Jeremiah 38:13

13 And they drew out Jeremy with cords, and led him out of the pit. Forsooth Jeremy dwelled in the porch of the prison. (And they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and pulled him out of the pit. And then Jeremiah lived in the courtyard of the prison.)

Jeremiah 38:13 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 38:13

So they drew up Jeremiah with cords
The men that were with Ebedmelech, as many as were necessary; he overlooking, directing, and encouraging: and he took him out of the dungeon;
alive, according to the king's orders and design, and in spite of the prophet's enemies: the thing succeeded according to wish; the Lord ordering and prospering every step: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison;
from whence he had been taken, and where he was replaced; Ebedmelech having no warrant to set him at entire liberty; nor would it have been prudent to have solicited that, which might too much have exasperated the princes; and besides, here, according to the king's order, bread was to be given him, as long as there was any in the city; so that it was the most fit and proper place for him to remain in; wherefore what Josephus F24 says, that he dismissed him, and set him free, is not true.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 10. c. 7. sect. 5.)

Jeremiah 38:13 In-Context

11 Therefore when Ebedmelech had taken men with him, he entered into the house of the king, that was under the cellar; and he took from thence old clothes, and old rags, that were rotten; and he sent them down to Jeremy, into the pit, by cords. (And so when Ebedmelech had taken the men with him, he entered into the house of the king, and went down to the cellar; and he took from there some old clothes, and some old rags, that were rotten; and then he sent them down by cords, into the pit, to Jeremiah.)
12 And Ebedmelech (the) Ethiopian said to Jeremy, Put thou [the] old clothes, and these rent and rotten things under the cubit of thine hands, and on the cords. Therefore Jeremy did so (And Jeremiah did so).
13 And they drew out Jeremy with cords, and led him out of the pit. Forsooth Jeremy dwelled in the porch of the prison. (And they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and pulled him out of the pit. And then Jeremiah lived in the courtyard of the prison.)
14 And king Zedekiah sent, and took (to) him Jeremy, the prophet, at the third door that was in the house of the Lord (And King Zedekiah again sent for the prophet Jeremiah, and had him brought to him at the third entrance to the House of the Lord). And the king said to Jeremy, I (shall) ask of thee a word; hide thou not anything from me.
15 Forsooth Jeremy said to Zedekiah, If I tell to thee, whether thou shalt not slay me? And if I give counsel to thee, thou shalt not hear me. (And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, If I tell thee, shalt thou not kill me? And if I give counsel to thee, shalt thou truly listen to me?)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.