Bible Commentaries

2. APPENDIX TO Jeremiah 39:1-14.—THE PROMISE MADE TO THE CUSHITE EBED-MELECH

Jeremiah 39:15-18

15Now the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court 16 of the prison [guard], saying, Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts [Jehovah Zebaoth], the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring⁴ my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be⁵ accomplished 17in that day before thee. But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the 18 Lord [Jehovah]: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord [Jehovah].

EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL

The Cushite Ebed-melech, to whom the words of our Lord may be applied ( Luke 19:40), “if these should hold their peace, the stones would cry out,” is here honored by a special consolatory promise. In the nature of the case this falls into the period after the occurrence related in Jeremiah 37:7-13. The expression shut up, etc., is found besides only in Jeremiah 33:1 (comp. Jeremiah 32:2). As we know from other grounds that chh32. and33. pertain to the last stage of the confinement in the court of the guard ( Jeremiah 38:28, comp. on Jeremiah 37:17), we may place our brief passage in the same period as that great consolatory discourse. This portion might, therefore, be attached to those chapters. It is, however, evident that the contents are too trifling in comparison with the importance of that great theocratic book of consolation, and that the historical connection seems better preserved in this place. After the prophet had related his own experiences till the capture of the city, he appends this brief prophecy uttered shortly before that epoch. In connection with Jeremiah 45 it would have been neither historically nor topically in the right place.

Jeremiah 39:15-18. Now the word . . . saith Jehovah. Two thoughts lie at the foundation of Jeremiah 39:16. 1. The fulfilment of my threatenings against Jerusalem shall take place before thine eyes. Ebed-melech is to see what he before believed. This is, as it were, the immanent reward of faith, its crown and corroboration2. Notwithstanding that all Jerusalem with all the people therein perishes the person of Ebed-melech shall remain unimperilled. This is the second physical and palpable reward of faith.—As the import of God’s word cannot be conceived of as indifferent, admitting of fulfilment either in a good or a bad sense, “for evil” must be regarded as dependent on “words.” Comp. Jeremiah 21:10.—In that day, Jeremiah 39:16, refers necessarily to the point of time in “I will bring,” and expresses that the moment of fulfilment will be at the same time the moment of visible perception. There may be a fulfilment which takes place invisibly. Compare what is said under Jeremiah 25:11 of the invisible reality of the beginning of the exile. In the same day Ebed-melech is to experience the power and grace of God in the deliverance of his own person. For he is not to be given into the hand of the men of whom he is afraid ( Jeremiah 39:17). It might be asked whether the Chaldeans are meant, or the Jews who were hostile to him on Jeremiah’s account. The expressions used in the following verse thou shalt not fall by the sword, and especially the contrast to the general destruction, involved in thou shalt have thy life for a prey (comp. Jeremiah 21:9; Jeremiah 38:2; Jeremiah 45:5), favor the former. Ebed-melech believed and trusted in the Lord. He held the word of the Lord, which Jeremiah proclaimed, to be true, he dared to oppose Jeremiah’s enemies; he consequently did not set his hope on the means of escape, on which these foolishly trusted, but on the Lord. In the words put thy trust, then, there is a double point of applause and of confidence.

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