Jeremiah 38:7-28 KJV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:15

Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah ,.... Here follows the prophets answer, in which he tacitly desires to be excused saying any thing upon this head, since it might be attended with danger to himself, and be of no service to the king; and therefore prudently thought fit to come into some agreement with the king, to secure himself, if he insisted upon it: if I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death ? this he might fear, from past experience of the king's conduct; for,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:16

So Zedekiah the king swore secretly unto Jeremiah ,.... The king not only gave the prophet his word, but also annexed to it his oath, that his life should be in no danger, either from him or his princes; this oath was made secretly, both for the honour of the king, he swearing to a subject, and that it might not be known by the princes, and for fear of them: saying, as the Lord liveth, that made us this soul ; or "these souls", as the Targum: here a superfluous word, את , is used;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:17

Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah ,.... Being thus indemnified and secured by the king's word and oath, he proceeds freely to lay before the king the whole matter as from the Lord: thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel ; the prophet does not give the following advice in his own name, but in the name of the eternal Jehovah, the Lord of armies above and below, and who had a special regard to the people of Israel, and their welfare; and therefore it became the king to show... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:18

But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes ,.... And surrender to them: then shall this city be given into the hands of the Chaldeans ; if not willingly delivered up by the king of Judah, it shall be forcibly taken by the king of Babylon's army, through the permission of God; with respect to whom it is said to be given unto them, even by him who has the disposing of cities and kingdoms: and they shall burn it with fire ; as it had been often foretold it should,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:19

And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah ,.... In answer to this advice he gave him, persuading him to give up himself and the city into the hands of the Chaldeans: I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans ; who did go out of the city, and surrendered to the Chaldeans, whom Zedekiah had cruelly used, or severely threatened: lest they deliver me into their hands, and they mock me ; that is, lest the Chaldeans should deliver him into the hands of the Jews, and they... 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 Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:21

But if thou refuse to go forth ,.... Out of Jerusalem, to the Chaldean army, and submit to them: this is the word that the Lord hath showed me , or the thing which should certainly come to pass; the word of prophecy the Lord had showed to the prophet, and which he now declares to the king; who asked of him a word, was desirous to know whether there was a word from the Lord, and what it was; and this it is which follows, in case he continued impenitent, obstinate, and disobedient. 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:23

So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans ,.... Not the citizens of Jerusalem; but, as Kimchi observes, the Chaldeans that should enter the city shall bring them out to the Chaldeans without: or it may be rendered impersonally, "they shall be brought out": not only the ladies at court, that waited on him and his queen, as before; but all his wives and concubines, and his children, or his sons rather; for at the taking of the city no mention is made of daughters,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:24

Then said Zedekiah to Jeremiah ,.... Not a word signifying his approbation of the counsel given him, or that he intended to take it; his silence showed the reverse: let no man know of these words : that had passed between them; of the conference and conversation they had had together, at least not the particulars of it; the thing itself was known, as appears by what follows, that the king and prophet had been discoursing together; but what they talked of, he desires might be concealed,... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:19

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:24

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