Jeremiah 38:1

1 Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people. He said:

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 Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people. He said:

2 "This is what the Lord says: 'Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die from war, or hunger, or terrible diseases. But everyone who surrenders to the Babylonian army will live; they will escape with their lives and live.'

3 And this is what the Lord says: 'This city of Jerusalem will surely be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon. He will capture this city!'"

4 Then the officers said to the king, "Jeremiah must be put to death! He is discouraging the soldiers who are still in the city, and all the people, by what he is saying to them. He does not want good to happen to us; he wants to ruin us."

5 King Zedekiah said to them, "Jeremiah is in your control. I cannot do anything to stop you."