Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Jeremiah · Chapter 37
CHAP. XXXVII.
IN this Chapter is shewed again, what was done in the dayes of Zedekiah. Nebuchadnezzar, that had besieged Jerusalem, hearing of Pharoah with his Army coming against him, brake up his siege, and went to encounter with him. Now the King before this, had in the time of his danger, proclaimed liberty to Servants, according to Chap. 34. 8, 9, 10. But the Caldees being gone, every one compelled his Servants to return, and serve again, as thinking themselves out of all danger of the Caldees return to the siege. Wherefore Jeremiah threatneth Vers. 10.that the Caldees should return, yea, though they were all wounded men, and burn the City. And having said thus, he offered to go out of the City into the land of Benjamin, but was stayed by a Captain of the Ward, who took him, and brought him to the Princes, who put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the Scribe, Vers. 12, 13. Vers. 17.where he lay many dayes in great misery. Then the King took him out privately, asking him touching the Word of the Lord; and he freely told him of nothing but destruction, unlesse he yielded to Nebuchadnezzar: Then Jeremiah requesting it, was not sent back to the former prison, but to the Court of the prison, an allowance of bread being dayly given unto him.
Touching the going of Ieremiah into the Land of Benjamin; it is to be understood, that Anathoth, the City whereof he was an inhabitant, was there, and so in offering to goe thither, when he saw that he could do no good at Jerusalem, by threatning and exhorting them to repentance, but was dayly in danger of b…ing imprisoned, and cut off, he did nothing but what he might well justifie, and therefore took the opportunity of the siege being broken up. But when the servants Note. of God doe nothing but well, the devill hath his instruments ready to lay hainous things to their charge; from which although they purge themselves, yet they make them suffer, as Malefactors, most grievously.
Touching the Kings humanity to Ieremiah, although he would not obey his Teaching, it went not altogether unrewarded: for as we before promised, although Chap. 34. 5, 6.he were carryed into Babylon, yet he dyed in peace, and had an honourable buriall.
Whereas it is said, that Ieremiah went from Ierusalem, to separate himself from thence in the midst of the people. Expositors differ much about it, going upon Vers. 13.the word foreign, to divide; some thinking, that it is meant of his going to Anathoth to divide his land there amongst his Kinsfolk. But there is no colour of reason for this; for the dividing here spoken of is nothing else, but as it is translated, his separating himself from the place, which he knew should be destroyed, going away for this end amongst the people, that he might not be seen and stayed, although he missed of his end.
For his being put into prison, the word signifieth as well a Sepulcher, as a prison, Vers. 16.which is most dark and horrible to be in; for which it is rendred, and a Dungeon, and therein were severall Cells, called here Cabbins, into which whosoever was put, could not be put to more misery. Such they had at Athens, called Barathrum, and at Syracuse called Latomiae, into which men were shut to be long in dying, at Rome Tullianus; there was also a Prison or Dungeon called Cizicemus, otherwise named profundum maris; of which Beda thinks that Paul speaketh, when in reckoning up his sufferings, he mentioneth this for one, In the depth 2 Cor. 11. 26.of the Sea. But that is onelyonly his conjecture, for it is not in the depth of the Sea, but in perils by Sea. For the place into which Ieremiah was now put by the Kings favour, it was not to be shut up, as before, but to live in more liberty in the Court of the prison, where he might have the comfort of the aire, and was provided for whilst bread lasted in the City, and where in all probability Vers. 21.there might be some resort unto him of people to hear, and to be stirred up by him.