Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah 38:1

And Phassur, the violent priest, chap. xx. 1. — People, who might come to the entry of the prison.

Jeremiah 38:2

Safe. Hebrew, “a booty,” chap. xxi. 9. — Septuagint, “like a thing found.” (Calmet) — The Hebrew idiom implies that he shall most surely live. Voluntary offerings prevent eternal misery. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 38:5

Lawful. This is a compliment, or Sedecias complains indirectly that they had only left him the name of king. He grieved at the treatment of the prophet. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 38:6

Mire, up to the neck; so that he would soon have been smothered. (Josephus, Antiquities x. 10.)

Jeremiah 38:7

Eunuch. Officer over 30, ver. 10. (Haydock) — He was afterwards rewarded, chap. xxxix. 15. (Calmet) — God moves some to pity the distressed, till he recompense their patience. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 38:9

City. It was useless, therefore, to add the torment of the dungeon, since he must soon have perished. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 38:12

Arms. He was probably naked. (Sanctius)

Jeremiah 38:14

Third, or officers of the guard’s gate, leading from the palace to the temple, 4 Kings xi. 19. (Calmet) — Hebrew hashelishi; (Haydock) the third denotes also an officer of the army.

Jeremiah 38:17

King. He was at Reblatha. Though an usurper, he had claims upon Sedecias, whom he had appointed ruler, on his swearing to be faithful and to pay tribute. The prophet’s advice was just. (Calmet) — Even conditional prophecies are certain, and the king would have been treated differently if he had complied. But on his refusal, great misery ensued. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 38:19

Jews. Traitors, whom Sedecias had perhaps treated ill. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 38:20

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Jeremiah 38:22

Say. At parting, bewailing thy blindness, which has entailed misery upon all. (Haydock) — Of peace. That is, thy false friends, promising thee peace and happiness, and by their evil counsels involving thee in misery. (Challoner) — Mire. He alludes to his own treatment, (Calmet) which he had received from these false counsellors or princes, ver. 4. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 38:26

There. This he had actually done, chap. xxxvii. 19. He perhaps renewed the petition, at this interview, to satisfy the king. (Haydock) — We may conceal the truth, but must never speak what is false. (Calmet) — “In a matter, says Puffendorf, which I am not obliged to declare to another, if I cannot with safety conceal the whole, I may fairly discover no more than a part.” Who can require a privy counsellor to reveal the king’s secret? Yet Paine accuses the prophet of duplicity! (Watson)