Jeremiah 37:11-21

Jeremiah, during the interval in the siege, is leaving the city by a northern gate on private business (perhaps connected with the earlier incident of Jeremiah 32:6 ff.), when he is arrested by the officer on duty under charge of desertion (plausible in view of Jeremiah 21:9; cf. Jeremiah 38:19). His denial is disregarded, and he is beaten and imprisoned by the princes (those friendly to him, cf. Jeremiah 26:16; Jeremiah 36:19, were now probably exiles). After a lengthy imprisonment, the king sends for him secretly (Jeremiah 38:5 suggests the reason) to ask about the future; Jeremiah prophesies his captivity, declares his own innocence, reminds him of the falsity of the prophets of peace (cf. Jeremiah 28:2; Jeremiah 28:11), and asks not to be sent back to his dungeon. Accordingly, the king places him in the guard-court (Jeremiah 32:2), giving him daily bread (the bakers, cf. Hosea 7:4, were grouped in a common quarter, as Eastern trades often are).