particularly noted that he was an Erhiopian or a Cuſbite, to Jet us know that this Prophet of the Lord found more kindneſs from a t was a Native Heathen, than from his own Country- e wont to keep Eunuchs in their Houſes 1n thoſe Countries, 2 Kings 9-32. Dan. 1.9. As 8.27.1t ſhould ſeem the Princes had privately put Jeremiah into this miſerable place, of it came to Ebedmelech's Ear,who was attending in the Court. & The Gates of the City were places where Prin- ces were wont to ſit to execute Juſtice, and to receive Petitions, and give Anſwers, 2 Sam. 19. 8. Prov. 31: 23, -
$ Ebed-melech went forth out of the king's houſe,
and ſpake to the king, ſaying, i.
9 My lord the king, theſe men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they caſt into the dungeon, and # he 1s like to die for hunger in the place. where he is, for there is no more
bread in the city /. |
1 The courage of this good Exnuch was very remarkable, he did not ſtay till the King came in, but went to the King, as he was {it- ting in the gate of Benjamin, adminittrating Juſtice, or receiving ow anſwering Petitions, where doubtleſs he was not alone,and pro-
bably was attended there,by ſome of thoſe Princes, who had thrown Eb:dmelech was not afraid of
of their cruelty to the King,and tells ſtarved to death, thoſe who were alive in the City could nor long ſubliſt, for the Stores were almoſt all ſpent, and though the King had appointed the propher an allow= ance.yet being in ſuch an hole,and there being ſo little Bread lefr in theCity,it was not likely there would be much care taken of him.
10 Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the E- thiopian, ſaying, Take from thence thirty men T wich thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the
dungeon before he die m9.
m There are ſeveral gueſſes why the King commandeth Ebedme- lech to take thirty men for the doing of that tor which three or four were ſufficient. I think they judge beſt, who think it was to guard him againſt any oppoſition- Things are now in a great diſ- order, the City being upon the matter taken,and the King himſelf was much in the Government of his Princes, and, as may eaſily be judged by what went before,& what we ſhall thereafter meer with, could not rule them, but was in ſome fear of them, and he did not know but ſome of the moſt boiſterous of them, mighr oppoſe the execution of this Command of his. The King in his whole Story ſeemeth to have been of a much better humour than his Predeceſſors,and to have had a kindneſs for the Prophet,though he ſuffered himſelf to be miſerably over-ruled by his Courtiers, who
.men. + Princes wer
them, but openly cemplains
were of a much-fiercer temper,and worſe affe&ed to the Prophet. |
11 So Ebed-melech rook the men with him, and went into the houſe of the king under the creaſury, and took thence old caſt clouts, and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jere- miah. | | |
12 And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian ſaid unto Jere- miah, put now zheſe old caſt clouts, and rotten rags, under thine arm holes, under the cords. And Jere- miah did fo.
12 So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon,” And Jeremiah remained in
the court of the priſon ». | # The ſence of theſe Verſes is obvious, EbSedmelech having re»
* ceived a Commiſſion from the King preſently purs it in Execution,
only becauſe the Dungeon was deep, and full of mire, and the Prophet poſſibly not over well cloathed, he prudently takes \.me old Clouts, and Rags, and lets them down with Cords, that Jere. mah to prevent the galling and macerating his fleſh, mighr pur them under the Cords,by which they drew him up : Thus he was reſtored to rhe Courr of the Priſon, where he was before this ſug- geſtion of the Princes. and where he did abide until the Ciry was taken. The reſt of the Chapter is ſpent in a private Conference berwixt King Zedekiah and the Prophet, after he was reſtored to the Court of the Priſon. ;
' 14 { Then Zedekiah the king ſent, and took Jere-
miah the prophet unto him into the || third entry that
' 55 in the houte of the LORD o; And the king ſaid unto
Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing : hide nothing from me p.
o Some think that this were better Tranſlated, that is, near the houſe of the Lord, and that this third entry or principal entry, was that aſcent out of the Kings houſe into the Temple, mentioned 1 K'ngs 10: 5. which was one of the things the Queen of Sheba admired, tor it is hardly probable that Jeremian being in a Priſon within the com- pais of the King's Houſe, the King ſhould, eſpecially at ſuch a time. £0 our of his Houſe to ſo publick a place as the Temple, for a private Conference with the Prophet. p The King deſires him faithfully to tell him what he knew in a buſineſs he ſhould inquire of him. |
15 Then Jeremiah ſaid unto Zedekiah, If I declare
#t unto thee, wilt thou not ſurely put me to death q ?
and If I give thee counſe], wilt thou not hearken unto mer?
- 9 Jeremiah had reaſon to caution with the King for his Life, confidering the ealje anſwer of the King to the Princes, movin for his De-th, verje 4, 5- We muſt imagine Jeremah at this time
pnderfno Divine Command, to reveal God's Will in this cale unto
the King. r Wilt thou net, 1s here, as much as rhou wile not hear-
" ben unto me. Zedekiah had often been advited by the Propher, bur
would never take his advice, and the Propet knew it would ve the ſame caſe fill, that the King would be over-ruled by a corrupt
, K = . ; Court. and his own averſion, to change his ſlate, as a King, tor
the Nate of a Priloner. ns
— —__
= 7 4 Þ. Chap. XXXVY1.
16 So Zedekiah the king ſware ſecretly unto Jere- mah, ſaying, As the LORD liveth, * that made us *Ifu. 5+ this ſoul, I will not put thee to death,neither will ] give 16. wo
thee into the hand of theſe men thart ſeek thy life /.
J Zedekiah ſaith nothing ro the latter part of Jeremiah's Speech promifing norhing as to his hearing and obeying his Counſz : As to the former he gives him the ſecurity of his Oath, that he would neither himſelf ſlay him,by giving any immediate command from himſcif, nor'{urrender him up into the hands of thoſe malicious Princes, who he perceived ſought his life: The form of his Oath 1S what was uſual), as the Lord liveth, with an addition, the Lord that gave me my life, if I pus thee te death, and if I deliver thee : 1 torm carrieth with it a concealed imprecation, Lt the Lord