Jeremiah 39
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10. left . . . the poor . . . which had nothing--The poor have least to lose; one of the providential compensations of their lot. They who before had been stripped of their possessions by the wealthier Jews obtain, not only their own, but those of others.
11. Jeremiah's prophecies were known to Nebuchadnezzar through deserters ( Jeremiah 39:9 , 38:19 ), also through the Jews carried to Babylon with Jeconiah (compare Jeremiah 40:2 ). Hence the king's kindness to him.
12. look well to him--Hebrew, "set thine eyes upon him"; provide for his well-being.
13. Nebuzara-dan . . . sent--He was then at Ramah ( Jeremiah 40:1 ).
14. Gedaliah--son of Ahikam, the former supporter of Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 26:24 ). Gedaliah was the chief of the deserters to the Chaldeans, and was set over the remnant in Judea as one likely to remain faithful to Nebuchadnezzar. His residence was at Mizpah ( Jeremiah 40:5 ).
home--the house of Gedaliah, wherein Jeremiah might remain as in a safe asylum. As in Jeremiah 40:1 Jeremiah is represented as "bound in chains" when he came to Ramah among the captives to be carried to Babylon, this release of Jeremiah is thought by MAURER to be distinct from that in Jeremiah 40:5 Jeremiah 40:6 . But he seems first to have been released from the court of the prison and to have been taken to Ramah, still in chains, and then committed in freedom to Gedaliah.
dwelt among the people--that is, was made free.
15-18. Belonging to the time when the city was not yet taken, and when Jeremiah was still in the court of the prison ( Jeremiah 38:13 ). This passage is inserted here because it was now that Ebed-melech's good act ( Jeremiah 38:7-12 , Matthew 25:43 ) was to be rewarded in his deliverance.
16. Go--not literally, for he was in confinement, but figuratively.
before thee--in thy sight.
17. the men of whom thou art afraid--( Jeremiah 38:1 Jeremiah 38:4-6 ). The courtiers and princes hostile to thee for having delivered Jeremiah shall have no power to hurt. Heretofore intrepid, he was now afraid; this prophecy was therefore the more welcome to him.
18. life . . . for a
put . . . trust in me--( Jeremiah 38:7-9 ). Trust in God was the root of his fearlessness of the wrath of men, in his humanity to the prophet ( 1 Chronicles 5:20 , Psalms 37:40 ). The "life" he thus risked was to be his reward, being spared beyond all hope, when the lives of his enemies should be forfeited ("for a prey").