The divided kingdom · Jeremiah 38
Jeremiah in the Cistern
Jerusalem is under siege by Babylon, and Jeremiah announces that whoever stays in the city will die by the sword, famine, or plague, while whoever goes out to the Chaldeans will live. The officials demand his death: he is discouraging the soldiers and the people. King Zedekiah gives in: “Behold, he is in your hand; for the king can do nothing against you.” They lower Jeremiah with ropes into a cistern with no water, but full of mud, where he sinks. Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian in the king’s household, pleads: “He will die of hunger where he is.” With thirty men, he lowers old rags for Jeremiah to put under his armpits, beneath the ropes, and pulls him up. The king then consults him in secret, but is afraid to surrender.
What happens
- The officials demand Jeremiah’s death for discouraging the people Jeremiah 38:4
- Zedekiah hands him over: “the king can do nothing against you” Jeremiah 38:5
- Jeremiah is thrown into a cistern with no water, full of mud Jeremiah 38:6
- Ebed-melech the Ethiopian pleads with the king Jeremiah 38:7–9
- Pulled out of the cistern with ropes and old rags Jeremiah 38:11–13
- Jeremiah advises surrender; the king admits his fear Jeremiah 38:17–19
Who is in this story
The lesson
Staying faithful to the word of God can be costly, but the LORD watches over his servant: he raises up a defender from where no one expects. The king fears people more than God; the one who trusts in the LORD, however, will be saved (Jer 39:18).
But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.
Quick quiz on this story
What is at the bottom of the cistern where Jeremiah is thrown?
“In the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.” Jeremiah 38:6
Who speaks to the king to save Jeremiah?
Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an official in the king’s household, tells the king that these men have done evil and that Jeremiah will die of hunger. Gedaliah and Jucal are among the men who accuse Jeremiah. Jeremiah 38:7–9
What does Zedekiah answer the officials who demand Jeremiah’s death?
The king answers, “Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.” Weak, he abandons the prophet to his enemies. Jeremiah 38:5
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