Jer 38:22 | JFB | STEP | 22. women-- The very evil which Zedekiah wished to escape by disobeying the command to go forth shall befall him in its worst form thereby. Not merely the Jewish deserters shall "mock" him ( ), but the very "women" of his own palace and harem, to gratify their new lords, will taunt him. A noble king in sooth, to suffer thyself to be so imposed on! Thy friends-- Hebrew, "men of thy peace" (see ; , Margin). The king's ministers and the false prophets who misled him. sunk in ... mire-- proverbial for, Thou art involved by "thy friends'" counsels in inextricable difficulties. The phrase perhaps alludes to ; a just retribution for the treatment of Jeremiah, who literally "sank in the mire." they are turned ... back-- Having involved thee in the calamity, they themselves shall provide for their own safety by deserting to the Chaldeans ( ).

‏ Jeremiah 38:22

22. women--The very evil which Zedekiah wished to escape by disobeying the command to go forth shall befall him in its worst form thereby. Not merely the Jewish deserters shall "mock" him (Jr 38:19), but the very "women" of his own palace and harem, to gratify their new lords, will taunt him. A noble king in sooth, to suffer thyself to be so imposed on!

Thy friends--Hebrew, "men of thy peace" (see Jr 20:10; Psa 41:9, Margin). The king's ministers and the false prophets who misled him.

sunk in ... mire--proverbial for, Thou art involved by "thy friends'" counsels in inextricable difficulties. The phrase perhaps alludes to Jr 38:6; a just retribution for the treatment of Jeremiah, who literally "sank in the mire."

they are turned ... back--Having involved thee in the calamity, they themselves shall provide for their own safety by deserting to the Chaldeans (Jr 38:19).