4 That is, in your power; either by the Eſtabliſhed Law againſt falſe Prophets, or elſe I yield up my power to you, I ſurrender him into your hands. But neither of theſeſeemeth very probable, tor here is no mention of the ſitting of the Sarhedrim to judge him as a falſe Prophet, nor of any judicial proceedings of that Nature : And it ſhould ſeem by Zedekzab's relieving of him ſoon after from the Dungeon ; into-which they threw him, that had not ſurren- dred Feremiah ſo into their hands, but he reſerved to himſelf a ſu- perintendency upon them to correct their too ſevere dealings with him. The meaning ſeems rather to be, If you will do any luch thing, I ſhall not oppoſe you, but I will not be the Author ot ir. el ſeelam as it were no King, I can do nothing againſt you, you will do what you pleate. I incline to this ſence from the con- fideration of the favour ſ{:2wed him by Zedektiab both before, and after this.
6 Then took they Jeremiah, and caſt him 1nto the dungeon of Malchiah the Son of || Hammelech that was 1n the court of the priſon 4: and they let down Jeremiah with cords e. And in the dungeon there w.s
no water but mire, ſo Jeremiah ſank in the mire;
d A place much of the ſame nature witk that of which we read, Chap. 37. 16. but in another Priſcn. e It ſhould ſeem there was 10 paſtage into it by Stairs,ſo as they were forced to let him down with Cords. f And in the bottom was nothing but Mire, into which the Prophet lank, in repect of which circumſtances, it was a much worſe place than the Dungeon in the Priſon, in Jonathan's Houſe appeared to be, though Jeremiah feared that he ſhould dye there. I: is probable thele Princes thruſt him into this place, de- fgning ke ſhould die in this hole a miſerable Death, but God o- therwiſe provided for him.
7 Þ Now when * Ebedmelech the Ethiopian g,
one of the Funuchs which was 1n the Kings Houfe þ, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon z, {the King then fitting inthe Gate of Benjamin ) k. _ g Ebedme!ech was unqueſtionably the Name of the Perſon, tho' ſome 1nterp:et it appellatively a Servant of the King. It is parti cularly note'l that he was an Erþ;opian or a Cuſhite, to let us know that this Prophet of the Lord found more kindnets from a ſtran- zer that was a Native Heathen, than from his own Country- men. 0 Princes were wont to keep Eunuchs in their Houſes in thoſe Countries, 2 Kings 9. 32. Dan.1.9. Affs 8.27. It ſhould ſeem the Princes had privately put Feremiah into this miſerable place, but yet the noiſe of it came to Ebedmelech's Ear, who was attending in the Court. k The Gates of che City were places where Princes were wont to fit to execute Juſtice, and to receive Petitions, aud give Anſwers, 2 Sam. 19. 8. Prov. 31. 32,09.
8 Ehcedmelech went forth out of the King's houſe, and ſpake to the King, ſaying, 9 My Lord the King, theſe men havedone evilin all
remiah, Put now ze/e old caſt clouts, and rotten rags under thine arm holes, under the cords. And Jere- mMiah 1d fo.
| 13 So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took: him up out of the dungeon, and Jeremiah remained in the court of the pritoa z.
2 The lence of tne Verſes is obvious. Ebedmelech having re- ceived a Commitlion trom the King pretent!y puts it in execution, only becaule the Dungeon was deep, and tull of mire, and the Prophet pollidly not .over well cloathed, he prudencly takes l0:ne 01d Clouts, and Rags, and let them down with Cords, that Jeremiah to prevent the galling and macerating his fleſh, might pur chem under che Cords by which they drew him up : Thus he was reitored ro the Court of the Priſon, where he was before the luge geſtion of the Priaces, an4 where he did abide until che Ciry was taken. The reſt ot tne Chapter is (pear ina private Conference berwixt King iZedekiah and the Prophzt, atter he was reſtored ro the Court of the Priſon, |
14 Y Then Zedekizh the King ſent, and took Je- remiah the Prophet unto him into the || third entry chat zs 1n The Houſe of the LORD o; and the Kin {aid unto Jeremiah, Il will ask thee a Ling : hide no- thing trom me p.
o Some think thar this were better Tranſlated, that is near the houſe of the Lord, and that this third Entry or prancifal Emry, was that aſcent out 0} the King's houſe into the Temple, mentioned 1 Kzngs 10.5. Which was one of the things the Quren of Sheba admired, tor 1t 15 hardly probable, that Feremiah being in a Pri- lon within the compals of the King's Houſe, the King ſhould, eſ- pecially at luch a time, go out of his Houle to ſo publick a place as the Temple, tor a private Conjerence with the Prophet. p Tie King deſires him taithtully to cell him what he knew in a Buſinets he thould enquire of him,
15 Then Jeremiah ſaid unto Zedekiah, if I declare 24 unto thee, wilt thou not ſurely put me to death? and if I give thee counſel, wilt thou not hearken un- come 7 !
q Feremi1h had reaſon to caution with the King for his Life,con- tGdering the eafie Anſwer otthe King to the Princes, moving for his Death, Yerſe 4, 5. We muſt imagine Feremiah ar this time un- der no Divine Command to reveal God's Will jn this caſe unto the King. r Wilt rhou not, is here, as much as thcu wilt not hearken unto me. Zedekiab had often been adviied by the Propher but would never take his Advice, and the Prophet knew it would be the ſame cale ſti]}, that the King would be over-ruled by a corrupt Court, and his own ave: tton, to change his ſtate as 2 King, tor the ſtate of a Pritoner,
15 SO Zedckiah the Ring ſirare ſecretly unto Jere-
| ( l ts F C
JF © CIP 4b»
miab, ſaying, As the I.ORD liveth * that made vs x Iſs, chis Soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will [ x6.
+ Heb. men of thy peace.
T Heb, thou (h't burn. & 0,
7 Chap. XXX VI give thee into the hand of theſe Men that ſeek thy
life /.
{ Z:dekiab ſaith nothing to the latter part of Feremiah's Speech,