1 Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur son of Malchiah heard what Jeremiah said publicly
2 in the name of Yahweh, "Anyone who stays in the city will perish by the sword, famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will survive although he may lose everything.
3 For Yahweh has spoken: I have handed over this city to the king of Babylon and he will take it."
4 Then the officials told the king, "This man should be put to death, because he is weakening the will of the fighting men and the people left the city. In fact he is not out to save the people but to do harm."
5 King Zedekiah said, "His life is in your hands for the king has no power against you."
6 So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah the king's son, in the Guards' Court. They lowered him by means of ropes. There was no water in the cistern but only mud and Jeremiah sank into the mud.
7 Ebedmelech, an Ethiopian official of the king's house, heard that they had lowered Jeremiah in the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate,
8 Ebedmelech went and spoke to him,
9 "My lord king! These men have acted wickedly in all they did to Jeremiah the prophet. They threw him into the cistern where he will die."
10 So the king ordered Ebedmelech the Ethiopian: "Take three men with you from here and draw Jeremiah the prophet out from the cistern before he dies."
11 Ebedmelech took the men with him and went into the king's house beneath the treasury. There he got pieces of rags and old clothes which he lowered by means of ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.
12 Ebedmelech said to Jeremiah, "Put the pieces of rags and old clothes under your armpits, over the ropes." This Jeremiah did.
13 Then Jeremiah was pulled up from the cistern by means of the ropes and was brought to the Guards' Court to stay there.
14 King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of Yahweh's House and there said to him, "I am going to ask you a question; hide nothing from me!" Jeremiah said to Zedekiah,
15 "If I tell you something, won't you put me to death? And if I advice you, will you listen to me?"
16 King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah: "As Yahweh lives who gave us a soul, I will not have you die and I will not hand you over to those who want to kill you."
17 Jeremiah told to Zedekiah, "This is what Yahweh God of hosts and God of Israel says: If you surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon you will survive and the city will not be burned. You and your household will live.
18 But if you surrender not to the king of Babylon, this very city will be handed over to the Chaldeans and they will set it on fire. For your part, you will not escape."
19 King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "I am afraid of the people of Judah who have surrendered to the Chaldeans. I fear the Chaldeans will give me over to them and they will ill-treat me."
20 Jeremiah said, "They will not hand you over. Listen to what Yahweh says to you through me; it will be well with you and you will live.
21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is what Yahweh has let me see:
22 All the women left in your palace will be handed over to the officers of the king of Babylon and will sing this song: 'Your friends have deceived and overcome you. When your feet have sunk into the mud, they turn away from you!'
23 All your wives and children shall be led out to the Chaldeans and you will not escape from them. You will be nabbed by the king of Babylon and this city will be burned down!"
24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Let no one know about this conversation lest you will die.
25 If the officials hear that I have spoken with you and if they come to you and ask you what I spoke of to you, even though they threaten you,
26 you will say to them: I only made a petition to the king not to send me back to the house of Jonathan to die."
27 All the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him. He replied just as the king had instructed him, and they said no more since no one had overheard the conversation.
28 But Jeremiah remained in the Guards' Court until the day Jerusalem was taken.
Versículos relacionados com Jeremiah, 38:
Jeremiah 38 narrates the moment when the prophet is arrested and thrown into a cistern because of his prophecies against the city of Jerusalem. Throughout the chapter, Jeremiah is rescued by an ethiopian and has a conversation with King Zedekiah, where he reiterates his message that the city would be taken by the Babylonians. Below are five verses related to the topics addressed in Jeremiah 38:
2 Kings 25:4: "The city was invaded, and all the soldiers fled at night along the way to the door between the two walls near the king's garden" This verse describes the moment when Jerusalem is taken by the Babylonians, confirming the prophecy of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 32:3: "Zedekiah, King of Judah, had him arrest and asked him," The Lord did not speak to him, saying, "Will I give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will take it?" It shows how Jeremiah is arrested and taken before King Zedekiah, whom he had already prophesied the fall of the city.
Jeremiah 21:4-7: "Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you battle outside the walls, and will gather in the midst of this city all the city Your enemies. I will fight against you with extended hand and a strong arm, with wrath, furor and great indignation. I will hurt the inhabitants of this city, men and animals; they will die of great pestilence. " These verses show the continuity of Jeremiah's message, which foresees the fall of Jerusalem and the punishment of the people for their sins.
Jeremiah 39:18: "I will deliver you that day, says the Lord; you will not be delivered into the hands of men you are afraid." This verse is God's promise to Jeremiah, which would be protected during the fall of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 52:7-11: "Then the city was invaded, and all the soldiers fled at night along the way to the door between the two walls near the king's garden, though the Chaldeans were around the city. And King fled along the way From Arabá, but the army Caldeu persecuted him and reached him in the Campinas of Jericho. All his army dispersed and fled, leaving him alone. Then they arrested the king and led him to the king of Babylon in Ribla, in the land of Hamate , where it was condemned. " These verses describe the fall of Jerusalem and the capture of King Zedekiah by the Babylonians, confirming the prophecy of Jeremiah.
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