Jeremiah 38:20-28

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 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 Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:25

But if the princes hear that I have talked to thee ,.... Which the king suspected they would; and could hardly think but somebody or other would see him and the prophet talking together; who would be officious enough to go and acquaint the princes with it, though he had endeavoured to be as private as possible; however, to provide against the worst, he instructs Jeremiah what to say to them, should they hear of their being together: and they come unto thee : as he did not doubt but they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:26

Then thou shalt say unto them ,.... Here the king puts words into the prophet's mouth, what he should say to the princes, to put them off from inquiring further, and so keep the matter a secret: I presented my supplication before the king ; or "caused it to fall" F4 מפיל אני תחנתי "cadere feci deprecationem meam", Pagninus; "cadere faciens fui", &c.; Schmidt. ; delivered it in an humble and submissive manner: that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:27

Then came all the princes to Jeremiah, and asked him ,.... After he had parted with the king, and was come back to the court of the prison; as soon as the princes had been informed of the interview between the king and the prophet, which soon came to their ears, they came in a body to him, to the court of the prison, where he was, and asked him of what passed between him and the king: and he told them according to all those words that the king had commanded ; what he told them, no doubt,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 38:28

So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison ,.... Where he was ordered to be by the king, before he was cast into the dungeon, and where he was replaced by Ebedmelech; and which was now confirmed by the king, and here he continued: until the day that Jerusalem was taken ; but how long it was from his conversation with the king, to the taking of the city, is not certain: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken ; as appears from Jeremiah 39:14 . Kimchi connects this with the... read more

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