Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?
That is, What have I done worthy of bonds? I have faithfully heretofore revealed to you the mind and will of God; if this hath offended you, I am not to be blamed, I could not but execute Gods commands.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. WhatIn what respect haveI offended?
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Moreover, Jeremiah said unto King Zedekiah,…. Having this opportunity with him alone, and perhaps observing the king was melted and softened with what he had said; however, finding liberty in his own mind, he enlarges his discourse, and freely expostulates with him in the following manner:
what have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison? or, “what have I sinned?” have I been guilty of treason against thee, O king? or of scandal and defamation of any of thy nobles and courtiers? have I done any injury to any of the king’s subjects? has there been any falsehood in my prophecies? has not everything appeared to be true that I have spoken, concerning the coming of the Chaldeans to invade the land, and besiege the city? and concerning the return of the Chaldean army when broken up? why then should I be cast into prison, and detained there? is it not a clear case that what I have said comes from the Lord? and therefore ought not to be used in this manner.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Though the Prophet had spoken what was displeasing to the king, he yet complains that wrong had been done to him, as he had been cast into prison; and thus he shews that he had been unjustly condemned for having threatened ruin to the city and destruction to the kingdom, because he was constrained to do this by the obligations of his office. Hence the Prophet shews that he had not sinned in this — that he had proclaimed God’s commands, however bitter they were to the king and to the people.
This passage deserves special notice: earthly princes are so proud, that as soon as they order anything, they wish every dispute about their authority to be suspended; for they will have their own ordinances to be counted laws, and their own decrees to be sacred and authoritative; and yet we know, that by following their own wills, they decree often what is wholly unjust and inconsistent with everything that is reasonable. This passage then, as I have said, deserves special notice; for Jeremiah boldly declares that he had not sinned, because he had threatened the king, displeased his counsellors, inveighed against the impiety of the people, and denounced utter ruin on the city and the Temple. He then denies that in all this he had done anything wrong. So also Daniel said,
“
Against God and the king have I not sinned,” (Dan 6:22)
and yet he had disregarded the king’s decree, and firmly refused by an impious flattery to put the king in the place of God: he however denied that he had done anything wrong against the king, because his decree was unjust and wicked. Let us then bear in mind, that though princes may in bear their decrees to be disregarded by us, they are yet not absolved before God and his angels, and also that we can boldly, openly, and with a full mouth, as they say, assert our innocence, when religion constrains us, and when it is not lawful to obey the impious and unjust edicts of kings. He afterwards adds —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(18) What have I offended against thee . . .?The cruelty of his treatment draws from the prophet an indignant protest. Of what crime had he been guilty, but that of speaking the word which the Lord had given him to speak, and was this a crime in the eyes of any true Israelite? No act of treachery or desertion could be proved against him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 37:18 Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?
Ver. 18. What have I offended against thee? ] As I know mine own innocence, so I would thou shouldst know that I am no stoic, or stock, indolent, or insensible of my grievous sufferings through the cruelty of thy princes, who have committed me to this ugly prison.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
offended = sinned.
prison = the house of detention. See Jer 37:16.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jer 26:19, Gen 31:36, 1Sa 24:9-15, 1Sa 26:18-21, Pro 17:13, Pro 17:26, Dan 6:22, Joh 10:32, Act 23:1, Act 24:16, Act 25:8, Act 25:11, Act 25:25, Act 26:31, Gal 4:16
Reciprocal: Jer 52:8 – General Lam 3:52 – without
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 37:18. Now we know that the king had something to do with the imprisonment of Jeremiah, for in his protest he charged him with the words ye have put me in prison.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 37:18-21. Moreover Jeremiah said, What have I offended against thee What law have I broken? What injury have I done to thee, or thy people, or government, that ye have put me in prison Have put me into the pit or dungeon, as a malefactor of the worst kind? Where are now your prophets That is, your false prophets? Surely the event has now convinced you, how much they have deceived you: for you see the siege renewed, and the city in imminent danger of being taken. Here we see Jeremiahs confinement in the dungeon had not broken his spirit, or diminished either his zeal or courage in delivering Gods message: he still speaks with the greatest boldness, and as one having authority. No doubt he would have been willing, had God called him to it, to seal his testimony with his blood: nevertheless, having so fair an opportunity to obtain relief, he thought it his duty to embrace it, and therefore, with great humility and submissiveness, and in a most respectful manner, presents his supplication, not indeed for an entire deliverance from restraint, which, however, it would not have been unreasonable to ask, but for a less cruel treatment. Then Zedekiah commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison A more agreeable place of confinement; and that they should give him daily a piece of bread, &c. Namely, out of the public stock, (for the prison was within the precincts of the court,) in order that he might not die for want. Until all the bread of the city was spent
Till the famine forced the city to surrender, Jer 52:6. This was the kings first order, but afterward it was reversed, by the importunity of the princes and great men, Jer 38:6, when Jeremiah was again thrown into the dungeon. Though after that he was released from that place, and returned to his former confinement, ibid. Jer 38:28.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jeremiah then asked Zedekiah what he had done to deserve imprisonment. His prophecies had proved true, whereas the messages of the prophets who predicted that Nebuchadnezzar would not invade the land had proved false. These false prophets were evidently free, but Jeremiah was in prison.