Jeremiah 38:1

1 Now it came to the ears of Shephatiah, the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah, the son of Pashhur, and Jucal, the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur, the son of Malchiah, that Jeremiah had said to all the people,

Jeremiah 38:1 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 38:1

Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of
Pashur
Of these two persons we nowhere else read. Some think that Pashur, whose son Gedaliah was, is the same as is mentioned ( Jeremiah 20:1-18 ) ; which is not likely, since he was a priest, and this son a prince: and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah;
these had been sent by the king to Jeremiah, to inquire of the Lord, and to pray for him and his people, ( Jeremiah 21:1 ) ( 37:3 ) ; all four were princes, prime ministers of state, of great power and authority, and to whom the king could deny nothing, or withstand, ( Jeremiah 38:4 Jeremiah 38:5 ) ; these heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people;
that is, to as many of them as came to the court of the prison to visit him; some out of good will, and some out of ill will; and others out of curiosity; being desirous to know by the prophet how things would go with them; and by which means what he said was spread all over the city, and came to the ears of the above princes; and no doubt there were persons enough officious enough to carry these things to them: saying;
as follows:

Jeremiah 38:1 In-Context

1 Now it came to the ears of Shephatiah, the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah, the son of Pashhur, and Jucal, the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur, the son of Malchiah, that Jeremiah had said to all the people,

2 These are the words of the Lord: Whoever goes on living in this town will come to his death by the sword or through need of food or by disease: but whoever goes out to the Chaldaeans will keep his life out of the power of the attackers and be safe.

3 The Lord has said, This town will certainly be given into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will take it.

4 Then the rulers said to the king, Let this man be put to death, because he is putting fear into the hearts of the men of war who are still in the town, and into the hearts of the people, by saying such things to them: this man is not working for the well-being of the people, but for their damage.

5 Then Zedekiah the king said, See, he is in your hands: for the king was not able to do anything against them.