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: