Jeremiah 37:1-21. Incidents in Jeremiah's history connected with the siege For a similar incident to the one described in Jeremiah 37:1 see introductory note to ch. 21. The ch. may be summarized as follows. (i) Jeremiah 37:1. Explanatory introduction. (ii) Jeremiah 37:3. In the face of imminent da... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Zedekiah … reigned as king_ This and Jeremiah 37:2 are apparently an editorial note to indicate to the reader that the narrative now no longer relates, as did the last two chs., to the reign of Jehoiakim. The rest of the ch. we may consider to be taken substantially from Baruch's memoirs. _Con... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Zedekiah the king sent_ This mission took place later than that related in ch. Jeremiah 21:1, which was sent when Nebuchadnezzar's army was approaching Jerusalem. In this case on the contrary the siege had begun and had been raised, and the hopes of the people were excited in consequence. _Jeh... [ Continue Reading ]
_came in and went out_ WAS STILL COMING IN AND GOING OUT, was still free, had not suffered arrest. That was immediately to follow.... [ Continue Reading ]
_when the Chaldeans … heard tidings of them, they brake up_ We do not know whether the retreat on the part of the Egyptians which followed was due to a defeat from the Chaldaeans, or not. The former is at least suggested by Ezekiel 30:21. Pharaoh Hophra (called Apries by Herodotus) reigned b.c. 590... [ Continue Reading ]
_wounded_ mg. Heb. _thrust through_. Cp. Lamentations 4:9 with note. _every man in his tent_ Co. suggests that these words should be connected with "wounded men," meaning "If there be but one survivor in each tent out of its several occupants." The LXX, however, read _in his place_, i.e. where he l... [ Continue Reading ]
See introd. summary to ch.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the land of Benjamin_ presumably to Anathoth. _to receive his portion_ The Heb. is obscure, but probably his object was in some way connected with his purchase as related ch. Jeremiah 32:9 ff. Other conjectures are, to secure his share in a re-allotment of communal lands, or, to get his portion of... [ Continue Reading ]
_the gate of Benjamin_ in the N. wall of the city, mentioned also Jeremiah 38:7; Zechariah 14:10. _a captain of the ward_ lit. _a master of the watch_, a sentinel, charged with the duty of taking cognisance of those who passed the gate. _Thou fallest away_ The views which Jeremiah was known to hold... [ Continue Reading ]
_the princes were wroth with Jeremiah_ These were not the princes who had looked upon the prophet with favour in the reign of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 26:16; Jeremiah 36:19). Those were now no doubt exiles, and these their successors, as thoroughly opposed to the Chaldaean rule, and sympathising with the... [ Continue Reading ]
_dungeon house_ lit. as mg. _house of the pit_. Cp. Jeremiah 38:6. _cells_ The Heb. word is found here only and seems to denote a room with a vaulted roof. _many days_ during which time the Chaldaeans resumed the siege and the danger became so pressing that Zedekiah was induced to send for the pro... [ Continue Reading ]
See introd. summary to ch.... [ Continue Reading ]
_asked him secretly_ This shews us that the prophet was as unpopular as ever. It also points to Zedekiah's moral weakness, as dreading the interference of the princes in the matter. Cp. Jeremiah 38:5; Jeremiah 38:24 ff.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Where now are your prophets which prophesied unto you_ Jeremiah in this _v_. challenges the whole people through their king ("your … you"). For the reference to these prophets cp. Jeremiah 28:2-11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_be accepted_ lit. _fall_. See on Jeremiah 36:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
_court of the guard_ See on Jeremiah 32:2. _a loaf of bread_ a flat round cake, not unlike a flat stone in shape and appearance (Matthew 7:9, cp. Jeremiah 4:3), about nine inches in diameter and an inch thick. One of these cakes was considered a charity dole (1 Samuel 2:36, R.V. "loaf"). _the bake... [ Continue Reading ]