Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.
24. Let no man know ] Zedekiah’s feebleness is again conspicuous in this and the two following verses. Although the saving of the prophet from conditions likely to prove fatal is not directly mentioned in the narrative as preserved to us, it is far from unlikely that it was one subject of the conversation. Thus the prophet may well have held himself justified in limiting his statement to the princes in accordance with Zedekiah’s desire, especially when we remember that moral standards at that age were not altogether identical with our own.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
These words sufficiently let us know that Zedekiah stood in awe of his courtiers, and we might probably think, that had it not been for them, he would have done better. This is the righteous judgment of God; those that will not sanctify the Lord of hosts, and make him their fear, shall fear men, whom to fear is much more base and ignoble.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24. Let no man knowIf thouwilt not tell this to the people, I will engage thy safety.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then said Zedekiah to Jeremiah,…. Not a word signifying his approbation of the counsel given him, or that he intended to take it; his silence showed the reverse:
let no man know of these words: that had passed between them; of the conference and conversation they had had together, at least not the particulars of it; the thing itself was known, as appears by what follows, that the king and prophet had been discoursing together; but what they talked of, he desires might be concealed, pretending the prophet’s good, though it was his own honour and safety he sought:
and thou shall not die; as he had promised he should not, and had sworn to it; but suggests by this, that if he disclosed the conversation, he should took upon himself free from his word and oath; so that this carried something menacing in it: or it may be rendered “that thou die not” c; intimating, that if the princes should come to the knowledge of what he had said, of the advice he had given, they would surely put him to death; and therefore, for his own safety, he desires the whole may be kept a secret.
c “ne moriaris”, Gataker, Schmidt; “ut non moriaris”, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
From the king’s weakness of character, and his dependence on his evil counsellors, neither could this interview have any result. Partly from want of firmness, but chiefly from fear of the reproaches of his princes, he did not venture to surrender himself and the city to the Chaldeans. Hence he did not wish that his interview with the prophet should be known, partly for the purpose of sparing himself reproaches from the princes, partly also, perhaps, not to expose the prophet to further persecutions on the part of the great men. Accordingly, he dismissed Jeremiah with this instruction: “Let no man know of these words, lest thou die.” But if the princes should learn that the king had been speaking with him, and asked him, “Tell us, now, what thou hast said to the king, do not hide it from us, and we will not kill thee; and what did the king say to thee?” then he was to say to them, “I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not send me back to the house of Jonathan, to die there.” As to the house of Jonathan, see on Jer 37:15. On cf. Jer 36:7; Jer 37:20.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Vs. 24-28: CONFIDENTIALITY IMPOSED
1. Fearful for both his own life and that of Jeremiah, king Zedekiah asked the prophet not to reveal the full content of their exchange; if he did Zedekiah could not assure his safety, (vs. 24).
2. If the princes made inquiry concerning their conversations (comp. vs. 4-6), Jeremiah was to tell them that he had presented his plea that the king not send him back to the dungeon where he had almost died, (vs. 25-26; comp. Jer 37:15; Jer 37:20).
3. Those commentators who hasten to charge Jeremiah with cowardice, in granting the king’s request, may be manifesting their own unworthiness of such confidence as is reposed in spiritual counselor! furthermore, if the king was not pleased to fully reveal his own personal business to the princes of Judah, then Jeremiah certainly had no RIGHT to become a court gossip! (vs. 27; comp. 1Sa 10:15-16; 1Sa 16:2-5).
4. Jeremiah was not returned to the dungeon, but remained in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem fell to the Chaldean army, (vs. 28; comp. Jer 15:20-21; Jer 37:13-14; Psa 23:4).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Here is seen the miserable condition of the king. Had he no faith in the answer of Jeremiah, he would not have thus feared. But he acknowledged that what he had heard from the mouth of the Prophet was true. In the meanwhile he delayed and extended time as far as he could, and chose rather to spend his life in trembling than to be immediately freed from all care and anxiety. This was by no means to act like a king; for had he any courage, he would not have waited to the last hour. We indeed know that men of courage boldly meet death, when they see no hope of honor remaining. Zedekiah had lost his authority; he held indeed the title of a king, but he was without power; for he was compelled servilely to obey his counselors; and now he feared his own shadow, and yet protracted time, as I have said, as much as he could; and on this account he requested the Prophet, that this conversation might remain as buried.
By saying, thou shalt not die, he did not threaten the Prophet, but intimated that silence would not be less a benefit to Jeremiah than to himself: “ Thou wilt rouse the fury of all against thyself, if thou speakest of this interview, for no one can bear to hear anything of the ruin of the city: if then thou consultest thine own benefit, say not a word of this, and let it not come to the people nor to my counselors.” Under the color of an advice then he said to Jeremiah, “See lest thou die (115) He therefore did not speak threateningly.
(115) The words literally are, “Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.” Such is the rendering of the Sept., the Vulg., and the Targum.; the Syriac. is, “lest thou die;” which suggests the view taken by Calvin. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
24. Let no man know A king, and yet did not dare to have the particulars of this interview known!
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 38:24 Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.
Ver. 24. Let no man know of these words, ] Muliebriter deprecatur rex incredulus fidelem. Thus he who feareth not God, feareth his own servants and counsellors.
And thou shalt not die.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 38:24-28
24Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, Let no man know about these words and you will not die. 25But if the officials hear that I have talked with you and come to you and say to you, ‘Tell us now what you said to the king and what the king said to you; do not hide it from us and we will not put you to death,’ 26then you are to say to them, ‘I was presenting my petition before the king, not to make me return to the house of Jonathan to die there.’ 27Then all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him. So he reported to them in accordance with all these words which the king had commanded; and they ceased speaking with him, since the conversation had not been overheard. 28So Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guardhouse until the day that Jerusalem was captured.
Jer 38:26 you are to say to them Jeremiah agrees to the cover story. He did ask the king this very question in Jer 37:20.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 36-38
This is a study guide commentary, whichmeans that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. How much time separates chapter 36 from 37?
2. What does Jer 37:3; Jer 37:17 imply about the king?
3. Why was Jeremiah arrested in chapter 37?
4. Did the officials have any grounds for his arrest?
5. What does Jer 37:20 say about Jeremiah?
6. Why do some scholars see chapters 37 and 38 as two accounts of one occurrence?
7. In which verse of chapter 38 does the weakness of Jeremiah show clearly?
8. Why did the officials want to kill Jeremiah?
9. Who is Ebed-melech?
10. Did Jeremiah lie in Jer 38:27?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Reciprocal: Jer 37:17 – asked
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 38:24. The king requested Jeremiah to observe secrecy as to the subject matter of their conference. “We do not know what were the motives for this request, further than his wish to avoid trouble with the princes.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 38:24-27. Then said Zedekiah, Let no man know of these words, &c. Keep what has passed between us secret, and I will keep my promise to thee of preserving thy life. These words sufficiently show that Zedekiah stood in fear of his courtiers. This is the righteous judgment of God, that those who will not sanctify the Lord of hosts in their hearts, and make him their fear, shall fear men, whom to fear is to be in a state of ignoble and miserable bondage. But if the princes hear, &c. It was hardly possible that Zedekiah should have this private discourse with Jeremiah, but some or other of his courtiers should come to the knowledge of it. But here we see in what a state of miserable subjection this poor prince was to them, in that he could discourse to nobody, but they must come and inquire what he had said. Thou shalt say, I presented my supplication, &c. Jeremiah had been formerly kept prisoner in Jonathans house, Jer 37:15. But the last time he was imprisoned was in the dungeon of Hammelech, Jer 38:6 of this chapter: a place which, perhaps, might at this time be put to some other use. Then came all the princes to Jeremiah As the king suspected, so it came to pass: his private discourse with the prophet transpired, and all the princes then at court came and inquired of Jeremiah what was the substance of it. And he told them according to all that the king had commanded He told them part of the truth, but not all, concealing from them the advice which he had given to the king, with relation to the questions he had proposed to him. For a man is not bound in all cases to discover the whole truth, particularly to those who have no right to the knowledge of it, which, in this case, these princes had not. So the matter was not perceived The princes never got to know what was the principal subject of the kings conference with the prophet.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Zedekiah made Jeremiah promise that he would not tell anyone that they had had this conversation. If he kept it a secret, the prophet could live.