Jer 37:11-21 | KingComments | STEP | When the army of the Chaldeans has moved away from Jerusalem and the siege is lifted, there is freedom to go out of the city again ( ). Jeremiah also uses that freedom, for he has an inheritance in Benjamin and he can now go and accept it ( ). But it turns out to be too early to take possession of it. In any case, he is stopped by the captain of the guard the moment he wants to go out of the city through the Gate of Benjamin ( ). The Gate of Benjamin is so called because behind it is the road to the territory of Benjamin. The captain of the guard Irijah, the son of Shelemiah – and probably the brother of Jehucal ( ) – arrests him and accuses him of wanting to defect to the Chaldeans. Jeremiah vigorously denies this, but his defense is in vain ( ). Irijah arrests him and brings him to the officials, the leaders and judges of the city. The officials are angry at Jeremiah ( ). Without trial they beat him and put him in jail. That jail is the writer Jonathan’s house which they have made into a jail. If a scribe’s house has become a jail, it does indicate that the scribe is not a scribe who writes about the freedom of the LORD. It is in that house that Jeremiah, the prophet of the LORD, who had the words of the LORD written down, is imprisoned. This is his second captivity after an earlier short one ( ). Jeremiah is imprisoned because they hate his message. They hate him because he preaches the word of God. It is the perfect opportunity for them to silence this man. The accusation is fabricated, but they believe it themselves and find in it a motive to silence their conscience. It is like the opposition to the preaching of the apostles and prophets and especially to that of the Lord Jesus.

‏ Jeremiah 37:11-21

Jeremiah Charged With Treason

When the army of the Chaldeans has moved away from Jerusalem and the siege is lifted, there is freedom to go out of the city again (Jer 37:11). Jeremiah also uses that freedom, for he has an inheritance in Benjamin and he can now go and accept it (Jer 37:12).

But it turns out to be too early to take possession of it. In any case, he is stopped by the captain of the guard the moment he wants to go out of the city through the Gate of Benjamin (Jer 37:13). The Gate of Benjamin is so called because behind it is the road to the territory of Benjamin. The captain of the guard Irijah, the son of Shelemiah – and probably the brother of Jehucal (Jer 37:3) – arrests him and accuses him of wanting to defect to the Chaldeans. Jeremiah vigorously denies this, but his defense is in vain (Jer 37:14). Irijah arrests him and brings him to the officials, the leaders and judges of the city.

The officials are angry at Jeremiah (Jer 37:15). Without trial they beat him and put him in jail. That jail is the writer Jonathan’s house which they have made into a jail. If a scribe’s house has become a jail, it does indicate that the scribe is not a scribe who writes about the freedom of the LORD. It is in that house that Jeremiah, the prophet of the LORD, who had the words of the LORD written down, is imprisoned. This is his second captivity after an earlier short one (Jer 20:1-3).

Jeremiah is imprisoned because they hate his message. They hate him because he preaches the word of God. It is the perfect opportunity for them to silence this man. The accusation is fabricated, but they believe it themselves and find in it a motive to silence their conscience. It is like the opposition to the preaching of the apostles and prophets and especially to that of the Lord Jesus.

Jeremiah in Prison

Jeremiah stays “many days” in prison, in the deepest hidden and filthiest vaults of it (Jer 37:16). Then Zedekiah sends for him (Jer 37:17). He wants to know something from him. No one must know that he is talking to Jeremiah. That’s why it happens in his house, in secret. Zedekiah wants to know if there is a word from the LORD. By this he means a word favorable to him. Jeremiah’s answer sounds powerful that there is indeed a word. That word is now a personal word for Zedekiah and its content is that he will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon.

Despite the prison where he has been for many days now and which is a horror to him, Jeremiah speaks God’s words to Zedekiah. He does not detract from God’s message to free himself. He does not negotiate about it. That does not mean that he may not take the opportunity to ask the question of why he is in prison at the highest authority (Jer 37:18). He is not asking for pity, but for justice. Is Zedekiah also able to tell him what he has done wrong that he, Zedekiah, has put him in prison? In this he is like Joseph who also says that he is innocent in prison (Gen 40:14-15). He holds Zedekiah responsible for this.

He also asks him about his prophets who prophesied that the king of Babylon will not go against him and the land (Jer 37:19). Where are they now with their big mouth? Surely Zedekiah has seen with his own eyes that he has come? If so, let the king listen to him for once, to his request not to have to go back to the house of the Jonathan the scribe, that terrible prison, so that he will not die there (Jer 37:20). It is an ironic situation. The false prophets of the lies that have been so clearly exposed are walking free around and the true prophet whose words have been so clearly proven true is in prison.

Zedekiah allows his request, but he does not release him, although he is convinced of Jeremiah’s innocence (Jer 37:21). He is spiritually very much akin to Pilate who also condemns the Lord Jesus against his better judgment (Lk 23:22-24). For Jeremiah, it is a relief that he does not have to return to his old prison. He is still in secure custody, but also assured of bread that he receives every day from the bakers’ street, until there is no more bread. He will stay there until the Babylonians free him.