Jeremiah 37

1 et regnavit rex Sedecias filius Iosiae pro Iechonia filio Ioachim quem constituit regem Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis in terra Iuda

2 et non oboedivit ipse et servi eius et populus terrae verbis Domini quae locutus est in manu Hieremiae prophetae

3 et misit rex Sedecias Iuchal filium Selemiae et Sophoniam filium Maasiae sacerdotem ad Hieremiam prophetam dicens ora pro nobis Dominum Deum nostrum

4 Hieremias autem libere ambulabat in medio populi non enim miserant eum in custodiam carceris igitur exercitus Pharao egressus est Aegyptum et audientes Chaldei qui obsidebant Hierusalem huiuscemodi nuntium recesserunt ab Hierusalem

5 et factum est verbum Domini ad Hieremiam prophetam dicens

6 haec dicit Dominus Deus Israhel sic dicetis regi Iuda qui misit vos ad me ad interrogandum ecce exercitus Pharaonis qui egressus est vobis in auxilium revertetur in terram suam in Aegyptum

7 et redient Chaldei et bellabunt contra civitatem hanc et capient eam et incendent igni

8 haec dicit Dominus nolite decipere animas vestras dicentes euntes abibunt et recedent a nobis Chaldei quia non abibunt

9 sed et si percusseritis omnem exercitum Chaldeorum qui proeliantur adversum vos et derelicti fuerint ex eis aliqui vulnerati singuli de tentorio suo consurgent et incendent civitatem hanc igni

10 ergo cum recessisset exercitus Chaldeorum ab Hierusalem propter exercitum Pharaonis

11 egressus est Hieremias de Hierusalem ut iret in terram Beniamin et divideret ibi possessionem in conspectu civium

12 cumque pervenisset ad portam Beniamin erat ibi custos portae per vices nomine Hierias filius Selemiae filii Ananiae et adprehendit Hieremiam prophetam dicens ad Chaldeos profugis

13 et respondit Hieremias falsum est non fugio ad Chaldeos et non audivit eum sed conprehendit Hierias Hieremiam et adduxit eum ad principes

14 quam ob rem irati principes contra Hieremiam caesum eum miserunt in carcerem qui erat in domo Ionathan scribae ipse enim praepositus erat super carcerem

15 itaque ingressus est Hieremias in domum laci et in ergastula et sedit ibi Hieremias diebus multis

16 mittens autem rex Sedecias tulit eum et interrogavit in domo sua abscondite et dixit putasne est sermo a Domino et dixit Hieremias est et ait in manu regis Babylonis traderis

17 et dixit Hieremias ad regem Sedeciam quid peccavi tibi et servis tuis et populo tuo quia misisti me in domum carceris

18 ubi sunt prophetae vestri qui prophetabant vobis et dicebant non veniet rex Babylonis super vos et super terram hanc

19 nunc ergo audi obsecro domine mi rex valeat deprecatio mea in conspectu tuo et ne me remittas in domum Ionathan scribae ne moriar ibi

20 praecepit ergo rex Sedecias ut traderetur Hieremias in vestibulo carceris et daretur ei torta panis cotidie excepto pulmento donec consumerentur omnes panes de civitate et mansit Hieremias in vestibulo carceris

Jeremiah 37 Commentary

Chapter 37

The Chaldean army will return. (1-10) Jeremiah is imprisoned. (11-21)

Verses 1-10 Numbers witness the fatal effects of other men's sins, yet heedlessly step into their places, and follow the same destructive course. When in distress, we ought to desire the prayers of ministers and Christian friends. And it is common for those to desire to be prayed for, who will not be advised; yet sinners are often hardened by a pause in judgments. But if God help us not, no creature can. Whatever instruments God has determined to use, they shall do the work, though they seem unlikely.

Verses 11-21 There are times when it is the wisdom of good men to retire, to enter into their chambers, and to shut the doors, ( Isaiah 26:20 ) . Jeremiah was seized as a deserter, and committed to prison. But it is no new thing for the best friends of the church to be belied, as in the interests of her worst enemies. When thus falsely accused, we may deny the charge, and commit our cause to Him who judges righteously. Jeremiah obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful, and would not, to obtain mercy of man, be unfaithful to God or to his prince; he tells the king the whole truth. When Jeremiah delivered God's message, he spake with boldness; but when he made his own request, he spake submissively. A lion in God's cause must be a lamb in his own. And God gave Jeremiah favour in the eyes of the king. The Lord God can make even the cells of a prison become pastures to his people, and will raise up friends to provide for them, so that in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 37

This chapter makes mention of the reign of Zedekiah, and what happened in it; of his message to Jeremiah, to pray for the kingdom; of the king of Babylonian's raising the siege of Jerusalem, on hearing the king of Egypt was coming to its relief; of the assurance the prophet gave that the Chaldean army would return again, and destroy the city; of the prophet's attempt to depart the city, his imprisonment, conversation with Zedekiah, and his clemency to him. A short account is given of Zedekiah, and of the disobedience of him and his people to the word of the Lord, Jer 37:1,2; of the message sent by him to the prophet to pray for them, Jer 37:3; the time, when Jeremiah was at liberty, and the siege of Jerusalem was raised, Jer 37:4,5; the prophet's answer to them from the Lord, assuring them the Chaldeans would return and burn the city, Jer 37:6-10; the prophet attempting to go out of the city is stopped, and charged as a deserter to the Chaldeans; is had before the princes, and beat and imprisoned, Jer 37:11-15; but the king sending for him out of prison, and having some private discourse with him, upon the prophet's expostulation and intercession, his confinement was mitigated, and bread allowed him, Jer 37:16-21.