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.
The princes – Not the noblemen trained in the days of Josiah and Jeremiahs friends Jer 26:16, but those described in Jer 24:8. They assumed that the accusation was true; they first scourged and then imprisoned Jeremiah.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Though Jeremiah, as the Lords prophet, faithfully revealed the will of God, that the Chaldeans should take the city, to warn the people (if possible) to prevent it by solemn addresses unto God, or at least to prevent what mischief might be prevented by a timely surrender to the king of Babylon, yet he had no design to fly to them; he was so far from delighting in their company, that when the city was taken, and the captain of the guard offered him either to go along with him to Babylon, promising to look well to him, Jer 40:4,5, or to go back to Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had left as deputy governor in Judea, he chose rather to go and dwell under Gedaliahs government in a poor condition, than to mend his commons in an idolatrous country: but the captain would not believe him, but carrieth him before the princes.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then said Jeremiah, [it is] false,…. Or a “falsehood” k; as undoubtedly it was;
I fall not away to the Chaldeans; for the Chaldean army was gone from the city; nor did Jeremiah like so well to be with an idolatrous people; for after the city was taken, when Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard gave him his choice, either to go with him to Babylon, where he promised to take care of him; or to go to Gedaliah, who was made governor of Judah; he chose rather to be with him, and his poor company:
but he hearkened not to him; would not hear his defence, or however would not give any credit to it, being unwilling to let slip this opportunity of doing him ill will:
so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes; the princes of Zedekiah’s court, or the princes of the people, the civil magistrates; or it may be the great sanhedrim, who he knew had no good disposition towards the prophet.
k “mendacium est”, Vatablus; “falsitas, calumnia”, Schmidt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Jeremiah replied: “A lie [= not true; cf. 2Ki 9:12] ; I am not going over to the Chaldeans. But he gave no heed to him; so Jeriah seized Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes. Jer 37:15. And the princes were angry against Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison, in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made it the prison,” – probably because it contained apartments suitable for the purpose. From Jer 37:16 we perceive that they were subterranean prisons and vaults into which the prisoners were thrust; and from v. 28 and Jer 38:26, it is clear that Jeremiah was in a confinement much more severe and dangerous to his life. There he sat many days, i.e., a pretty long time.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(14) Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.These were probably, as a body, identical with those named in Jer. 36:12, but the party opposed to the prophet were now apparently stronger than they had been. Neither they nor Irijah would listen to the prophets denial of the accusation. The fact that the siege had been raised by the Chaldans may have given fresh strength to the party of resistance. Possibly also many of the prophets friends had shared the captivity of Jehoiakim.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. The princes These were not the men who had twice before espoused the cause of Jeremiah. Chaps. 26 and 36. Probably those had been carried away with Jeconiah, and their places were now filled by men less worthy.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 37:14 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.
Ver. 14. Then said Jeremiah, It is false. ] Satanae pectus mendaciis faecundissimum est. a It is no news for innocence to be slandered, and to go with a scratched face.
But he hearkened not unto him.
a Luther.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
princes. Named in Jer 38:1; none of whom had been favourable to Jeremiah in the days of Jehoiakim (Jer 26:16).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
said: Jer 40:4-6, Neh 6:8, Psa 27:12, Psa 35:11, Psa 52:1, Psa 52:2, Mat 5:11, Mat 5:12, Luk 6:22, Luk 6:23, Luk 6:26, 1Pe 3:16, 1Pe 4:14-16
false: Heb. falsehood, or, a lie
Reciprocal: Num 16:41 – Ye have 2Ki 7:4 – let us fall Jer 26:10 – the princes Hab 1:4 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 37:14. Of course Jeremiah denied the accusation in strong terms, asserting that it was a falsehood. Nevertheless the guard ignored the denial and brought the prophet to the princes.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jeremiah denied the charge but to no avail. Irijah took him prisoner and brought him before the city officials.