Jer 38:1-5 | JFB | STEP | 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. 1. Jucal-- Jehucal ( ). Pashur-- ( ; compare with ). The deputation in , to whom Jeremiah gave this reply, if not identical with the hearers of Jeremiah ( ), must have been sent just before the latter "heard" him speaking the same words. Zephaniah is not mentioned here as in , but is so in . Jucal is mentioned here and in the previous deputation ( ), but not in . Shephatiah and Gedaliah here do not occur either in or . The identity of his words in both cases is natural, when uttered, at a very short interval, and one of the hearers (Pashur) being present on both occasions. unto all the people-- They had free access to him in the court of the prison ( ).

‏ Jeremiah 38:1-5

CHAPTER 38 Jr 38:1-28. Jeremiah Predicts the Capture of Jerusalem, for Which He Is Cast into a Dungeon, but Is Transferred to the Prison Court on the Intercession of Ebed-melech, and Has a Secret Interview with Zedekiah.

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.

1. Jucal--Jehucal (Jr 37:3).

Pashur--(Jr 21:1; compare Jr 21:9 with Jr 38:2). The deputation in Jr 21:1, to whom Jeremiah gave this reply, if not identical with the hearers of Jeremiah (Jr 38:1), must have been sent just before the latter "heard" him speaking the same words. Zephaniah is not mentioned here as in Jr 21:1, but is so in Jr 37:3. Jucal is mentioned here and in the previous deputation (Jr 37:3), but not in Jr 21:1. Shephatiah and Gedaliah here do not occur either in Jr 21:1 or Jr 37:3. The identity of his words in both cases is natural, when uttered, at a very short interval, and one of the hearers (Pashur) being present on both occasions.

unto all the people--They had free access to him in the court of the prison (Jr 32:12).

2. life ... a prey--He shall escape with his life; though losing all else in a shipwreck, he shall carry off his life as his gain, saved by his going over to the Chaldeans. (See on Jr 21:9).

4. Had Jeremiah not had a divine commission, he might justly have been accused of treason; but having one, which made the result of the siege certain, he acted humanely as interpreter of God's will under the theocracy, in advising surrender (compare Jr 26:11).

5. the king is not he--Zedekiah was a weak prince, and now in his straits afraid to oppose his princes. He hides his dislike of their overweening power, which prevented him shielding Jeremiah as he would have wished, under complimentary speeches. "It is not right that the king should deny aught to such faithful and wise statesmen"; the king is not such a one as to deny you your wishes [Jerome].