Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house, to die there.
26. I presented my supplication ] See on Jer 36:7.
to Jonathan’s house ] See Jer 37:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 26. I presented my supplication] This was telling the truth, and nothing but the truth, but not the whole truth. The king did not wish him to defile his conscience, nor did he propose any thing that was not consistent with the truth.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The king instructs the prophet, in case the princes should be inquisitive to know what discourse passed betwixt the king and him, to tell them that he petitioned him that he might be sent no more to the prison in the house of Jonathan, of which he complained, and petitioned the king to be freed from it, Jer 37:20.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26. presentedliterally, “mademy supplication to fall”; implying supplication with humbleprostration (see on Jer 36:7).
Jonathan’s house (Jer37:15), different from Malchiah’s dungeon (Jer38:6). This statement was true, though not the whole truth; theprinces had no right to the information; no sanction is given byScripture here to Jeremiah’s representation of this being the causeof his having come to the king. Fear drove him to it. Compare Gen 20:2;Gen 20:12; on the other hand,1Sa 16:2; 1Sa 16:5.
left off speakingwithHebrew, “were silent from him,” that is,withdrawing from him they left him quiet (1Sa7:8, Margin).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then thou shalt say unto them,…. Here the king puts words into the prophet’s mouth, what he should say to the princes, to put them off from inquiring further, and so keep the matter a secret:
I presented my supplication before the king; or “caused [it] to fall” d; delivered it in an humble and submissive manner:
that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house, to die there; this he had entreated of the king before, Jer 37:20; and now, no doubt, renewed his request, having this fair opportunity with the king alone to do it; or, however, it is highly probable he did it upon this hint of the king. This shows how much the king stood in fear of his princes in this time of his distress; and that he had only the name of a king, and had not courage and resolution enough to act of himself, according to the dictates of his mind; yea, that he feared men more than he feared the Lord.
d “cadere feci deprecationem meam”, Pagninus; “cadere faciens fui”, &c. Schmidt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He says, “Though they promise thee impunity, trust them not.” Zedekiah feared lest the Prophet should be too credulous, and should freely relate to the counselors what he had said. But he no doubt had reflected on the fact, that the Prophet had already announced the destruction of the city. He then could have hardly hoped for the silence which he required. Hence then it was, that he so earnestly bid him to be careful; and though the counselors should promise that there would be no danger to him, he yet bade him to be silent. Say to them, he said, I humbly prayed the king not to send me back to the house of Jonathan, that I might not die there It was not indeed a falsehood, but this evasion cannot be wholly excused. The Prophet justly feared, and, as we have before seen, he was perplexed and anxious, for that prison was horrible, and it would have been better at once to die than to have been thus buried alive in the earth. But it is certain that he did not come to the king for this purpose, for he had been sent for. Though, then, the Prophet did not expressly or in so many words say what was false, yet it was a kind of falsehood; and what follows, in reference to himself, cannot be excused.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
26. I presented my supplication, etc. True, but misleading. In this it has several parallels in the Bible. If asked whether it was right, the only safe answer is, We cannot fully decide. There may have been much affecting the case which we do not know. It is very certain that a man has a right to withhold the truth when to tell it would do harm.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 38:26 Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house, to die there.
Ver. 26. Then shalt thou say unto them, I presented my supplication. ] This was to tell part of the truth only (which might lawfully be done), and not to tell an officious, or at least an oblique lie, as some would make it to be.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 37:15, Jer 37:20, Jer 42:2, Est 4:8
Reciprocal: 1Sa 16:2 – I am come Est 7:3 – let my life Jer 38:6 – And in Jer 40:8 – Jonathan Act 16:24 – the inner
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 38:26. Jeremiah had made such a request of the king (cli. 37: 20) as was mentioned in this verse. Moreover, such a subject would be sufficient reason for the conversation between tbe king and the prophet,
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
38:26 Then thou shalt say to them, I {l} presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house, to die there.
(l) In this appears the infirmity of the prophet, who dissembled to save his life even though it was not to the denial of his doctrine or to the hurt of any.