Jeremiah 38:1-18 ▼

1 Now Shephatiah (YHWH has judged) son of Mattan (a gift), Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Pashhur (freedom), Jucal (Jehucal) son of Shelemiah (repaid by YHWH), and Pashhur son of Malchijah (my king is YHWH) heard that Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) had been telling all the people:

2 “This is what the LORD {YHWH} says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans (the Babylonians) will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live.

3 This is what the LORD {YHWH} says: This city will surely be delivered into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing), and he will capture it.”

4 Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.”

5 “Here he is,” replied King Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous). “He is in your⁺ hands, since the king can do nothing to stop you⁺.”

6 So they took Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah (my king is YHWH), the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern, which had no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

7 Now Ebed-melech (servant of the king) the Cushite, a court official (eunuch) in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin (son of the right hand),

8 Ebed-melech (servant of the king) went out from the king’s palace and said to the king,

9 “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet. They have dropped him into the cistern, where he will starve to death, for there is no more bread in the city.”

10 So the king commanded Ebed-melech (servant of the king) the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and pull Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

11 Then Ebed-melech (servant of the king) took the men with him and went to the king’s palace, to a place below the storehouse. From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them with ropes to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) in the cistern.

12 Ebed-melech (servant of the king) the Cushite cried out to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed), “Put these worn-out rags and clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so,

13 and they pulled him (whom YHWH has appointed) up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

14 Then King Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) sent for Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet and received him at the third entrance to the house of the LORD {YHWH}. “I am going to ask you something,” said the king to Jeremiah. “Do not hide anything from me.”

15 “If I tell you,” Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) replied (YHWH is righteous), “you will surely put me to death. And even if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.”

16 But King Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) swore secretly to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed), “As surely as the LORD {YHWH} lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you, nor will I deliver you into the hands of these men who are seeking your life.”

17 Then Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) said to Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous), “This is what the LORD God {YHWH Elohe} of Hosts, the God of Israel (he wrestles with God), says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing), then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive.

18 But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing), then this city will be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans (clod-breakers). They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape their grasp.’”