Jer 38:6-13 | JFB | STEP | 6. dungeon-- literally, the "cistern." It was not a subterranean prison as that in Jonathan's house ( ), but a pit or cistern, which had been full of water, but was emptied of it during the siege, so that only "mire" remained. Such empty cisterns were often used as prisons ( ); the depth forbade hope of escape. Hammelech-- ( ). His son followed in the father's steps, a ready tool for evil. sunk in the mire-- Jeremiah herein was a type of Messiah ( , ). "I sink in deep mire," &c.

‏ Jeremiah 38:6-13

6. dungeon--literally, the "cistern." It was not a subterranean prison as that in Jonathan's house (Jr 37:15), but a pit or cistern, which had been full of water, but was emptied of it during the siege, so that only "mire" remained. Such empty cisterns were often used as prisons (Zec 9:11); the depth forbade hope of escape.

Hammelech--(Jr 36:26). His son followed in the father's steps, a ready tool for evil.

sunk in the mire--Jeremiah herein was a type of Messiah (Psa 69:2, 14). "I sink in deep mire," &c.

7. Ebed-melech--The Hebrew designation given this Ethiopian, meaning "king's servant." Already, even at this early time, God wished to show what good reason there was for calling the Gentiles to salvation. An Ethiopian stranger saves the prophet whom his own countrymen, the Jews, tried to destroy. So the Gentiles believed in Christ whom the Jews crucified, and Ethiopians were among the earliest converts (Ac 2:10, 41; 8:27-39). Ebed-melech probably was keeper of the royal harem, and so had private access to the king. The eunuchs over harems in the present day are mostly from Nubia or Abyssinia.

8. went forth ... and spake--not privately, but in public; a proof of fearless magnanimity.

9. die for hunger in the place where he is; for ... no ... bread in ... city--(Compare Jr 37:21). He had heretofore got a piece of bread supplied to him. "Seeing that there is the utmost want of bread in the city, so that even if he were at large, there could no more be regularly supplied to him, much less now in a place where none remember or pity him, so that he is likely to die for hunger." "No more bread," that is, no more left of the public store in the city (Jr 37:21); or, all but no bread left anywhere [Maurer].

10. with thee--Hebrew, "in thine hand," that is, at "thy disposal" (1Sa 16:2). "From hence," that is, from the gate of Benjamin where the king was sitting (Jr 38:7).

thirty men--not merely to draw up Jeremiah, but to guard Ebed-melech against any opposition on the part of the princes (Jr 38:1-4), in executing the king's command. Ebed-melech was rewarded for his faith, love, and courage, exhibited at a time when he might well fear the wrath of the princes, to which even the king had to yield (Jr 39:16-18).

11. cast clouts--"torn clothes" [Henderson].

rotten rags--"worn-out garments." God can make the meanest things His instruments of goodness to His people (1Co 1:27-29).

under ... armholes--"under the joints of thine hands," that is, where the fingers join the hand, the clothes being in order that the hands should not be cut by the cords [Maurer].

13. court of ... prison--Ebed-melech prudently put him there to be out of the way of his enemies.