Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 7. Ebed-melech] The servant of the king one of the eunuchs who belonged to the palace. Perhaps it should be read, "Now, a servant of the king, a Cushite, one of the eunuchs," &c.
The king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin] To give audience, and to administer justice. We have often seen that the gates of cities were the places of public judicature.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The Chaldean army will return. (Jer. 37:1-10) Jeremiah is imprisoned (Jer. 37:11-21)
Jer. 37:1-10 Numbers witness the fatal effects of other men's sins, ye heedlessly step into their places, and follow the same destructiv course. When in distress, we ought to desire the prayers of minister and Christian friends. And it is common for those to desire to be prayed for, who will not be advised; yet sinners are often hardened by a pause in judgments. But if God help us not, no creature can. Whateve instruments God has determined to use, they shall do the work, thoug they seem unlikely.
Jer. 37:11-21 There are times when it is the wisdom of good men to retire, to enter into their chambers, and to shut the doors, Is. 26:20 Jeremiah was seized as a deserter, and committed to prison. But it is no new thing for the best friends of the church to be belied, as in the interests of her worst enemies. When thus falsely accused, we may den the charge, and commit our cause to Him who judges righteously Jeremiah obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful, and would not, to obtain mercy of man, be unfaithful to God or to his prince; he tell the king the whole truth. When Jeremiah delivered God's message, he spake with boldness; but when he made his own request, he spak submissively. A lion in God's cause must be a lamb in his own. And God gave Jeremiah favour in the eyes of the king. The Lord God can make even the cells of a prison become pastures to his people, and wil raise up friends to provide for them, so that in the days of famin they shall be satisfied _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew וישׁמע8085 עבד מלך5663 הכושׁי3569 אישׁ376 סריס5631 והוא1931 בבית1004 המלך4428 כי3588 נתנו5414 את853 ירמיהו3414 אל413 הבור953 והמלך4428 יושׁב3427 בשׁער8179 בנימן׃1144
