Jeremiah Chapter 38
Jeremiah 38
The Prophet in the Pit
Jeremiah 38:1-3, Jeremiah Preaching in the Days of Zedekiah
Jeremiah 38:1-3, “Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live, for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.”
Jeremiah 38 continues the final crisis of Jerusalem under Zedekiah. The city is collapsing, the Babylonian army is pressing hard, and Jeremiah continues to preach the same word he has preached for years. Jerusalem will fall. Those who remain in the city will die by sword, famine, and pestilence. Those who go out to the Chaldeans will live.
This message sounded like treason to Judah’s rulers, but it was mercy from the LORD. Jeremiah was not helping Babylon because he loved Babylon. He was warning Judah because he loved truth and because God had spoken. The city’s fall was now certain. The only remaining mercy was survival through surrender.
The names of the princes are given: Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jucal, and Pashur. These men represent the political and aristocratic resistance against Jeremiah’s word. Their interest was not the truth of the LORD’s message. Their concern was the survival of their own policy, pride, and position.
The statement “he shall have his life for a prey” means the person who surrendered would escape with his life as the spoil of war. He would lose much, but he would live. In a city doomed to burn, life itself would be a mercy.
The final sentence is absolute, “This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.” God’s word had not changed. Egypt would not save Jerusalem. Zedekiah’s resistance would not save Jerusalem. False prophets would not save Jerusalem. The city would surely be taken.
Jeremiah 38:4-6, Jeremiah Is Cast into a Pit
Jeremiah 38:4-6, “Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them, for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt. Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand, for the king is not he that can do any thing against you. Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison, and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.”
The princes accuse Jeremiah of weakening the hands of the soldiers and the people. They say his message destroys morale and harms the nation. In their view, national loyalty required resistance to Babylon. In God’s view, obedience required surrender to the discipline He had appointed.
They say, “this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.” This is exactly backward. Jeremiah is the one seeking their welfare. The rulers are leading the people to death by encouraging resistance against the word of the LORD.
God’s servants are often accused of the opposite of the truth. The faithful prophet is called harmful. The lying prophets are treated as patriots. The man who warns of danger is blamed for the danger.
Zedekiah’s weakness is exposed again. He says, “Behold, he is in your hand, for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.” This is a pathetic statement from a king. He has authority, but not courage. He knows enough to seek Jeremiah privately, but he will not protect him publicly. He yields to the princes.
They cast Jeremiah into the dungeon of Malchiah, in the court of the prison. They do not simply place him in a normal cell. They lower him with cords into a pit or cistern. There is no water in it, only mire. Jeremiah sinks in the mud.
Their intention is murder without the appearance of direct bloodshed. They do not strike him with a sword. They lower him into a place where he can die slowly from hunger, exposure, disease, or suffocation in the mire. This is cruelty wrapped in cowardice.
Jeremiah, the prophet of the LORD, sinks in the pit because he told the truth.
Jeremiah 38:7-13, Jeremiah Rescued from the Prison Pit
Jeremiah 38:7-13, “Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon, the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin; Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying, My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is, for there is no more bread in the city. Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die. So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.”
God raises up an unexpected rescuer, Ebedmelech the Ethiopian. He is a foreigner and a court official. In Judah’s social and religious hierarchy, he may have seemed less important than the princes. Yet he has more righteousness, courage, and compassion than the leaders of Judah.
Ebedmelech hears what has happened and goes directly to the king. He speaks plainly, “these men have done evil.” That is moral clarity. He does not hide behind politics. He does not excuse the princes. He does not say Jeremiah is controversial. He says the act is evil.
He also identifies Jeremiah rightly as “Jeremiah the prophet.” The princes treated Jeremiah as a threat. Ebedmelech recognizes him as God’s messenger. He sees the danger clearly, Jeremiah is likely to die from hunger, especially since bread is nearly gone in the city.
Zedekiah again shows his weak instability. When the princes asked permission to destroy Jeremiah, he yielded. When Ebedmelech asks permission to rescue Jeremiah, he yields again. The king commands Ebedmelech to take thirty men and lift Jeremiah out before he dies.
Ebedmelech’s compassion is seen not only in his courage, but in his gentleness. He gathers old cast clouts and rotten rags, lowers them to Jeremiah, and tells him to place them under his armholes beneath the cords. He knows the ropes would cut into Jeremiah’s body, especially after hunger and suffering. He rescues Jeremiah with thoughtfulness.
This is a beautiful picture of godly mercy. Ebedmelech does not merely do the right thing. He does it tenderly. Courage and gentleness meet in him.
Jeremiah is drawn up with cords and taken out of the dungeon. Yet he remains in the court of the prison. He is delivered from the pit, but not released from custody. God preserves him, but his suffering is not finished.
Jeremiah 38:14-16, The Agreement between Zedekiah and Jeremiah
Jeremiah 38:14-16, “Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me. Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me? So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.”
Zedekiah again seeks a private meeting with Jeremiah. He brings him to the third entry in the house of the LORD and demands, “hide nothing from me.” The king wants truth, but he wants it secretly. He wants divine counsel, but he does not want public obedience.
Jeremiah understands the danger. He asks whether Zedekiah will kill him if he speaks plainly. He also asks whether the king will listen if Jeremiah gives counsel. Jeremiah knows Zedekiah’s pattern. The king hears, fears, delays, consults, hesitates, and then refuses to obey.
Zedekiah swears secretly by the living LORD who made the soul that he will not put Jeremiah to death or give him to the men seeking his life. The oath is solemn, but the king himself is unstable. He invokes the LORD while still resisting the LORD’s word.
This scene exposes Zedekiah’s tragic condition. He knows Jeremiah is a true prophet. He knows the LORD lives. He knows he needs a word from God. Yet he lacks the courage to obey.
Jeremiah 38:17-18, A Final Word to Zedekiah and a Final Offer of Mercy
Jeremiah 38:17-18, “Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and thou shalt live, and thine house: But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.”
Jeremiah answers with full prophetic authority, “Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel.” This is not advice from a political analyst. It is the word of the covenant God, the commander of heavenly armies, the God of Israel.
The offer is astonishingly merciful. If Zedekiah will go out and surrender to the princes of the king of Babylon, his soul will live. The city will not be burned. He will live, and his house will live.
At this late hour, after years of disobedience, God still offers a path of mercy. Zedekiah cannot stop Babylon from conquering Jerusalem, but he can still prevent the worst destruction. He can spare his life, his household, and the city from burning if he obeys.
The alternative is clear. If he refuses to surrender, the city will be given to the Chaldeans, they will burn it with fire, and Zedekiah will not escape.
This is one of the clearest moments of decision in Jeremiah. Obedience will be humiliating, but merciful. Disobedience will preserve pride for a moment and bring disaster.
Jeremiah 38:19-23, God’s Assurance to Zedekiah through Jeremiah
Jeremiah 38:19-23, “And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me. But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me: And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back. So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.”
Zedekiah reveals the controlling motive of his heart, fear of men. He is afraid of the Jews who had already gone over to the Chaldeans. He fears they will mock him. He is more afraid of shame before men than disobedience before God.
Jeremiah answers, “They shall not deliver thee.” The feared outcome will not happen if Zedekiah obeys. Then Jeremiah pleads, “Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD.” This is pastoral as well as prophetic. Jeremiah is urging the king to choose life.
“So it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.” The path is still open. Obedience is still possible. Mercy is still offered. But it requires surrender.
If Zedekiah refuses, the women of the king’s house will be brought out to Babylon’s princes. They will speak a bitter taunt, “Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.”
This poetic line is powerful. Zedekiah fears mockery from defectors, but Jeremiah says a worse shame will come from his own household. His trusted friends misled him. His feet are sunk in the mire. That image is especially striking because Jeremiah himself had just sunk in the mire. Jeremiah was rescued from the mud, but Zedekiah’s disobedience will sink him into ruin.
If Zedekiah refuses, his wives and children will be brought to the Chaldeans. He will not escape. He will be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon. Most severely, “thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.” The destruction of Jerusalem will be tied to his refusal to obey the word of the LORD.
Zedekiah’s fear of mockery will cost him far more than obedience would have cost.
Jeremiah 38:24-28, Zedekiah, Jeremiah, and the Princes of Judah
Jeremiah 38:24-28, “Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die. But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee: Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there. Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him, for the matter was not perceived. So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.”
Zedekiah’s response is tragic. After receiving a direct final word from the LORD, his first concern is secrecy. “Let no man know of these words.” He does not ask how to obey. He does not confess sin. He does not prepare to surrender. He worries about the princes finding out.
The king tells Jeremiah what to say if questioned. Jeremiah may tell them that he presented his supplication not to be returned to Jonathan’s house to die there. This was true, though not the whole conversation. Jeremiah follows the king’s instruction, and the princes stop questioning him because the matter was not perceived.
Zedekiah returns to his palace with the truth hidden in his heart and no courage to obey it. Jeremiah returns to the court of the prison with a clear conscience. The king is outwardly freer than the prophet, but inwardly more bound. Jeremiah is imprisoned, but faithful. Zedekiah is enthroned, but enslaved to fear.
The chapter ends, “So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.” The word of the LORD was fulfilled. Jeremiah remained where God preserved him until the city fell.
Doctrinal and Practical Notes
Jeremiah 38 teaches that the faithful word of God may be called treason by rebellious men. Jeremiah sought Judah’s true welfare, but the princes accused him of seeking harm.
Jeremiah 38 teaches that weak leadership can become deadly. Zedekiah’s inability to resist wicked princes nearly led to Jeremiah’s death and helped bring ruin on Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 38 teaches that God can raise up unexpected rescuers. Ebedmelech the Ethiopian showed more righteousness than Judah’s princes.
Jeremiah 38 teaches that true courage is often joined with compassion. Ebedmelech not only rescued Jeremiah, but used rags to protect him from the ropes.
Jeremiah 38 teaches that God’s private word does not contradict His public word. Zedekiah’s secret consultation received the same message Jeremiah had already preached.
Jeremiah 38 teaches that God may still offer mercy at the edge of judgment. Zedekiah’s obedience could still have spared his life, his house, and the city from burning.
Jeremiah 38 teaches that fear of man can destroy a soul. Zedekiah feared mockery more than he feared disobeying God.
Jeremiah 38 teaches that obedience may look humiliating in the moment but leads to life. Surrender to Babylon would have been painful, but it was the path God gave for survival.
Jeremiah 38 teaches that disobedience harms others. Zedekiah’s refusal would bring suffering on his wives, children, household, and city.
Jeremiah 38 teaches that faithfulness may leave a man in prison, but it leaves him with God. Jeremiah remained confined, but he stood in truth.
Summary
Jeremiah 38 opens with Judah’s princes hearing Jeremiah’s message that whoever remains in Jerusalem will die by sword, famine, and pestilence, but whoever goes out to the Chaldeans will live. Jeremiah declares again that the city will surely be given into the hand of Babylon’s army.
The princes accuse Jeremiah of weakening the hands of the soldiers and the people, claiming that he seeks their harm rather than their welfare. Zedekiah weakly gives Jeremiah into their hand. They lower him by cords into the dungeon of Malchiah, where there is no water, only mire, and Jeremiah sinks in the mud.
Ebedmelech the Ethiopian hears what has happened and courageously appeals to the king, saying the princes have done evil and that Jeremiah will die from hunger. Zedekiah commands him to take thirty men and lift Jeremiah out before he dies. Ebedmelech carefully lowers old cast clouts and rotten rags to protect Jeremiah under the ropes, and they pull him out. Jeremiah remains in the court of the prison.
Zedekiah then secretly summons Jeremiah to the third entry of the house of the LORD and asks him to hide nothing. Jeremiah warns that the king may kill him or refuse to listen. Zedekiah swears not to kill him or hand him over to the men seeking his life.
Jeremiah gives the final word. If Zedekiah surrenders to the king of Babylon’s princes, his soul will live, the city will not be burned, and his house will live. If he refuses, the city will be given to the Chaldeans, burned with fire, and Zedekiah will not escape. Zedekiah admits he fears the Jews who have already defected, lest they mock him. Jeremiah assures him this will not happen and pleads with him to obey the voice of the LORD. If he refuses, his wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans, he will be captured, and he will cause the city to be burned.
Zedekiah’s main concern is secrecy. He tells Jeremiah not to reveal the conversation. When the princes question Jeremiah, he answers according to the king’s instruction, saying he asked not to be returned to Jonathan’s house. The princes stop questioning him. Jeremiah remains in the court of the prison until Jerusalem is taken, and he is there when the city falls.
