Meantime the Chaldean army has returned, and reinvested the city. Zedekiah, in his anxiety, sends for Jeremiah privately to his palace. Thou shalt be delivered, etc. (comp. Jeremiah 32:3 , Jeremiah 32:4 ; Jeremiah 34:2 , Jeremiah 34:3 ). read more
The secret question of a king and the bold answer of a prophet. I. THE SECRET QUESTION OF A KING . 1 . The secrecy. Why should a king with all his authority do a thing in secrecy? Was it policy or fear that dictated this secret consultation with Jeremiah? Fear, probably, was the largest element. He was afraid of what the princes and courtiers around him would say. Note other secret interviews sought by men of rank and authority. Herod, a king, privily calls the wise men... read more
Dungeon - literally, house of a cistern or pit, and evidently underground. In this cistern-like excavation were several cells or arched vaults, in one of which with little light and less ventilation Jeremiah remained a long time. read more
Jeremiah 37:16. When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon Hebrew אל בית הבור , into the house of the pit, ditch, or lake; and into the cabins Or, cells, as החניות signifies. “From comparing this place with chap. Jeremiah 38:6, it seems likely that this dungeon was a deep pit, sunk perpendicularly like a well, in the middle court or quadrangle, around which the great houses were built; and that in the sides of it, near the bottom, were scooped niches, like the cabins of a ship, for... read more
Jeremiah 37:17. Then Zedekiah the king sent and took him out When the vain hopes with which they had fed themselves, and on the ground of which they had re-enslaved their servants, were all vanished away, then they were in a greater consternation than ever: and then the king sent, in all haste, for the prophet, to see if he could give him any hope of their deliverance. When the Chaldeans were withdrawn, he only sent to desire the prophet to pray for him, but now, the city being again... read more
Jeremiah imprisoned (37:1-21)Having dealt with events in the reign of Jehoiakim in the previous two chapters, the story now returns to the reign of Zedekiah. As in the case of Jehoiakim, Zedekiah ignored the warnings of God’s prophets (37:1-2).During Babylon’s final great siege of Jerusalem, Egypt sent an army to help the Jerusalemites. When the Egyptians approached, the Babylonians lifted the siege and went to deal with the new threat elsewhere. Zedekiah sent a message to Jeremiah, asking him... read more
When, &c. = For Jeremiah [actually] entered, &c, dungeon = house of the pit. Hebrew. bor. See notes on Genesis 21:19 ("well"). Isaiah 14:19 ("pit"). cabins = cells. remained = abode. Note the Figure of speech Cyeloides , marking the refrain, which is repeated in Jeremiah 37:21 , and in Jeremiah 38:13 , Jeremiah 38:28 ; as shown in the Structure. read more
Is there . . . There is = Does there exist. . . ? . . . There does exist. Hebrew. yesh . . . yesh . See notes on Proverbs 8:21 ; Proverbs 18:24 ; and Luke 7:25 . read more
"When Jeremiah was come into the dungeon-house, and into the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days; then Zedekiah the king sent, and fetched him: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from Jehovah? And Jeremiah said, There is. He said also, Thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon. Moreover Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, Wherein have I sinned against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 37:16
Into the dungeon, and into the cabins. The former word undoubtedly implies an underground excavation. The latter is of more uncertain signification. It most probably means "vaults;" but it may mean "curved posts"—something analogous to stocks (see on Jeremiah 20:2 ). read more