Jeremiah 39:11-18

Concerning The Fate of Jeremiah and of Ebed-Melech.

v. 11. Now Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, gave charge concerning Jeremiah, whose prophecies and warning were known to him through deserters and through Jews carried to Babylon with Jeconiah, to Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the guard, saying,

v. 12. Take him and look well to him, literally, "thine eyes set upon him," in providing for, and watching over, his well-being, and do him no harm, the protection against the wiles of others being included in this care; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee, as he might request to safeguard his person.

v. 13. So Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the guard, sent, and Nebu-shasban, Bab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, that is, the chief of the magi, and all the king of Babylon's princes, all the commanders of the army which made the campaign against Judah;

v. 14. even they sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, gave him his liberty after the shameful imprisonment which he had suffered, and committed him unto Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, Ahikam being the man who had protected him on a former occasion, 26:24, that he should carry him home; so he dwelt among the people, as a free man, not as a captive under restraint. The apparent contradiction between this statement and that of 40:1 is very easily adjusted if we remember that Jeremiah, although transported to Ramah with the prisoners among his own countrymen, was still technically their prisoner, for he had not been released from his place in the court of the prison in Jerusalem. Nebuzar-adan separated Jeremiah from the other captives and gave him his choice of places to dwell.

v. 15. Now the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, before the Jews of the city were taken down to Ramah and the prophet was given his liberty, saying,

v. 16. Go and speak to Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian, who had befriended Jeremiah when his life was in the greatest danger, 38:7-14, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for evil and not for good, Cf Daniel 9:12; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee, so that the threatened misfortune would strike the city in its full force, Ebed-melech being a witness of this calamity.

v. 17. But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord, as a reward of his goodness in rescuing the Lord's prophet; and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid, for the Ethiopian shared the fear of the other inhabitants of the city.

v. 18. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee, a precious treasure to be carried away and safely hidden, because thou hast put thy trust in Me, saith the Lord. Jehovah, the true God, is the Hope and Refuge of all those who put their trust in Him, and He delivers them from all the evil which may threaten and overwhelm them.