298
Prophets and Kings
out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus
Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.”
Verse 21
.
The king dared not openly manifest any faith in Jeremiah. Though
his fear drove him to seek information of him privately, yet he was too
weak to brave the disapprobation of his princes and of the people by
submitting to the will of God as declared by the prophet.
From the court of the prison Jeremiah continued to advise submis-
sion to the Babylonian rule. To offer resistance would be to invite sure
death. The message of the Lord to Judah was: “He that remaineth in
this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:
but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have
his life for a prey, and shall live.” Plain and positive were the words
spoken. In the name of the Lord the prophet boldly declared, “This
city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army,
which shall take it.”
Jeremiah 38:2, 3
.
At last the princes, enraged over the repeated counsels of Jeremiah,
which were contrary to their set policy of resistance, made a vigorous
protest before the king, urging that the prophet was an enemy to the
[456]
nation, and that his words had weakened the hands of the people and
brought misfortune upon them; therefore he should be put to death.
The cowardly king knew that the charges were false; but in order
to propitiate those who occupied high and influential positions in the
nation, he feigned to believe their falsehoods and gave Jeremiah into
their hands to do with him as they pleased. The prophet was cast “into
the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court
of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the
dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.”
Verse 6
. But God raised up friends for him, who besought the king in
his behalf, and had him again removed to the court of the prison.
Once more the king sent privately for Jeremiah, and bade him
faithfully relate the purpose of God toward Jerusalem. In response,
Jeremiah inquired, “If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put
me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto
me?” The king entered into a secret compact with the prophet. “As the
Lord liveth, that made us this soul,” Zedekiah promised, “I will not
put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men
that seek thy life.”
Verses 15, 16
.