Jeremiah 38:20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 38:14-28

In the foregoing chapter we had the king in close conference with Jeremiah, and here again, though (Jer. 38:5) he had given him up into the hands of his enemies; such a struggle there was in the breast of this unhappy prince between his convictions and his corruptions. Observe, I. The honour that Zedekiah did to the prophet. When he was newly fetched out of the dungeon he sent for him to advise with him privately. He met him in the third entry, or (as the margin reads it) the principal entry,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:20

But Jeremiah said, they shall not deliver thee ,.... To take off the above excuse, or remove that objection, the prophet assures the king that the Chaldeans would never deliver him into the hands of the Jews; he might depend upon it, it would never be done: obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee ; the counsel he had given him, to surrender to the Chaldeans, was not from himself, but from the Lord: and though he had no express order to give it at that time,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 38:20

Verse 20 Here again Jeremiah strengthens Zedekiah, that he might not hesitate to make the trial, since God would yet give him pardon, so that at least his chastisement would be paternal and light He then promised to Zedekiah that he would be safe from all the insults about which he was anxious. They will not deliver thee, he says; as though he had said, “Leave this to God’s providence, resign thyself to God, and doubt not but that he will keep thee safe.” God, in his kindness, as I have said,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 38:1-28

CONTINUATION . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 38:17-23

God's terms of salvation hard. I. IN WHAT THEY ARE HARD . 1 . They attack our pride. Zedekiah was afraid of the mockery of "the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans." He did not like to acknowledge himself in error. There was no glory in surrender. Pride is one of the first hindrances to salvation. We want to be our own saviours. 2 . They crush self-will. "Not as I will, but as thou wilt"—the first and last prayer of the true child of God. It was not Zedekiah's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 38:19-23

The fear of ridicule. I. THE FEAR OF RIDICULE IS A COMMON FAILING OF WEAK MEN . Zedekiah is a weak man. His first thought when he contemplates the possible effects of obedience to the Divine command is that it may result in his being delivered into the hands of the captives at Babylon to be mocked by them ( Jeremiah 38:17 ). This he dreads above all things. Many men who would stand up without flinching to be shot at cower before a laugh. Let them understand that their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 38:20

The blessedness of. obedience. Jeremiah entreats Zedekiah to obey the voice of God urging him with promises of deliverance. Note here— I. THE ENTREATY . Jeremiah says, "I beseech thee." This is characteristic of the kindliness and earnestness of the prophet. It is also indicative of the character of God who inspired him. With St. Paul he might have said, "We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating you by us; we beseech you on behalf of Christ,…... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 38:20

Obeying the voice of the Lord. I. GOD HAS A VOICE FOR THOSE IN DOUBT . Poor Zedekiah, king though he be, is in a state of great vacillation. Counsellors speak one thing, and a prophet speaks another. Counsellors proclaim continued and resolute resistance, though it is by no means plain that they believe in what they say, and from Jeremiah 38:19 it is clear that there were very considerable divisions in the city. Jeremiah, on the other hand, speaks like a man who is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 38:19-20

Jeremiah 38:19-20 . Zedekiah said, I am afraid of the Jews, &c. The sense seems to be, that he was afraid lest the Chaldeans, when he had given himself up to them, should deliver him into the hands of those Jews who had fallen to them, and they should insult over and deride him, as being obliged at last to do what he had blamed, and, if he had been able, would have punished them for doing. Thus the Vulgate, Solicitus sum propter Judæos, qui transfugerunt ad Chaldæs: ne forte tradar in... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:1-28

Jeremiah’s escape from death (38:1-28)The chief officials in Jerusalem were a powerful group. They hated Jeremiah for his unchanging message of ‘submit to Babylon or perish’, and they managed to force the king to hand over Jeremiah to them for execution (38:1-5). They dropped him into a filthy disused well and left him there to die (6).There was, however, in Zedekiah’s court an African who had risen to a position of responsibility and who was favourable to Jeremiah. In an action that showed... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 38:14-28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 38:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 38:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 38:17-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 38:19-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 38:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 38:20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 38:19-20

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:1-28

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