Jeremiah 37

Jeremiah Warns Zedekiah

1 Zedekiah the son of Josiah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah, reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim.2 But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the Lord that he spoke through Jeremiah the prophet.

3 King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Please pray for us to the Lord our God."4 Now Jeremiah was still going in and out among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison.5 The army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt. And when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

6 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet:7 "Thus says the Lord, God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the king of Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me, 'Behold, Pharaoh's army that came to help you is about to return to Egypt, to its own land.8 And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city. They shall capture it and burn it with fire.9 Thus says the Lord, Do not deceive yourselves, saying, "The Chaldeans will surely go away from us," for they will not go away.10 For even if you should defeat the whole army of Chaldeans who are fighting against you, and there remained of them only wounded men, every man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire.'"

Jeremiah Imprisoned

11 Now when the Chaldean army had withdrawn from Jerusalem at the approach of Pharaoh's army,12 Jeremiah set out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to receive his portion there among the people.13 When he was at the Benjamin Gate, a sentry there named Irijah the son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "You are deserting to the Chaldeans."14 And Jeremiah said, "It is a lie; I am not deserting to the Chaldeans." But Irijah would not listen to him, and seized Jeremiah and brought him to the officials.15 And the officials were enraged at Jeremiah, and they beat him and imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for it had been made a prison.

16 When Jeremiah had come to the dungeon cells and remained there many days,17 King Zedekiah sent for him and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house and said, "Is there any word from the Lord?" Jeremiah said, "There is." Then he said, "You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon."18 Jeremiah also said to King Zedekiah, "What wrong have I done to you or your servants or this people, that you have put me in prison?19 Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, 'The king of Babylon will not come against you and against this land'?20 Now hear, please, O my lord the king: let my humble plea come before you and do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, lest I die there."21 So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers' street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

Jeremiah 37

Introduction to Incidents During the Reign of Zedekiah

1 Zedekiah son of Josiah succeeded Jeconiaht son of Jehoiakim as king. He was elevated to the throne of the land of Judah by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.t

2 Neither he nor the officials who served him nor the people of Judah paid any attention to what the Lord said through the prophet Jeremiah.s

The Lord Responds to Zedekiah’s Hope for Help

3 King Zedekiah sents Jehucals son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniahs son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah. He told them to say, “Please pray to the Lord our God on our behalf.”4 (Now Jeremiah had not yet been put in prison.s So he was still free to come and go among the people as he pleased.t5 At that time the Babylonian forcest had temporarily given up their siege against Jerusalem.s They had had it under siege, but withdrew when they heard that the army of Pharaoh had set out from Egypt.ts)6 The Lord gave the prophet Jeremiah a message for them. He told him to tell them,t7 “The Lord God of Israel says, ‘Give a message to the king of Judah who sent you to ask me to help him.t Tell him, “The army of Pharaoh that was on its way to help you will go back home to Egypt.t8 Then the Babylonian forcest will return. They will attack the city and will capture it and burn it down.9 Moreover, I, the Lord, warn you not to deceive yourselves into thinking that the Babylonian forcest will go away and leave you alone. For they will not go away.t

10 For even if you were to defeat all the Babylonian forcest fighting against you so badly that only wounded men were left lying in their tents, they would get up and burn this city down.”’”t

Jeremiah is Charged with Deserting, Arrested, and Imprisoned

11 The following events also occurredt while the Babylonian forcest had temporarily withdrawn from Jerusalems because the army of Pharaoh was coming.12 Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the territory of Benjamin. He wanted to make sure he got his share of the property that was being divided up among his family there.ts13 But he only got as far as the Benjamin Gate.s There an officer in charge of the guards named Irijah,s who was the son of Shelemiah and the grandson of Hananiah, stopped him. He seized Jeremiah and said,t “You are deserting to the Babylonians!”ts14 Jeremiah answered, “That’s a lie! I am not deserting to the Babylonians.”t But Irijah would not listen to him. Irijah put Jeremiah under arrest and took him to the officials.

15 The officials were very angrys at Jeremiah. They had him flogged and put in prison in the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary, which they had converted into a place for confining prisoners.t
16 Sot Jeremiah was put in prison in a cell in the dungeon in Jonathan’s house.t Het was kept there for a long time.17 Then King Zedekiah had him brought to the palace. There he questioned him privately and asked him,t “Is there any message from the Lord?” Jeremiah answered, “Yes, there is.” Then he announced,t “You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.”s18 Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, “What crime have I committed against you, or the officials who serve you, or the people of Judah? What have I done to make you people throw me into prison?t19 Where now are the prophets who prophesied to you thatt the king of Babylon would not attack you or this land?20 But now please listen, your royal Majesty,t and grant my plea for mercy.t Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary. If you do, I will die there.”t

21 Then King Zedekiah ordered that Jeremiah be committed to the courtyard of the guardhouse. He also ordered that a loaf of breadt be given to him every day from the baker’s street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah was keptt in the courtyard of the guardhouse.