Jeremiah 37
Jeremiah 37 explains the events leading to the siege of Jerusalem under King Zedekiah's rule, focusing on the interactions between Zedekiah, Jeremiah, and the Babylonian forces. Despite being appointed by Babylon, Zedekiah seeks divine guidance from Jeremiah as the threat of invasion looms. Jeremiah’s warnings are disregarded, leading to his imprisonment. This chapter highlights Zedekiah’s wavering between fear of Babylon and hope for Egyptian support, as well as Jeremiah’s steadfastness in delivering God's message, despite opposition and personal suffering.
Jeremiah 37:1-10 (NKJV)
1 Now King Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
2 But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land gave heed to the words of the Lord which He spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.
3 And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Pray now to the Lord our God for us.”
4 Now Jeremiah was coming and going among the people, for they had not yet put him in prison.
5 Then Pharaoh’s army came up from Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they departed from Jerusalem.
6 Then the word of the Lord came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
7 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Thus you shall say to the king of Judah, who sent you to Me to inquire of Me: “Behold, Pharaoh’s army which has come up to help you will return to Egypt, to their own land.
8 And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city, and take it and burn it with fire.” ’
9 Thus says the Lord: ‘Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely depart from us,” for they will not depart.
10 For though you had defeated the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and there remained only wounded men among them, they would rise up, every man in his tent, and burn the city with fire.’ ”
Zedekiah, appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, reigns but ignores Jeremiah's warnings from God. As Babylon's siege looms, Zedekiah requests prayer from Jeremiah, indicating his uncertainty. Egypt’s army’s movement temporarily halts the Babylonian siege, giving Judah false hope. However, God’s message through Jeremiah warns Zedekiah not to rely on Egypt. Even if Babylon’s forces were wounded, God assures they would return to burn the city. The passage highlights Zedekiah’s inconsistent faith and reliance on human alliances over obedience to God’s word.
Jeremiah 37:11-16 (NKJV)
11 And it happened, when the army of the Chaldeans left the siege of Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,
12 that Jeremiah went out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin to claim his property there among the people.
13 And when he was in the Gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard was there whose name was Irijah the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans!”
14 Then Jeremiah said, “False! I am not defecting to the Chaldeans.” But he did not listen to him. So Irijah seized Jeremiah and brought him to the princes.
15 Therefore the princes were angry with Jeremiah, and they struck him and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe. For they had made that the prison.
16 When Jeremiah entered the dungeon and the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days,
Jeremiah attempts to visit his property in Benjamin, but Irijah, a guard captain, accuses him of deserting to the Babylonians. Despite Jeremiah’s denial, he is taken to the princes, who are already displeased with him. They beat and imprison him in the house of Jonathan, now used as a prison. This unjust treatment shows the rulers' mistrust and resentment towards Jeremiah, who remains steadfast in delivering God’s messages despite enduring imprisonment and physical suffering.
Jeremiah 37:17-21 (NKJV)
17 Then Zedekiah the king sent and took him out. The king asked him secretly in his house, and said, “Is there any word from the Lord?” And Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon!”
18 Moreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “What offense have I committed against you, against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison?
19 Where now are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you or against this land’?
20 Therefore please hear now, O my lord the king. Please, let my petition be accepted before you, and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.”
21 Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah to the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread from the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
Zedekiah privately consults Jeremiah, still seeking divine guidance amidst the crisis. Jeremiah reaffirms Babylon's inevitable victory and questions the justice of his imprisonment, reminding Zedekiah of the false prophets who misled him. He pleads not to be sent back to Jonathan's house, fearing death. Zedekiah, though still hesitant to fully heed Jeremiah, orders his transfer to a more lenient court prison and provides him with daily bread, showing his conflicting loyalties between Jeremiah’s message and his officials' influence.