Jeremiah 35:4 - Exposition

A man of God. The title, according to Hebrew usage, belongs to Hanan, not to his father, and means "prophet" (see e.g. 1 Kings 12:22 ); comp. Plumptre—

"There the chamber stands

Where Hanan's followers gather up the words

Their master speaks."

The chamber of the princes; i.e. the room "where the princes," i.e. the most distinguished laymen, especially the "elders of the people," assembled before the temple services. Maaseiah the son of Shallum. Probably the father of Zephaniah, "the second [or, 'deputy'] priest" ( Jeremiah 52:24 ), himself a functionary of high rank, as he is called a keeper of the door (or rather, threshold ) . There were three of these "keepers," corresponding to the number of the gates of the temple, and they ranked immediately after the high priest and his deputy ( Jeremiah 52:24 ); comp." I had rather be a doorkeeper," etc; in one of the Korahite psalms ( Psalms 84:10 ).