Westminster Annotations, Jeremiah · Chapter 38
CHAP. XXXVIII.
Vers. 1. THen] Or, Now when. as Chap. 37. 1.
Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people] That resorted to him being now in prison: by whom also they had been divulged.
V. 2. He that remaineth in this citie shall die, &c.] Chap. 21. 9.
he shall have his life for a prey] Chap. 39. 18. & 45. 5.
V. 3. This citie shall surely be given] Heb. being given be given. Chap. 32. 4.
into the hand] Or, power. Chap. 34. 20, 21.
V. 4. Therefore the princes said] Or, Then said these princes.
thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of warre, &c.] Thus out of policie they impugne pietie: as Joh. 11. 48.
this man secketh not the welfare of this people] Heb. peace. Chap. 29. 7.
V. 5. he is in your hand] Job 2. 6. Chap. 26. 14.
the king is not he that can do any thing against you] That can deny you any thing: too large a condescension, without regard of right or wrong: and tending to an unjust and unmercifull usage of Gods prophet.
V. 6. Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech that was in the court of the prison] Or, They took Jeremiah, who was yet in the court of the prison, (Chap. 37. 21.) and cast him into the dungeon: that was, not in the prison court, but in some part of, or place belonging to the house of Malchiah; that so he might be privily made away; and no man know what was become of him.
the dungeon] Heb. pit. or, hole. Gen. 37. 22. Chap. 41. 7.
of Hammelech] Or, of the king. Chap. 36. 26.
the prison] Heb. custodie. Chap. 32. 2.
they let down Jeremiah with cor…s] There being, it seemeth, no stairs, or ordinarie passage down into it. vers. 12, 13.
in the dungeon there was no water, but mire] And consequently a very loathsome and noisome place, Zech. 9. 11.
V. 7. Ebed-melech] Chap. 39. 16.
the Ethiopian] Heb. Cushite. Num. 12. 1. Chap. 13. 23.
one of the eunuchs which was in the kings house] Isa. 39. 7.
heard that they had put Jeremiah in the d…ngeon] The businesse yet was not so closely kept, or covertly carried, but that by Gods good providence it came unto this godly courtiers eare.
king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin] To receive petitions, hear causes, and passe censures: the gate being the ordinary place of audience and judicature. Deut. 17. 2, 8. 2 Sam. 19. 8. Lam. 5. 13. See Chap. 37. 13.
V. 9. these men have done evill, &c.] Thus the Prophet found more favour at the hands of a stranger, then at the hands of his own countrey-men: as God more obedience, Chap. 35. 14, 15. more repentance, Jon. 3. 10. and Christ more faith, Matth. 8. 10. in such, then in Gods own professed people; to their greater condemnation, Matth. 12 41, 42.
and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is] Or, who would have died (Heb. and he will die) with hunger, in the place where he was before. Heb. in his place. Job 7. 10. Psal. 109. 16. to wit, in the prison, Chap. 37. 21. the bread failing; (2 King. 25. 3.) out of which some allowance was assigned him: and it was the more malice and crueltie therefore in them, by so vile a course to seek to hasten his end, who otherwise could not have long continued, had the siege been prolonged.
V. 10. Take from hence thirtie men with thee] Heb. in thine hand. Chap. 41. 9.
V. 11. went into the house of the king under the treasurie] That room of the house, or cellar, into which cast cloths, and such trumperie, were usually thrown.
V. 12. Put now these old cast clouts] Heb. old, or, worn clouts of cast, or, torn things. Deut. 9. 5. Chap. 15. 3.
rotten rags] Heb. of salts. that is, rotted, as with salt: or, wasted with wearing, as salt, when it melteth. See Isa. 51. 6. and 64 6.
under thine arm-holes,] Heb. under the arm-holes of thine hands. as Ezek. 13. 18. or, under thine arm-holes with thine hands. as Psal. 17. 13, 14.
under the cords] Betwixt them and the cords, to keep his body from being fr…tted and galled therewith.
V. 13. Jeremiah remained] Heb. sat. Chap. 40. 5, 6.
in the court of the prison] Where the King had before placed him, to be at the more liberty, Chap. 37. 21. Heb. custo…ie. vers. 6.
V. 14. the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him] Chap. 37. 17.
into the third entrie that is in the house of the LORD] Or, into the chief, or, principall entrie. Which was to the South: by which the King entred, coming from his Palace, 2 King. 16. 18.
I will ask thee a thing] Heb. a word. 1 Sam. 14. 12.
hide nothing from me] Heb. not a word. Chap. 26. 2. & 42. 4
V. 15. wilt thou not surely put me to death] Heb. slaying slay me. Chap. 26. 19.
if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me] Or, thou wilt not hearken to me. It is in vain for me to advise thee: for thou wilt not follow mine advice.
V. 16. neither will I give thee into the hand of these men] Or, power. vers. 3, 18.
that seck thy life.] Heb. soul. Chap. 30. 20, 21.
V. 17. If thou wilt assuredly go forth] Heb. going forth go forth. 2 King. 4. 11.
unto the king of Babylons princes] And yeeld thy self unto them: as Jechoniah did, 2 King. 24. 12. unto them; for the King himself was not then present in person at the siege, Chap. 39. 3, 4, 5.
then thy soul shall live] Or, thou shalt live. as in the words next ensuing. So Gen. 19. 20. Psal. 119. 175.
and thine house] Thy family, wives, children, and servants. vers. 23.
V. 18. into the hand] Or, power. vers. 16.
V. 19. I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans] He feared more mans mocking, then Gods threatning, 1 Sam. 31. 4. 1 Chron. 10. 4. Judg. 9. 54.
V. 20. thy soul shall live] Or, thou shalt live. vers. 17.
V. 22. the women that are left in the king of Judahs house] When Jechoniah, and his mother, and others, were carried away captive, 2 King. 24. 12. Or, after that Zedekiah was fled out of the citie, Chap. 39. 4.
Thy friends have set the on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back] Heb. Men of thy peace. Obad. 7. Chap. 20. 10. Thy false-prophets, and confederates, that incited thee to rebell and stand out against the King of Babylon, Chap. 27. 3. & 37. 19. have deluded thee, and left thee sticking fast in the mire; which they have brought thee into: that is, in deep danger and shrewd distresse: as Psal. 69. 2. Alluding withall, as some suppose, to some quagmire, wherein the enemie should overtake and surprise him, Chap. 39. 5. Thus that which he feared, vers. 19. befell him, not from men, but from women.
V. 23. they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children] Heb. sonnes. which were taken and carried away by the Chaldeans, Chap. 39. 6. for his daughters, it seemeth, were left behind, Chap. 41. 10. & 43. 6.
thou shalt not escape] Though thou attempt so to do, 2 King. 25. 4,—6.
but shalt be taken] Vers. 17, 18. Chap 21. 10.
by the hand of the king of Babylon] Or, power. vers. 18. See vers. 17.
thou shalt cause this citie to be burnt] Heb. thou shalt burn. as Num. 4. 18.
V. 24. Let no man know of these words] Or, things. vers. 14. Chap. 36. 16.
and thou shalt not die] Or, that thou maist not die. as Josh. 24. 9. Mal. 1. 9. Lest the Prince… put thee to death: as it is likely they will, if they come to know, what thou hast said to me; but will not, if they understand not, what hath in private past between us.
V. 25. if the princes heare] Who over-awed him, and whom he was afraid to displease. vers. 5.
V. 26. I presented my supplication, &c.] Heb. made to fall. Chap. 36 7. And he had so done indeed, Chap. 37. 20.
V. 27. they left off speaking with him] Heb. they were silen… from him. as Job 13. 13.
the matter] Heb. word. vers. 14. Chap. 52. 34.
was not perceived] Heb. heard. as Chap 5. 15.
V. 28. Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison] Heb. sat in the court of custodie. vers. 13.