INTRODUCTION: This chapter occurred at the time when the Babylonians had been besieging Jerusalem but were called away for a time (Jeremiah 37:5Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.
See All...). During this time of relief, Jeremiah was seen going out into the land and was falsely accused of falling out to the enemy (Jeremiah 37:11-15 [11] And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army, [12] Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself thence in the midst of the people. [13] And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans. [14] Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes. [15] Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.
See All...). Jeremiah was proclaiming the word of the Lord as he was called to do, but it seemed that all men were turning against him.

1. THE PLOT AGAINST JEREMIAH (Jeremiah 38:1-6 [1] Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, [2] Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. [3] Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it. [4] Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt. [5] Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you. [6] Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
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1. The Words of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:1-3 [1] Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, [2] Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. [3] Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.
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1. The audience of Jeremiah’s message (Jeremiah 38:1Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,
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2. The content of Jeremiah’s message (Jeremiah 38:2-3 [2] Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. [3] Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.
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1. He that remaineth in this city shall die (Jeremiah 38:2Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.
   See All...).
2. He that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live (Jeremiah 38:2Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.
   See All...).
3. This city shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army (Jeremiah 38:3Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.
   See All...)
2. The Persecution of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:4-6 [4] Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt. [5] Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you. [6] Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
   See All...)
1. The request of the princes (Jeremiah 38:4Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.
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1. For the life of Jeremiah
1. He weakeneth the hands of the men of war.
2. He weakeneth the hands of all the people.
2. For the cessation of Jeremiah’s words
1. He seeketh not the welfare of this people.
2. But the hurt
2. The response of Zedekiah (Jeremiah 38:5Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.
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1. Jeremiah is in your hand.
2. The king cannot do anything against you.
3. The confinement of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:6Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
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1. The place of confinement
1. They cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah.
2. It was in the court of the prison.
2. The conditions of confinement
1. They let Jeremiah down with cords.
2. There was no water, but mire.
3. Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
2. THE RESCUE OF JEREMIAH (Jeremiah 38:7-13 [7] Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin; [8] Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king saying, [9] My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city. [10] Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die. [11] So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. [12] And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. [13] So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
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1. The Concern for Jeremiah’s Life (Jeremiah 38:7-9 [7] Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin; [8] Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king saying, [9] My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.
   See All...)
1. The voice of concern (Jeremiah 38:7Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;
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1. His name – Ebedmelech
2. His nativity – an Ethiopian
3. His place – A eunuch in the king’s house
2. The expression of concern (Jeremiah 38:7-8 [7] Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin; [8] Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king saying,
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1. The king sat in the gate of Benjamin (Jeremiah 38:7Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;
   See All...).
2. Ebedmelech went forth to the king (Jeremiah 38:8Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king saying,
   See All...).
3. The cause for concern (Jeremiah 38:9My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.
   See All...)
1. The evil done by the princes
2. The well-being of Jeremiah - He is like to die for hunger.
2. The Deliverance of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:10-13 [10] Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die. [11] So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. [12] And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. [13] So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
   See All...)
1. The participants of deliverance (Jeremiah 38:10Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.
   See All...)
1. The leadership of Ebedmelech
2. The word of the king
3. Thirty unnamed men
2. The means of deliverance (Jeremiah 38:11-13 [11] So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. [12] And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. [13] So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
   See All...)
1. The resources implemented (Jeremiah 38:11So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
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1. Old cast clouts
2. Old rotten rags
3. Cords
2. The plan implemented (Jeremiah 38:12-13 [12] And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. [13] So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
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1. Jeremiah placed the old cast clouts and old rotten rags under his armholes (Jeremiah 38:12And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.
   See All...).
2. They drew up Jeremiah with the cords and took him up out of the dungeon (Jeremiah 38:13So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
   See All...).
3. The place of deliverance--He remained in the prison court (Jeremiah 38:13So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
   See All...).
3. JEREMIAH’S AUDIENCE WITH ZEDEKIAH (Jeremiah 38:14-23 [14] Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me. [15] Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me? [16] So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life. [17] Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: [18] But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. [19] And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me. [20] 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. [21] But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me: [22] And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back. [23] So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.
   See All...)
1. Jeremiah’s Hesitancy (Jeremiah 38:14-16 [14] Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me. [15] Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me? [16] So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.
   See All...)
1. Zedekiah’s desire to ask a question of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:14Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.
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2. Jeremiah’s concern in responding (Jeremiah 38:15Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?
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1. If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death?
2. If I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?
3. Zedekiah assured Jeremiah of safety (Jeremiah 38:16So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.
   See All...).
1. He will not be put to death.
2. He will not be delivered into the hands of those who seek his life.
2. Jeremiah’s Message for Zedekiah (Jeremiah 38:17-18 [17] Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: [18] But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.
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1. If he goes forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes (Jeremiah 38:17Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:
   See All...)
1. He and his family shall live.
2. Jerusalem shall not be burned with fire.
2. If he goes not forth to the king of Babylon’s princes (Jeremiah 38:18But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.
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1. The city will be burned with fire.
2. He will not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans.
3. Zedekiah’s Fear (Jeremiah 38:19And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.
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1. The people of his fear – “the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans”
2. The specifics of his fear
1. Being delivered into the hand of the Chaldeans
2. Being mocked
4. Jeremiah’s Response (Jeremiah 38:20-23 [20] 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. [21] But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me: [22] And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back. [23] So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.
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1. If Zedekiah obeyed (Jeremiah 38:20But 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.
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1. It shall be well unto him.
2. His soul shall live.
2. If Zedekiah refused (Jeremiah 38:21-23 [21] But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me: [22] And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back. [23] So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.
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1. The women shall be brought to the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 38:22And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.
   See All...).
2. The children shall be brought to the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 38:23So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.
   See All...).
3. The city shall be burned with fire (Jeremiah 38:23So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.
   See All...).
4. THE ENFORCED SECRECY OF JEREMIAH (Jeremiah 38:24-28 [24] Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die. [25] But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee: [26] Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there. [27] Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived. [28] So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.
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1. Zedekiah’s Counsel to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:24-26 [24] Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die. [25] But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee: [26] Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there.
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1. He advised secrecy (Jeremiah 38:24Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.
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2. He advised caution with the princes (Jeremiah 38:25-26 [25] But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee: [26] Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there.
   See All...).
2. The Visit from the Princes (Jeremiah 38:27Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.
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1. The princes came to Jeremiah as expected.
2. Jeremiah responded as instructed by the king.
3. Jeremiah’s Location (Jeremiah 38:28So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.
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1. He abode in the court of the prison.
2. He remained there until Jerusalem was taken.

CONCLUSION: God protected His prophet though so many were against him. It is true that Jeremiah went through many trials. We do not know the trials that we will have to face for the sake of the Lord, but we can be sure that God will be with us in those trials.