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. 39:5).
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,
“Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm.” Jeremiah 39:12.
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. 40:5).
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. 39:15-18).
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. 43:3). 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.
Why did God save the black man, Ebedrneleck? (Jer. 39:18).
What was done to Zedekiah, and to his sons? (Jer. 39:6,7).
Where were the king’s daughters taken? (Jer. 43:6,7).
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