in the reign of Jehoiakim in the previous two chapters, the story now returns to the reign of Zedekiah. As in the case of Jehoiakim, Zedekiah ignored the warnings of God’s prophets (37:1-2).During Babylon’s final great siege of Jerusalem, Egypt sent an army to help the Jerusalemites. When the Egyptians approached, the Babylonians lifted the siege and went to deal with the new threat elsewhere. Zedekiah sent a message to Jeremiah, asking him... read more
Is there . . . There is = Does there exist. . . ? . . . There does exist. Hebrew. yesh . . . yesh . See notes on Proverbs 8:21 ; Proverbs 18:24 ; and Luke 7:25 . read more
offended = sinned. prison = the house of detention. See Jeremiah 37:16 . read more
your prophets. Not Jehovah's. From the beginning they had prophesied falsely. See Jeremiah 6:14 ; Jeremiah 27:16 ; Jeremiah 28:2 . read more
Jeremiah 37:19. Where are now your prophets— "Where are now your false prophets? The event surely demonstrates how much they have deceived you. The siege is again renewed, and the city in imminent danger of being taken." Jeremiah does not abate any of his zeal and spirit on account of the confinement and persecution which he underwent. read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 37:11-21
Jeremiah imprisoned as a traitor. I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THE IMPRISONMENT . Whatever interpretation we are to set on the ambiguous passage which gives the reason for Jeremiah's attempt to leave Jerusalem (verse 12)—whether it were to escape from the city, or to abandon a work that appeared to be fruitless for work in the country districts, or to take a possession at a redistribution of land in the sabbatical year, or to claim his share as a priest,—it is difficult to... read more