Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 39:14
Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.
14. Gedaliah ] See on Jer 26:24.
home ] to the house, apparently meaning to the prophet’s own dwelling.
dwelt ] i.e. was no longer in confinement.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jeremiah was to be taken out of the court of the watch, and placed in the palace close by.
He dwelt among the people – i. e., he was no longer in custody, but master of his own actions.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The king of Babylons officers were very religious to their princes order, and take the prophet out of prison. For the latter part of the 14th verse, it seems but an anticipation of what we shall find related more fully and particularly Jer 40.; or else so ought to be translated yet, as appeareth from the first verse of the next chapter, from whence it is plain that the prophet was also bound in chains amongst them that were carried away captive, and not discharged until he came at Ramah, which probably might be in that hurry of affairs; though the princes at first freed him from prison, the under officers not so diligently observing their special charge relating to Jeremiah, the neglect of which the captain of the guard observing when he came as far as Ramah, himself took care in it, as we shall find, Jer 40; after which, upon his choice, he was committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor over the country.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. Gedaliahson of Ahikam,the former supporter of Jeremiah (Jer26:24). Gedaliah was the chief of the deserters to the Chaldeans,and was set over the remnant in Judea as one likely to remainfaithful to Nebuchadnezzar. His residence was at Mizpah (Jer40:5).
homethe house ofGedaliah, wherein Jeremiah might remain as in a safe asylum. As inJer 40:1 Jeremiah isrepresented as “bound in chains” when he came to Ramahamong the captives to be carried to Babylon, this release of Jeremiahis thought by MAURER to bedistinct from that in Jer 40:5;Jer 40:6. But he seems first tohave been released from the court of the prison and to have beentaken to Ramah, still in chains, and then committed in freedom toGedaliah.
dwelt among the peoplethatis, was made free.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Even they sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison,…. Where he was, when Jerusalem was taken, Jer 38:28; and where he remained until this order came:
and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan; the father of this person seems to be the same who saved Jeremiah from being delivered into the hand of the people, to be put to death by them, in Jehoiakim’s reign, Jer 26:24; and he himself was doubtless a prince of Judah, that deserted to the Chaldeans during the siege, and was in esteem with them, and appointed a governor over those that were left in the land: now what is here recorded was not done immediately after Jeremiah was taken out of the court of the prison; for however it was, whether through the multiplicity of business, or the neglect of inferior officers, who did not attend to the charge the captain of the guard gave them concerning Jeremiah; though he was taken out of prison, he was bound in chains, and carried among the captives to Ramah; where, very probably, Nebuzaradan, looking over his prisoners, to his great surprise finds the prophet among them; when he released him, and, after some discourse with him, sent him to Gedaliah; see Jer 40:1;
that he should carry him home; or, “to the house” o; either to the house of Gedaliah, as Kimchi; or rather to the house of Jeremiah in Anathoth:
so he dwelt among the people; that were left in the land, being at full liberty.
o “in domum”, Schmidt; “ad domum”, Pagninus, Montanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here Jeremiah completes what we began yesterday to expound, even that by the command of King Nebuchadnezzar he was delivered from prison. But we have said, that though that heathen king had regard to his own interest, yet his mind was ruled by the secret power of God, who thus designed to rescue his servant from death; for God is wont thus to work even by the ungodly, who have another thing in view. It is not always by a voluntary act that men serve God, for many execute what God has decreed when they have no intention of doing so: and he so turns and drives them here and there, that they are constrained, willing or unwilling, to obey his authority. Thus, then, it was that Nebuchadnezzar liberated Jeremiah.
And yet the Prophet fully believed that he did not owe his life to King Nebuchadnezzar, but that he had been in a wonderful manner preserved by God’s favor; and to shew this is the design of the whole narrative.
He says, that the king had sent all-the leaders of the Chaldean army to take him out of the court of the prison, and that he was then delivered to the care of Gedaliah, not that he might be watched as usual, but because the princes knew that the people had entertained hatred towards the holy Prophet, and therefore wished him to be preserved safe from all violence. This then was the reason why they committed him to the keeping of Gedaliah, who, as we shall hereafter see, was in favor with the Chaldeans and highly esteemed.
He adds in the last place, that he dwelt in the midst of the people: by which expression is set forth complete liberty, as we say in our language, aller et venir. He then says that he was in the midst of the people, because he had been before shut up in prison. It now follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) Out of the court of the prison.There is a slight apparent discrepancy between this statement and that in Jer. 40:1, that the prophet was set free at Ramah. It seems likely that, at first, he was sent back to the prison where he had been found, till he could be placed under the protection of Gedaliah.
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan.The reason of the choice lies almost on the surface. Gedaliah was the representative of a house which for three generations had been true to the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Shaphan had been the kings scribe in the early years of Josiah, and had taken an active part in the restoration of the Temple (2Ki. 22:3-7). He was the first to read the newly-found lost copy of the Law, which we identify with the Book of Deuteronomy (2Ki. 22:8-14), and his son Ahikam acted with him. The latter protected Jeremiah in the reign of Jehoiakim (Jer. 26:24). His brother Gemariah gave the prophet the use of his chamber in the Temple (Jer. 36:10), and tried to turn aside the kings wrath (Jer. 36:25). And now the son of Ahikam appears as the prophets friend and protector.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Out of the court of the prison From this account we should not doubt that Jeremiah was liberated at Jerusalem, but the following chapter makes it entirely certain that Ramah was the scene of his release. The explanation is, that the first gives the matter with great brevity, while the latter gives it in detail. It would appear that at the time of the capture of the city the male inhabitants who had not borne arms were carried to Ramah, as prisoners, and Jeremiah among them. In this summary account no mention is made of this, but he is spoken of as though he were still in the court of the prison.
Carry him home Literally, into the house. What house can only be conjectured. Hitzig says, the temple; Graf, the king’s house; Keil, the official residence of Gedaliah, the governor. This last is satisfactory, and explains why the pronoun is omitted. If it had been his private residence we should certainly expect to see the pronoun.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 39:14 Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.
Ver. 14. They sent and took Jeremiah. ] But why did they not also loose him from his bonds? Jer 40:1
And committed him unto Gedaliah.
The son of Ahikam.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
prison = house of detention: as in Jer 38:6, Jer 38:13, Jer 38:28.
Gedaliah. See note on Ahikam, Jer 26:24. Compare Jer 40:6.
Shaphan. See note on 2Ki 22:3.
carry him home. Some codices, with one early printed edition (Rabbinic), read “out of the [prison] house”. From the next chapter we learn that he was taken north to Ramah with other captives, and from that place was set free, and went to Gedaliah to Mizpah (Jer 40:6). This verse (Jer 39:14) is only a brief summary.
so = and.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
took: Jer 39:15, Jer 37:21, Jer 38:13, Jer 38:28, Jer 40:1-4, Psa 105:19
committed: Jer 40:5-16, Jer 41:1-3, 2Ki 25:22-25
Ahikam: Jer 26:24
Reciprocal: 2Ki 22:9 – Shaphan 2Ch 34:8 – sent Shaphan Jer 29:3 – Shaphan Jer 40:6 – Then
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 39:14. The men named were sent to take Jeremiah out of the court of the prison where he had been held for a long time. He was put into the hands of Gedaliah who had been appointed as governor over the Jews (verse 10) after the siege of Jerusalem had been accomplished.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
39:14 Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him to {f} Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.
(f) Whom the king of Babel had now appointed governor over the rest of the Jews that he left behind.