Jeremiah 39 to 43:7
Jeremiah was kept in prison by the king and chief men of Jerusalem because he told them. God’s words, how, unless they left their wicked ways, the army from Babylon would destroy their city. The men would not believe God’s words and kept on in sins. At last God let men of Babylon get inside the gates and take command of the city.
When King Zedekiah knew the enemy was in the city, he fled at night through a gate near his palace, his sons, soldiers, and chief men going also. But the soldiers soon found they had gone and hurried after, overtaking them, and leading them captive to their king who was then in a land north (Jer. 39:55But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him. (Jeremiah 39:5)).
Do you think King Zedekiah and his men freed Jeremiah from the prison, so he could escape? No, he was left in prison, but he was safer than they, for the king of Babylon knew about Jeremiah, and had given this order to his captain,
The captain showed Jeremiah respect, sending princes to take him out of prison, then took him to the king of Babylon, who treated him kindly. He was told that if he would go to Babylon, he would be well cared for, but that he could choose where he wanted to go, and he was given food and money (Jer. 40:55Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go. (Jeremiah 40:5)).
Jeremiah chose to go where he could be with the few poor people who were left in the towns and farms; so he could tell them God’s words, and he stayed at Mizpah, a place near Jerusalem. Baruch, the scribe, was with him (Jere 40:6).
The negro servant who saved Jeremiah from death in the dungeon, must also have been saved by the soldiers, for God had told Jeremiah to tell him that he should “not fall by the sword”. But it is not told where he afterward lived (Jer. 39:15-1815Now the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. 17But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. 18For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 39:15‑18)).
But soon there was trouble among the people left in the land near Jerusalem; the man set to govern them was killed, and the people were afraid that the soldiers of Babylon would again be sent against them; so they wanted to go to Egypt to live. They told Jeremiah to ask the Lord about it, and whatever He said, they would do.
Jeremiah called all the people together, and told them that God said for them to stay in the land, and the soldiers should not harm them; but if they went to Egypt, they would die by the sword and famine (Jer. 42).
The people did not believe God’s words; they said Jeremiah spoke falsely; and that Baruch, the scribe, wanted them to be made captives (Jer. 43:33But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon. (Jeremiah 43:3)). They would not obey God, but went to Egypt, taking Jeremiah and Baruch with them. Jeriah wrote about them in Egypt, which we read later.
Jeremiah had told God’s Words to the people of Jerusalem for over 40 years, from the 13th year of King Josiah to the end of Zedekiah’s rule.
ML 03/29/1942