Jeremiah 38:1

Jeremiah Is Thrown Into an Empty Well

1 Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal and Pashhur heard what I was telling all of the people. Shephatiah was the son of Mattan. Gedaliah was the son of Pashhur. Jehucal was the son of Shelemiah. And Pashhur was the son of Malkijah. Those four men heard me say,

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, Gedaliah, Jehucal and Pashhur heard what I was telling all of the people. Shephatiah was the son of Mattan. Gedaliah was the son of Pashhur. Jehucal was the son of Shelemiah. And Pashhur was the son of Malkijah. Those four men heard me say,

2 "The LORD says, 'Those who stay in this city will die of war, hunger or plague. But those who go over to the side of the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives. They will remain alive.'

3 The LORD also says, 'This city will certainly be handed over to the armies of the king of Babylonia. They will capture it.' "

4 Then those officials said to the king, "That man should be put to death. What he says is making the soldiers who are left in this city lose hope. It's making all of the people lose hope too. He isn't interested in what is best for the people. In fact, he's trying to destroy them."

5 "He's in your hands," King Zedekiah answered. "I can't do anything to oppose you."