Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 38:7-13
Jeremiah’s rescue from the cistern 38:7-13 read more
Jeremiah’s rescue from the cistern 38:7-13 read more
Ebed-melech assembled his men and gathered together old clothes and rags from the palace wardrobe storeroom and let them down by ropes to Jeremiah. read more
The Ethiopian then told Jeremiah to use the clothes to cushion the ropes that he was to put under his armpits. Jeremiah did this, and the men were able to pull the prophet out of the mucky cistern. However, he remained confined in the court of the guardhouse. read more
1-3. The removal of Jeremiah from the prison was favourable to the publication of his message. Hence the alarm of the princes.1. Pashur] see on Jeremiah 20:2.2. He that goeth forth] i.e. submits: so Jeremiah 38:17.6. Dungeon] RM ’pit,’or cistern. It is conjectured that Psalms 69 may have been composed by Jeremiah on this occasion.7-13. Jeremiah is rescued by Ebed-melech. 10. Thirty] possibly a copyist’s error for ’three.’The two words resemble each other much more closely in Hebrew than in... read more
(11) Under the treasury . . .—This was obviously what we should call the “lumber-room” of the palace. Nothing could show the acuteness of the prophet’s sufferings more vividly than the precautions which the thoughtful kindness of the Eunuch thus suggested. The pit was so deep that ropes were needed to draw him up, as they had been to let him down, and lest they should cut into the flesh of Jeremiah’s emaciated form, improvised cushions had to be fastened to the ropes, that he might rest his... read more
1CHAPTER XIIJEREMIAH’S IMPRISONMENTJeremiah 37:11-21, Jeremiah 38:1-28, Jeremiah 39:15-18"Jeremiah abode in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken."- Jeremiah 38:28"WHEN the Chaldean army was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army, Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin "to transact certain family business at Anathoth. {Cf. Jeremiah 32:6-8}He had announced that all who remained in the city should perish, and that only those who... read more
CHAPTER 38 1. Jeremiah in the dungeon and his rescue (Jeremiah 38:1-13 ) 2. Jeremiah with Zedekiah: His last appeal (Jeremiah 38:14-28 ) Jeremiah 38:1-13 . Jeremiah is next accused of high treason. The charge is based on his message, given to him by the Lord: “He that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live.” Like the conscientious objectors during the past war, they accused him of being unpatriotic. “This man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.” They demand his life. In... read more
CLOSING EVENTS OF THE SIEGE We are again in Zedekiah’s reign (Jeremiah 37:1 ), and the same disobedience as before marks the period (Jeremiah 37:2 ). We are astonished at the effrontery accompanying it, (Jeremiah 37:3 ). Note the occasion when this prayer is solicited (Jeremiah 37:4-5 ). Egypt has come up to help, and the Babylonians in consequence, have raised the siege in order to meet the approaching army. Is it not an indication that God has changed His mind about Judah after all? The... read more
See how the Lord raiseth instruments, from the most unexpected quarters, for the deliverance of his people. Here was a stranger, and a Gentile, prompted to fly to the rescue of one of the Lord's prophets, when all the people of the land were consenting to his death. Precious Lord Jesus! how can I read this without having my mind led instantly to thee, who coming to our whole nature, as the divine Samaritan, delivered us from thieves, when neither Priest nor Levite would look upon us with mercy. read more
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 38:11
11. cast clouts—"torn clothes" [HENDERSON]. rotten rags—"worn-out garments." God can make the meanest things His instruments of goodness to His people ( :-). under . . . armholes—"under the joints of thine hands," that is, where the fingers join the hand, the clothes being in order that the hands should not be cut by the cords [MAURER]. read more