Antiguo Testamento

Jeremiah — Capítulo 38

JEREMIAH PREDICTS THE CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM, FOR WHICH HE IS CAST INTO A DUNGEON, BUT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE PRISON COURT ON THE INTERCESSION OF EBED-MELECH, AND HAS A SECRET INTERVIEW WITH ZEDEKIAH. (Jer. 38:1-28) Juca…

Versión

Texto — Reina-Valera 1960

1Oyeron Sefatías hijo de Matán, Gedalías hijo de Pasur, Jucal hijo de Selemías, y Pasur hijo de Malquías, las palabras que Jeremías hablaba a todo el pueblo, diciendo:

2Así ha dicho Jehová: El que se quedare en esta ciudad morirá a espada, o de hambre, o de pestilencia; mas el que se pasare a los caldeos vivirá, pues su vida le será por botín, y vivirá.

3Así ha dicho Jehová: De cierto será entregada esta ciudad en manos del ejército del rey de Babilonia, y la tomará.

4Y dijeron los príncipes al rey: Muera ahora este hombre; porque de esta manera hace desmayar las manos de los hombres de guerra que han quedado en esta ciudad, y las manos de todo el pueblo, hablándoles tales palabras; porque este hombre no busca la paz de este pueblo, sino el mal.

5Y dijo el rey Sedequías: He aquí que él está en vuestras manos; pues el rey nada puede hacer contra vosotros.

6Entonces tomaron ellos a Jeremías y lo hicieron echar en la cisterna de Malquías hijo de Hamelec, que estaba en el patio de la cárcel; y metieron a Jeremías con sogas. Y en la cisterna no había agua, sino cieno, y se hundió Jeremías en el cieno.

7Y oyendo Ebed-melec, hombre etíope, eunuco de la casa real, que habían puesto a Jeremías en la cisterna, y estando sentado el rey a la puerta de Benjamín,

8Ebed-melec salió de la casa del rey y habló al rey, diciendo:

9Mi señor el rey, mal hicieron estos varones en todo lo que han hecho con el profeta Jeremías, al cual hicieron echar en la cisterna; porque allí morirá de hambre, pues no hay más pan en la ciudad.

10Entonces mandó el rey al mismo etíope Ebed-melec, diciendo: Toma en tu poder treinta hombres de aquí, y haz sacar al profeta Jeremías de la cisterna, antes que muera.

11Y tomó Ebed-melec en su poder a los hombres, y entró a la casa del rey debajo de la tesorería, y tomó de allí trapos viejos y ropas raídas y andrajosas, y los echó a Jeremías con sogas en la cisterna.

12Y dijo el etíope Ebed-melec a Jeremías: Pon ahora esos trapos viejos y ropas raídas y andrajosas, bajo los sobacos, debajo de las sogas. Y lo hizo así Jeremías.

13De este modo sacaron a Jeremías con sogas, y lo subieron de la cisterna; y quedó Jeremías en el patio de la cárcel.

14Después envió el rey Sedequías, e hizo traer al profeta Jeremías a su presencia, en la tercera entrada de la casa de Jehová. Y dijo el rey a Jeremías: Te haré una pregunta; no me encubras ninguna cosa.

15Y Jeremías dijo a Sedequías: Si te lo declarare, ¿no es verdad que me matarás? y si te diere consejo, no me escucharás.

16Y juró el rey Sedequías en secreto a Jeremías, diciendo: Vive Jehová que nos hizo esta alma, que no te mataré, ni te entregaré en mano de estos varones que buscan tu vida.

17Entonces dijo Jeremías a Sedequías: Así ha dicho Jehová Dios de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel: Si te entregas en seguida a los príncipes del rey de Babilonia, tu alma vivirá, y esta ciudad no será puesta a fuego, y vivirás tú y tu casa.

18Pero si no te entregas a los príncipes del rey de Babilonia, esta ciudad será entregada en mano de los caldeos, y la pondrán a fuego, y tú no escaparás de sus manos.

19Y dijo el rey Sedequías a Jeremías: Tengo temor de los judíos que se han pasado a los caldeos, no sea que me entreguen en sus manos y me escarnezcan.

20Y dijo Jeremías: No te entregarán. Oye ahora la voz de Jehová que yo te hablo, y te irá bien y vivirás.

21Pero si no quieres entregarte, esta es la palabra que me ha mostrado Jehová:

22He aquí que todas las mujeres que han quedado en casa del rey de Judá serán sacadas a los príncipes del rey de Babilonia; y ellas mismas dirán: Te han engañado, y han prevalecido contra ti tus amigos; hundieron en el cieno tus pies, se volvieron atrás.

23Sacarán, pues, todas tus mujeres y tus hijos a los caldeos, y tú no escaparás de sus manos, sino que por mano del rey de Babilonia serás apresado, y a esta ciudad quemará a fuego.

24Y dijo Sedequías a Jeremías: Nadie sepa estas palabras, y no morirás.

25Y si los príncipes oyeren que yo he hablado contigo, y vinieren a ti y te dijeren: Decláranos ahora qué hablaste con el rey, no nos lo encubras, y no te mataremos; asimismo qué te dijo el rey;

26les dirás: Supliqué al rey que no me hiciese volver a casa de Jonatán para que no me muriese allí.

27Y vinieron luego todos los príncipes a Jeremías, y le preguntaron; y él les respondió conforme a todo lo que el rey le había mandado. Con esto se alejaron de él, porque el asunto no se había oído.

28Y quedó Jeremías en el patio de la cárcel hasta el día que fue tomada Jerusalén; y allí estaba cuando Jerusalén fue tomada.

JAMIESON-FAUSSET-BROWN BIBLE COMMENTARY

Versículo 2

I. life . . . a prey--He shall escape with his life; though losing all else in a shipwreck, he shall…

life . . . a prey--He shall escape with his life; though losing all else in a shipwreck, he shall carry off his life as his gain, saved by his going over to the Chaldeans. (See on Jer 21:9).

Versículo 4

II. Had Jeremiah not had a divine commission, he might justly have been accused of treason; but havin…

Had Jeremiah not had a divine commission, he might justly have been accused of treason; but having one, which made the result of the siege certain, he acted humanely as interpreter of God's will under the theocracy, in advising surrender (compare Jer 26:11).

Versículo 5

III. the king is not he--Zedekiah was a weak prince, and now in his straits afraid to oppose his princ…

the king is not he--Zedekiah was a weak prince, and now in his straits afraid to oppose his princes. He hides his dislike of their overweening power, which prevented him shielding Jeremiah as he would have wished, under complimentary speeches. "It is not right that the king should deny aught to such faithful and wise statesmen"; the king is not such a one as to deny you your wishes [JEROME].

Versículo 6

IV. dungeon--literally, the "cistern." It was not a subterranean prison as that in Jonathan's house (…

dungeon--literally, the "cistern." It was not a subterranean prison as that in Jonathan's house (Jer 37:15), but a pit or cistern, which had been full of water, but was emptied of it during the siege, so that only "mire" remained. Such empty cisterns were often used as prisons (Zac 9:11); the depth forbade hope of escape. Hammelech-- (Jer 36:26). His son followed in the father's steps, a ready tool for evil. sunk in the mire--Jeremiah herein was a type of Messiah (Psa 69:2, Psa 69:14). "I sink in deep mire," &c.

Versículo 7

V. Ebed-melech--The Hebrew designation given this Ethiopian, meaning "king's servant." Already, even…

Ebed-melech--The Hebrew designation given this Ethiopian, meaning "king's servant." Already, even at this early time, God wished to show what good reason there was for calling the Gentiles to salvation. An Ethiopian stranger saves the prophet whom his own countrymen, the Jews, tried to destroy. So the Gentiles believed in Christ whom the Jews crucified, and Ethiopians were among the earliest converts (Act 2:10, Act 2:41; Act 8:27-39). Ebed-melech probably was keeper of the royal harem, and so had private access to the king. The eunuchs over harems in the present day are mostly from Nubia or Abyssinia.

Versículo 8

VI. went forth . . . and spake--not privately, but in public; a proof of fearless magnanimity.

went forth . . . and spake--not privately, but in public; a proof of fearless magnanimity.

Versículo 9

VII. die for hunger in the place where he is; for . . . no . . . bread in . . . city--(Compare Jer 37:…

die for hunger in the place where he is; for . . . no . . . bread in . . . city--(Compare Jer 37:21). He had heretofore got a piece of bread supplied to him. "Seeing that there is the utmost want of bread in the city, so that even if he were at large, there could no more be regularly supplied to him, much less now in a place where none remember or pity him, so that he is likely to die for hunger." "No more bread," that is, no more left of the public store in the city (Jer 37:21); or, all but no bread left anywhere [MAURER].

Versículo 10

VIII. with thee--Hebrew, "in thine hand," that is, at "thy disposal" (Sa1 16:2). "From hence," that is,…

with thee--Hebrew, "in thine hand," that is, at "thy disposal" (Sa1 16:2). "From hence," that is, from the gate of Benjamin where the king was sitting (Jer 38:7). thirty men--not merely to draw up Jeremiah, but to guard Ebed-melech against any opposition on the part of the princes (Jer 38:1-4), in executing the king's command. Ebed-melech was rewarded for his faith, love, and courage, exhibited at a time when he might well fear the wrath of the princes, to which even the king had to yield (Jer 39:16-18).

Versículo 11

IX. cast clouts--"torn clothes" [HENDERSON].

cast clouts--"torn clothes" [HENDERSON]. rotten rags--"worn-out garments." God can make the meanest things His instruments of goodness to His people (Co1 1:27-29). under . . . armholes--"under the joints of thine hands," that is, where the fingers join the hand, the clothes being in order that the hands should not be cut by the cords [MAURER].

Versículo 13

X. court of . . . prison--Ebed-melech prudently put him there to be out of the way of his enemies.

court of . . . prison--Ebed-melech prudently put him there to be out of the way of his enemies.

Versículo 14

XI. third entry--The Hebrews in determining the position of places faced the east, which they termed …

third entry--The Hebrews in determining the position of places faced the east, which they termed "that which is in front"; the south was thus called "that which is on the right hand"; the north, "that which is on the left hand"; the west, "that which is behind." So beginning with the east they might term it the first or principal entry; the south the second entry; the north the "third entry" of the outer or inner court [MAURER]. The third gate of the temple facing the palace; for through it the entrance lay from the palace into the temple (Kg1 10:5, Kg1 10:12). It was westward (Ch1 26:16, Ch1 26:18; Ch2 9:11) [GROTIUS]. But in the future temple it is eastward (Eze 46:1-2, Eze 46:8).

Versículo 15

XII. wilt thou not hearken unto me--Zedekiah does not answer this last query; the former one he replie…

wilt thou not hearken unto me--Zedekiah does not answer this last query; the former one he replies to in Jer 38:16. Rather translate, "Thou wilt not hearken to me." Jeremiah judges so from the past conduct of the king. Compare Jer 38:17 with Jer 38:19.

Versículo 16

XIII. Lord . . . made us this soul-- (Isa 57:16). Implying, "may my life (soul) be forfeited if I decei…

Lord . . . made us this soul-- (Isa 57:16). Implying, "may my life (soul) be forfeited if I deceive thee" [CALVIN].

Versículo 17

XIV. princes-- (Jer 39:3). He does not say "to the king himself," for he was at Riblah, in Hamath (Jer…

princes-- (Jer 39:3). He does not say "to the king himself," for he was at Riblah, in Hamath (Jer 39:5; Kg2 25:6). "If thou go forth" (namely, to surrender; Kg2 24:12; Isa 36:16), God foreknows future conditional contingencies, and ordains not only the end, but also the means to the end.

Versículo 19

XV. afraid of the Jews--more than of God (Pro 29:25; Joh 9:22; Joh 12:43).

afraid of the Jews--more than of God (Pro 29:25; Joh 9:22; Joh 12:43). mock me--treat me injuriously (Sa1 31:4).

Versículo 22

16. women--The very evil which Zedekiah wished to escape by disobeying the command to go forth shall …

women--The very evil which Zedekiah wished to escape by disobeying the command to go forth shall befall him in its worst form thereby. Not merely the Jewish deserters shall "mock" him (Jer 38:19), but the very "women" of his own palace and harem, to gratify their new lords, will taunt him. A noble king in sooth, to suffer thyself to be so imposed on! Thy friends--Hebrew, "men of thy peace" (see Jer 20:10; Psa 41:9, Margin). The king's ministers and the false prophets who misled him. sunk in . . . mire--proverbial for, Thou art involved by "thy friends'" counsels in inextricable difficulties. The phrase perhaps alludes to Jer 38:6; a just retribution for the treatment of Jeremiah, who literally "sank in the mire." they are turned . . . back--Having involved thee in the calamity, they themselves shall provide for their own safety by deserting to the Chaldeans (Jer 38:19).

Versículo 23

17. children-- (Jer 39:6; Jer 41:10). "wives . . . children . . . thou"; an ascending climax.

children-- (Jer 39:6; Jer 41:10). "wives . . . children . . . thou"; an ascending climax.

Versículo 24

18. Let no man know--If thou wilt not tell this to the people, I will engage thy safety.

Let no man know--If thou wilt not tell this to the people, I will engage thy safety.

Versículo 25

19. Kings are often such only in title; they are really under the power of their subjects.

Kings are often such only in title; they are really under the power of their subjects.

Versículo 26

20. presented--literally, "made my supplication to fall"; implying supplication with humble prostrati…

presented--literally, "made my supplication to fall"; implying supplication with humble prostration (see on Jer 36:7). Jonathan's house-- (Jer 37:15), different from Malchiah's dungeon (Jer 38:6). This statement was true, though not the whole truth; the princes had no right to the information; no sanction is given by Scripture here to Jeremiah's representation of this being the cause of his having come to the king. Fear drove him to it. Compare Gen 20:2, Gen 20:12; on the other hand, Sa1 16:2, Sa1 16:5. left off speaking with--Hebrew, "were silent from him," that is, withdrawing from him they left him quiet (Sa1 7:8, Margin).

Versículo 28

21. he was there when Jerusalem was taken--These words are made the beginning of the thirty-ninth cha…

he was there when Jerusalem was taken--These words are made the beginning of the thirty-ninth chapter by many; but the accents and sense support English Version. This chapter consists of two parts: the first describes the capture of Jerusalem, the removal of the people to Babylon, and the fate of Zedekiah, and that of Jeremiah. The second tells of the assurance of safety to Ebed-melech. Next: Jeremiah Chapter 39

Cargando JER 38...