Thematic Bible

Jeremiah 37:1

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Zedekiah, son of Josiah, to be king of Judah. Zedekiah succeeded Jehoiakin, son of Jehoiakim.

Jeremiah 37:2

Zedekiah, his administrators, and the common people did not listen to what Jehovah spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 37:3

King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah. They asked him: Please pray to Jehovah our God for us.

Jeremiah 37:4

Jeremiah was still free to come and go among the people. The people of Jerusalem had not put him in prison yet.

Jeremiah 37:5

Pharaoh's army came from Egypt. When the Babylonians who were blockading Jerusalem heard this news, they retreated from Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 37:6

Jehovah spoke his word to the prophet Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 37:7

This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: 'Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to get advice from me: Pharaoh's army has come out to help you. But it will go back to Egypt, its own land.

Jeremiah 37:8

Then the Babylonians will return. They will attack the city, capture it, and burn it down.

Jeremiah 37:9

Jehovah says: 'Do not deceive yourselves by thinking that the Babylonians will leave you. They will not leave you.

Jeremiah 37:10

Even if you would defeat the entire Babylonian army so that they had only a few badly wounded men left in their tents, they would get up and burn down this city!'

Jeremiah 37:11

The Babylonian army retreated from Jerusalem because Pharaoh's army was coming.

Jeremiah 37:12

Jeremiah wanted to leave Jerusalem and go to the territory of Benjamin to take possession of his property there among the people.
No Themes for this verse.

Jeremiah 37:13

When he came to Benjamin Gate, the captain of the guard there, whose name was Irijah, son of Shelemiah and grandson of Hananiah, arrested the prophet Jeremiah. He said: You are deserting to the Babylonians!

Jeremiah 37:14

Jeremiah answered: That is not true! I am not deserting to the Babylonians. But Irijah would not listen to him. Irijah arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials.

Jeremiah 37:15

The officials were so angry with Jeremiah that they beat him and put him in prison in the scribe Jonathan's house, which had been turned into a prison.

Jeremiah 37:16

Jeremiah went into a prison cell, and he stayed there a long time.

Jeremiah 37:17

Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah, and the king asked him privately in the palace: Is there any message from Jehovah? Jeremiah answered: Yes! There is a message from Jehovah. You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.

Jeremiah 37:18

Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah: What crime have I committed against you, your administrators, or these people? Why have you put me in prison?

Jeremiah 37:19

Where are the prophets who told you that the king of Babylon would not attack you and this land?

Jeremiah 37:20

Your Majesty, please listen, and accept my plea for mercy. Do not return me to the scribe Jonathan's house, or I will die there.

Jeremiah 37:21

King Zedekiah gave the command to have Jeremiah put in the courtyard of the prison. He gave him a loaf of bread every day from the bakers' street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.