1Und ZedekiaH6667, der SohnH1121 JosiasH2977, welchen Nebukadrezar, der KönigH4428 von BabelH894, zum KönigH4427 gemacht hatte im LandeH776 JudaH3063, regierteH4427 als KönigH4428 an der Stelle Konjas, des SohnesH1121 JojakimsH3079. 2Und weder er, noch seine KnechteH5650, noch dasH1697 VolkH5971 des LandesH776 hörtenH8085 auf die Worte JehovasH3068, welche er durchH3027 JeremiaH3414, den ProphetenH5030, geredet hatteH1696. 3Und der KönigH4428 ZedekiaH6667 sandte Jehukal, den SohnH1121 Schelemjas, und ZephanjaH6846, den SohnH1121 MaasejasH4641, den PriesterH3548, zu dem ProphetenH5030 JeremiaH3414 und ließH7971 ihm sagenH559 : Bete doch für uns zu JehovaH3068, unserem GottH430! 4UndH8432 JeremiaH3414 gingH935 ein und ausH3318 inmitten des VolkesH5971, und man hatte ihn noch nicht ins Gefängnis gesetztH5414. 5UndH2428 das Heer des PharaoH6547 war ausH3318 ÄgyptenH4714 ausgezogen; und die ChaldäerH3778, welche JerusalemH3389 belagertenH6696, hattenH8085 die Kunde von ihnen vernommen und warenH5927 von JerusalemH3389 abgezogen. 6UndH559 das WortH1697 JehovasH3068 geschah zu JeremiaH3414, dem ProphetenH5030, also: 7So sprichtH559 JehovaH3068, der GottH430 IsraelsH3478 : Also sollt ihr dem KönigH4428 vonH3318 JudaH3063 sagenH559, der euch zu mir gesandtH7971 hatH1875, um mich zu befragen: Siehe, das HeerH2428 des PharaoH6547, welches euch zu HilfeH5833 ausgezogen istH7725, wird in sein LandH776 ÄgyptenH4714 zurückkehren. 8Und die ChaldäerH3778 werdenH7725 wiederkommen und gegen diese StadtH5892 streitenH3898, und sieH3920 werden sie einnehmen und mit FeuerH784 verbrennenH8313. 9So sprichtH559 JehovaH3068 : Täuschet euchH5377 nicht selbstH5315, daß ihrH559 sprechet: Die ChaldäerH3778 werdenH1980 gewißlich von unsH3212 wegziehen; denn sie werden nicht wegziehen. 10Denn wenn ihr auch das ganze Heer der ChaldäerH3778 schlügetH5221, die wider euch streitenH3898, undH2428 es blieben unter ihnen nur einige durchbohrte MännerH582 übrigH7604, so würden diese einH376 jeder in seinem Zelte aufstehenH6965 und diese StadtH5892 mit FeuerH784 verbrennenH8313. 11UndH2428 es geschah, als das HeerH2428 der ChaldäerH3778 vonH6440 JerusalemH3389 abgezogenH5927 war vor dem Heere des PharaoH6547, 12da ging JeremiaH3414 ausH3318 JerusalemH3389 hinaus, um in das LandH776 BenjaminH1144 unterH8432 das VolkH5971 zu gehenH3212, um seinen Anteil von dort zu holen. 13Und als er im ToreH8179 BenjaminH1144 warH5307, wo ein Befehlshaber der Wache stand, namensH8034 Jerija, der SohnH1121 Schelemjas, der SohnesH1121 HananjasH2608, ergriff dieser den ProphetenH5030 JeremiaH3414 und sprachH559 : Du willst zu den ChaldäernH3778 überlaufen. 14Und JeremiaH3414 sprachH559 : Eine LügeH8267! IchH8610 will nichtH3376 zu den ChaldäernH3778 überlaufen. Aber erH5307 hörteH8085 nicht auf ihn, und Jerija nahm JeremiaH3414 fest und brachteH935 ihn zu den FürstenH8269. 15Und die FürstenH8269 gerieten in Zorn über JeremiaH3414 und schlugenH5221 ihn, und sie setzten ihn in Gewahrsam im HauseH1004 JonathansH3083, des SchreibersH5608; denn dieses hattenH6213 sie zum GefängnisH612 gemachtH5414. 16Als JeremiaH3414 in den KerkerH2588, und zwar in dieH3427 Gewölbe, gekommenH935 war, und JeremiaH3414 vieleH7227 TageH3117 dort gesessen hatte, 17da sandte der KönigH4428 ZedekiaH6667 hin und ließH7971 ihn holen. Und der KönigH4428 fragteH7592 ihn in seinem HauseH1004 insgeheim und sprachH559 : IstH3947 ein WortH1697 da von seiten JehovasH3068? Und JeremiaH3414 sprachH559 : Es istH3426 eines da, nämlich: DuH559 wirst in die HandH3027 des KönigsH4428 von BabelH894 gegebenH5414 werden. 18Und JeremiaH3414 sprachH559 zu dem KönigH4428 ZedekiaH6667 : Was habe ich an dir, oder an deinen KnechtenH5650, oder an diesem VolkeH5971 gesündigtH2398, daß ihr mich ins Gefängnis gesetztH5414 habt? 19WoH346 sind denn eure ProphetenH5030, die euch geweissagt und gesagtH559 haben: Der KönigH4428 von BabelH894 wird nicht über euch noch über dieses LandH776 kommenH935? 20Und nun höreH8085 doch, mein HerrH113 KönigH4428 : Laß doch mein FlehenH8467 vor dichH7725 kommen und bringe michH6440 nicht in das HausH1004 JonathansH3083, des SchreibersH5608, zurück, damit ich nicht daselbst sterbeH4191. 21Da gebotH6680 der KönigH4428 ZedekiaH6667, und man versetzte JeremiaH3414 in den Gefängnishof; und man gabH5414 ihm täglichH3117 einen Laib BrotH3603 aus der Bäckerstraße, bis alles BrotH3899 in der StadtH5892 aufgezehrt warH8552. So bliebH3427 JeremiaH3414 im Gefängnishofe.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 HISTORICAL SECTIONS, THIRTY-SEVENTH THROUGH FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTERS. THE CHALDEANS RAISE THE SIEGE TO GO AND MEET PHARAOH-HOPHRA. ZEDEKIAH SENDS TO JEREMIAH TO PRAY TO GOD IN BEHALF OF THE JEWS: IN VAIN, JEREMIAH TRIES TO ESCAPE TO HIS NATIVE PLACE, BUT IS ARRESTED. ZEDEKIAH ABATES THE RIGOR OF HIS IMPRISONMENT. (Jer. 37:1-21)
Coniah--curtailed from Jeconiah by way of reproach.
whom--referring to Zedekiah, not to Coniah (
2Kgs 24:17).
2 Amazing stupidity, that they were not admonished by the punishment of Jeconiah [CALVIN], (
2Chr 36:12,
2Chr 36:14)!
3 Zedekiah . . . sent--fearing lest, in the event of the Chaldeans overcoming Pharaoh-hophra, they should return to besiege Jerusalem. See on
Jer 21:1; that chapter chronologically comes in between the thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth chapter. The message of the king to Jeremiah here in the thirty-seventh chapter is, however, somewhat earlier than that in the twenty-first chapter; here it is while the issue between the Chaldeans and Pharaoh was undecided; there it is when, after the repulse of Pharaoh, the Chaldeans were again advancing against Jerusalem; hence, while Zephaniah is named in both embassies, Jehucal accompanies him here, Pashur there. But, as Pashur and Jehucal are both mentioned in
Jer 38:1-
Jer 38:2, as hearing Jeremiah's reply, which is identical with that in
Jer 21:9, it is probable the two messages followed one another at a short interval; that in this
Jer 37:3, and the answer,
Jer 37:7-
Jer 37:10, being the earlier of the two.
Zephaniah--an abettor of rebellion against God (
Jer 29:25), though less virulent than many (
Jer 29:29), punished accordingly (
Jer 52:24-
Jer 52:27).
4 Jeremiah . . . not put . . . into prison--He was no longer in the prison court, as he had been (
Jer 32:2;
Jer 33:1), which passages refer to the beginning of the siege, not to the time when the Chaldeans renewed the siege, after having withdrawn for a time to meet Pharaoh.
5 After this temporary diversion, caused by Pharaoh in favor of Jerusalem, the Egyptians returned no more to its help (
2Kgs 24:7). Judea had the misfortune to lie between the two great contending powers, Babylon and Egypt, and so was exposed to the alternate inroads of the one or the other. Josiah, taking side with Assyria, fell in battle with Pharaoh-necho at Megiddo (
2Kgs 23:29). Zedekiah, seeking the Egyptian alliance in violation of his oath, was now about to be taken by Nebuchadnezzar (
2Chr 36:13;
Ezek 17:15,
Ezek 17:17).
7 shall return--without accomplishing any deliverance for you.
8 (
Jer 34:22).
9 yourselves--Hebrew, "souls."
10 yet . . . they--Even a few wounded men would suffice for your destruction.
11 broken up--"gone up."
12 Benjamin--to his own town, Anathoth.
to separate himself--Margin translates, "to slip away," from a Hebrew root, "to be smooth," so, to slip away as a slippery thing that cannot be held. But it is not likely the prophet of God would flee in a dishonorable way; and "in the midst of the people" rather implies open departure along with others, than clandestine slipping away by mixing with the crowd of departing people. Rather, it means, to separate himself, or to divide his place of residence, so as to live partly here, partly there, without fixed habitation, going to and fro among the people [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU]. MAURER translates, "to take his portion thence," to realize the produce of his property in Anathoth [HENDERSON], or to take possession of the land which he bought from Hanameel [MAURER].
13 ward--that is, the "guard," or "watch."
Hananiah--whose death Jeremiah predicted (
Jer 28:16). The grandson in revenge takes Jeremiah into custody on the charge of deserting ("thou fallest away,"
Jer 38:19;
Jer 52:15;
1Sam 29:3) to the enemy. His prophecies gave color to the charge (
Jer 21:9;
Jer 38:4).
15 scribe--one of the court secretaries; often in the East part of the private house of a public officer serves as a prison.
16 dungeon . . . cabins--The prison consisted of a pit (the "dungeon") with vaulted cells round the sides of it. The "cabins," from a root, "to bend one's self."
17 secretly--Zedekiah was ashamed to be seen by his courtiers consulting Jeremiah (
John 12:43;
John 5:44;
John 19:38).
thou shalt be delivered--Had Jeremiah consulted his earthly interests, he would have answered very differently. Contrast
Jer 6:14;
Isa 30:10;
Ezek 13:10.
18 What--In what respect have I offended?
19 Where are now your prophets--The event has showed them to be liars; and, as surely as the king of Babylon has come already, notwithstanding their prophecy, so surely shall he return.
20 be accepted--rather, "Let my supplication be humbly presented" (see on
Jer 36:7), [HENDERSON].
lest I die there--in the subterranean dungeon (
Jer 37:16), from want of proper sustenance (
Jer 37:21). The prophet naturally shrank from death, which makes his spiritual firmness the more remarkable; he was ready to die rather than swerve from his duty [CALVIN].
21 court of the prison-- (
Jer 32:2;
Jer 38:13,
Jer 38:28).
bakers' street--Persons in the same business in cities in the East commonly reside in the same street.
all the bread . . . spent--Jeremiah had bread supplied to him until he was thrown into the dungeon of Malchiah, at which time the bread in the city was spent. Compare this verse with
Jer 38:9; that time must have been very shortly before the capture of the city (
Jer 52:6). God saith of His children, "In the days of famine they shall be satisfied" (
Ps 37:19;
Isa 33:16). Honest reproof (
Jer 37:17), in the end often gains more favor than flattery (
Pro 28:23).
All this was subsequent to his imprisonment in Jonathan's house, and his release on his interview with Zedekiah. The latter occurred before the return of the Chaldeans to the siege; the similar events in this chapter occurred after it.