HAMMELECH occurs as a proper name in AV and Revised Version margin of Jer 36:26; 38:6, but there is little doubt that the rendering ought to be 'the king,' as in RV and Authorized Version margin.
He also ordered Jerahmeel, who was one of the royal princes, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest the scribe Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah. However, the Lord hid them.
So the officials took Jeremiah and put him in the cistern of Malkijah, one of the royal princes, that was in the courtyard of the guardhouse. There was no water in the cistern, only mud. So when they lowered Jeremiah into the cistern with ropes he sank in the mud.
NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible