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Jeremiah 38

28 verses

TL;DR

Jeremiah warns Judah’s leaders of impending doom and is imprisoned, but an Ethiopian eunuch rescues him, after which Jeremiah prophesies the fall of Jerusalem.

Summary

Jeremiah delivers a bleak message to Judah’s leaders: those who stay in Jerusalem will die by sword, famine, or pestilence, while those who flee to Babylon will survive. The princes, fearing loss of power, demand Jeremiah’s execution. The king, unable to act, has Jeremiah thrown into a dungeon where he is left in mire. An Ethiopian eunuch named Ebedmelech hears of Jeremiah’s plight, convinces the king to rescue him, and supplies cloths to keep him alive during the ordeal. Jeremiah then speaks to the king, warning that obedience to Babylon will spare the city and the king, whereas resistance will lead to destruction. The king reluctantly agrees to Jeremiah’s counsel but keeps the message secret from other princes. Jeremiah’s prophetic words remain undisclosed until the city’s eventual fall, when he is present in the prison.

Outline
  1. Jeremiah’s message to Judah’s leaders and their reaction (vv. 1‑5)
  2. Imprisonment of Jeremiah and rescue by Ebedmelech (vv. 6‑13)
  3. Jeremiah’s prophetic dialogue with the king (vv. 14‑24)
  4. Aftermath: Jeremiah remains in prison until Jerusalem’s capture (vv. 25‑28)
Themes
Prophetic warning versus political resistanceFaithful deliverance against persecutionThe inevitability of divine judgment
Keywords
prophetkingJerusalemBabylonfamineswordpestilenceEbedmelechrescueprophecyexilejudgment
People
ShephatiahGedaliahJucalPashurMalchiah the son of HammelechZedekiahEbedmelechJeremiahJonathan
Places
Jerusalemthe dungeon of Malchiahthe house of the LORDthe king’s housethe court of the prisonthe gate of Benjaminthe third entry
Things
prophecysword, famine, pestilencecables/cordsold cast clots and rotten ragsthe voice of the LORDthe Chaldeansthe king’s promise
Key Verses
  • Jer 38:1: Opening declaration of Jeremiah’s warning
  • Jer 38:6: Illustrates Jeremiah’s harsh imprisonment
  • Jer 38:9: Ebedmelech’s advocacy and king’s command
  • Jer 38:14: Beginning of Jeremiah’s prophetic dialogue with the king
  • Jer 38:20: Jeremiah’s promise of protection if the king obeys
Questions
  • What does Jeremiah’s warning reveal about the relationship between prophetic truth and political power?
  • How does Ebedmelech’s act of rescue demonstrate faithfulness within the narrative?
  • In what ways does Jeremiah’s dialogue with the king illustrate the tension between divine instruction and human obedience?
  • What can we learn about the role of secrecy and disclosure in political crises from the king’s decision to keep Jeremiah’s words hidden?
  • How does the outcome of Jerusalem’s fall validate or challenge Jeremiah’s prophetic message?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter contains distressing events (imprisonment, famine) but also hope through divine deliverance.