BEFORE CHRIST cir. 607.

b See ch. 45. 1.

The king burneth it.

h

4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch 8 ch. 32. 12. the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.

1 Lev. 16. 29, & 28. 27-32. Acts 27.9.

k ver. 3.

supplication shall

5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:

6 Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD's house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.

7 It may be 2 they will present 2 Heb. their their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.

fall.

cir. 606.

8 Or. door.

1 ch. 26. 10.

8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD's house.

9 And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.

10 Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house, in the ears of all the people.

11 When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,

12 Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.

13 Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.

14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand

15 And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.

16 Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.

17 And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?

18 Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.

19 Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.

20 ¶ And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.

BEFORE CHRIST cir. 606.

23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.

24 Yet they were not afraid, nor " rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.

25 Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.

3.15.

2 Kings 18. 36. 22.

22.11.

& 37. 1.

of the king.

26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Or Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.

27 ¶ Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,

cir. 605.

BEFORE CHRIST cir. 605.

28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.

29 And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?

30 Therefore thus saith the LORD och. 22.30. of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David and his dead body shall P ch. 22. 19. be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.

2 Heb. visit upon. ch. 23. 34.

8 Heb. as they.

cir. 599.

2 Kings 24. 17.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

1 The Egyptians having raised the siege of the Chaldeans, king Zedekiah sendeth to Jeremiah to pray for the people. 6 Jeremiah prophe

sieth the Chaldeans' certain return and vic

tory. 11 He is taken for a fugitive, beaten, and put in prison. 16 He assureth Zedekiah of the captivity. 18 Intreating for his liberty, he obtaineth some favour.

AND king, "Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah 2 Chr. 36.10. the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.

ch. 22. 24.

2 But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the LORD, Heb.by the which he spake by the prophet Jeremiah.

hand of the prophet.

4

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 unto the LORD our God for us.

4 Now Jeremiah came in and went among the people for they had not put him into prison.

out

5 Then Pharaoh's army was come Ezek. 17.15. forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem

. ver. 11. ch.34. 21.

Jeremiah is imprisoned.

heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.

6 Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,

BEFORE CHRIST 590.

7 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me toch. 21. 2 enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.

8 & And the Chaldeans shall come 8 ch. 34. 22. again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.

2

9 Thus saith the LORD; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chal-Heb-souls. deans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.

10 For though ye had smitten the ch. 21. 4,5. whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

11 And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army,

12 Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself thence in the midst of the people.

13 And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.

14 Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.

Heb. through.

thrust

ver. 5.

Heb.made

to ascend.

Or, to

slip away from thence in the

midst of the people.

Heb. falsehood, or, a lie.

15 Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house ch. 38. 26. of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.

16 When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the ' cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;

17 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.

18 Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants,

ch. 38.6. Or, cells.

589.

21 Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

n

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

1 Jeremiah, by a false suggestion, is put into the dungeon of Malchiah. 7 Ebed-melech, by suit, getteth him some enlargement. 14 Upon secret conference he counselleth the king by yielding to save his life. 24 By the king's instructions he concealeth the conference from the princes.

TH

into the dungeon.

7 ¶ Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin ;

8 Ebed-melech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying,

BEFORE CHRIST 589. h ch. 89. 16.

My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the Heb place where he is for there is no more bread in the city.

3

he will die.

10 Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with Heb. in thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.

b

d

2 Thus saith the LORD, 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. 3 Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.

е

4 Therefore the princes said unto See ch. 26. the king, We beseech thee, flet this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

8 Heb. peace.

thine hand.

13'So they drew up Jeremiah with 1 ver. 6. cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

14 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.

15 Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, 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?

14 Even they sent, 1and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of 'Ahikam the son of Sha1 ch. 26. 24. phan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.

1 ch. 38. 28. k ch. 40. 5.

m ch. 88. 7, 12.

15 T Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

16 Go and speak to m Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; a Dan. 9.12. Behold, "I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.

17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.

18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, och. 21.9.& but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

45.5.

p1 Chr.5.20. Ps.37.40.

588.

a ch. 39. 14.

2 Or. manicles.

bch. 50.7.

⚫ Deut. 29. 24, 25. Dan. 9. 11.

8 Or, are upon thine hand.

d ch. 89. 12.

CHAPTER XL.

1 Jeremiah, being set free by Nebuzar-adan, goeth to Gedaliah. 7 The dispersed Jews repair unto him. 13 Johanan revealing Ishmael's conspiracy is not believed.

HE word that came to Jeremiah THE word that came to three lebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in 2 chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.

2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.

3 Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: • because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. 4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Heb. I will Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, foreGen. 20.15. bear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. 5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, 2Kings 25.whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the

set mine eye upon thee.

22, &c.

and goeth to Gedaliah.

people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.

BEFORE CHRIST 588.

23, &c.

6 8 Then went Jeremiah unto 8 ch. 39. 14. Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to b Miz-Judg.20.1. pah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land. 7¶Now when all the captains of 12 Kings 25. the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them ch. 89. 10. that were not carried away captive to Babylon;

1

8 Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Ich. 41. 1. Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not 2 to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.

11 Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;

12 Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

13 ¶ Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,

14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah