Jeremiah 37:9-21 ▼

9 This is what the LORD {YHWH} says: Do not deceive yourselves by saying, ‘The Chaldeans (clod-breakers) will go away for good,’ for they will not!

10 Indeed, if you⁺ were to strike down the entire army of the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) that is fighting against you⁺, and only wounded men remained in their tents, they would still get up and burn this city down.”

11 When the Chaldean (clod-breakers) army withdrew from Jerusalem (city of peace) for fear of Pharaoh’s (great house) army,

12 Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) started to leave Jerusalem (city of peace) to go to the land of Benjamin (son of the right hand) to claim his portion there \to divide from there/ among the people.

13 But when he reached the Gate of Benjamin (son of the right hand), the captain of the guard, whose name was Irijah (YHWH sees me) son of Shelemiah (repaid by YHWH), the son of Hananiah (God has favored), seized him (whom YHWH has appointed) and said, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans (clod-breakers)!”

14 “That is a lie,” Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) replied. “I am not deserting to the Chaldeans (clod-breakers)!” But Irijah (YHWH sees me) would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials.

15 The officials were angry with Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed), and they beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan (YHWH has given) the scribe, for it had been made into a prison.

16 So Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) went into a cell in the dungeon and remained there a long time.

17 Later, King Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD {YHWH}?” “There is,” Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing).”

18 Then Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) asked King Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous), “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people, that you⁺ have put me in prison?

19 Where are your⁺ prophets who prophesied to you⁺, claiming, ‘The king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) will not come against you⁺ or this land’?

20 But now please listen, O my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan (YHWH has given) the scribe, or I will die there.”

21 So King Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) gave orders for Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread daily from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.