Jeremiah 38:22

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 38:22

And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house ,.... That were left in the royal palace when Jehoiakim and Jeconiah were carried captives; or which were left of the famine and pestilence in, Zedekiah's house; or would be left there when he should flee and make his escape; meaning his concubines, or maids of honour, and court ladies; shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes : who shall use them as they think fit, and dispose of them at pleasure: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 38:22

All the women - brought forth - I think this place speaks of a kind of defection among the women of the harem; many of whom had already gone forth privately to the principal officers of the Chaldean army, and made the report mentioned in the end of this verse. These were the concubines or women of the second rank. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 38:22

Verse 22 Behold, the women who as yet remain in the palace of the king, shall go forth to the princes of the king of Babylon, that is, having left the city they will betray thee to thine enemies; and they shall say, The men of thy peace have deceived thee, or persuaded thee, and have prevailed; thus fixed in the mire are thy feet, and they have turned backward There is here a part stated for the whole, for under one thing is included the whole calamity of the city. We indeed know that the... 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 38:22

All the women that are left; i.e. probably the wives of Zedekiah's royal predecessors, who had passed into his own harem as concubines. Even Hezekiah, as Payne Smith well points out, had a numerous harem ('Records of the Past,' 1:39, where "daughters" is equivalent to "girls"). Zedekiah's own wives are spoken of in the next verse. Thy friends have set thee on, etc. The first half of this taunting song ( mashal ) reminds of Obadiah 1:7 (for other points of contact with Obadiah, see... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 38:22

All the women that are left - Belonging to the harems of former kings (compare 1 Kings 2:22), attendants, and slaves.Thy friends ... - This satirical song (compare Obadiah 1:7) should be translated as a distich:Thy friends have urged thee on and prevailed upon thee:Thy feet are stuck in the mire; they have turned back.Thy friends - literally “men of thy peace,” thy acquaintance Jeremiah 20:10. They urge Zedekiah on to a hopeless struggle with the Chaldaeans, and when he gets into difficulties... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 38:21-23

Jeremiah 38:21-23. But if thou refuse, this is the word that the Lord hath showed me Namely, what follows in the next two verses. Behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house The king’s wives, his daughters, and the other women that belong to the king’s court and family, shall become a prey to the chief officers of the king of Babylon’s army. And those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, &c. They shall tell thee that, for these thy calamities, thou... read more

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