27 Jer 39:15–18. This incident is out of chronological order (see Jer 38:7–13). It is placed here either due to a desire not to interrupt the sequential ordering of events centering on Jeremiah’s imprisonment and his release (38:14–39:14) or to contrast God’s care and concern for the faithful (Ebed-Melech who, though a foreigner, trusted in God) with his harsh treatment of the faithless (Zedekiah who, though informed of God’s will, was too weak-willed in the face of opposition by his courtiers to carry it out).
28 Heb “Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he … saying.” The form of this clause is disjunctive showing that it does not follow the preceding events in either chronological or logical sequence. For a discussion of the form and function of such disjunctive clauses see §39.2.3. This example most closely fits the description and function of example 12, Ruth 4:18, 21–22 on p. 652.

In other versions

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard:

While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him:

Now the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah when he was confined in the guard’s courtyard:

The Lord had given the following message to Jeremiah while he was still in prison:

And the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah at his confinement in the courtyard of the guard, saying,

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

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