Jeremiah 38:1–9

Jeremiah Thrown into a Cistern

38Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal ^bson of Shelemiah, ^cand Pashhur son of Malchijah heard the words Jeremiah was speaking to all the people: ²“This is what the Lord says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, ^dbut whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live. ^eHe will keep his life like the spoils of war and will live.’ ^f3This is what the Lord says: ‘This city will most certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon’s army, ^gand he will capture it.’ ”

⁴The officials then said to the king, “This man ought to die, because he is weakening the morale of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not seeking the well-being of this people, but disaster.” ^h

⁵King Zedekiah said, “Here he is; he’s in your hands since the king can’t do anything against you.” ⁶So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the guard’s courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud. ⁱ

⁷But Ebed-melech, a Cushite court official employed in the king’s palace, heard Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate, ^j8Ebed-melech went from the king’s palace and spoke to the king: ⁹“My lord the king, these men have been evil in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have dropped him into the cistern where he will die from hunger, because there is no more bread in the city.” ^k