assigning him to starve to death here (38:5–6). The reference to using “ropes” implies that the cistern is quite deep. The cistern belongs to “Malkijah, the king’s son,” implicating the royal family in this terrible plan to let Jeremiah starve to death. Not one person from Judah or Jerusalem defends him or tries to prevent his death. Indeed, Jeremiah will be rescued by a very unusual and unexpected person, Ebed-Melek the Cushite (38:7–13). Ebed-Melek hears of Jeremiah’s plight and quickly approaches