12 that Jeremiah goeth out from Jerusalem to go 'to' the land of Benjamin, to receive a portion thence in the midst of the people. 13 And it cometh to pass, he is at the gate of Benjamin, and there 'is' a master of the ward—and his name is Irijah son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah—and he catcheth Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 'Unto the Chaldeans thou art falling.' 14 And Jeremiah saith, 'Falsehood—I am not falling unto the Chaldeans;' and he hath not hearkened unto him, and Irijah layeth hold on Jeremiah, and bringeth him in unto the heads, 15 and the heads are wroth against Jeremiah, and have smitten him, and put him in the prison-house—the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it they had made for a prison-house. 16 When Jeremiah hath entered into the house of the dungeon, and unto the cells, then Jeremiah dwelleth there many days, 17 and the king Zedekiah sendeth, and taketh him, and the king asketh him in his house in secret, and saith, 'Is there a word from Jehovah?' And Jeremiah saith, 'There is,' and he saith, 'Into the hand of the king of Babylon thou art given.' 18 And Jeremiah saith unto the king Zedekiah, 'What have I sinned against thee, and against thy servants, and against this people, that ye have given me unto a prison-house? 19 And where 'are' your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, The king of Babylon doth not come in against you, and against this land? 20 And now, hearken, I pray thee, my lord, O king, let my supplication fall, I pray thee, before thee, and cause me not to return 'to' the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I die not there.' 21 And the king Zedekiah commandeth, and they commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, also to give to him a cake of bread daily from the bakers' street, till the consumption of all the bread of the city, and Jeremiah dwelleth in the court of the prison.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 37:12-21
Commentary on Jeremiah 37:11-21
(Read Jeremiah 37:11-21)
There are times when it is the wisdom of good men to retire, to enter into their chambers, and to shut the doors, Isaiah 26:20. Jeremiah was seized as a deserter, and committed to prison. But it is no new thing for the best friends of the church to be belied, as in the interests of her worst enemies. When thus falsely accused, we may deny the charge, and commit our cause to Him who judges righteously. Jeremiah obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful, and would not, to obtain mercy of man, be unfaithful to God or to his prince; he tells the king the whole truth. When Jeremiah delivered God's message, he spake with boldness; but when he made his own request, he spake submissively. A lion in God's cause must be a lamb in his own. And God gave Jeremiah favour in the eyes of the king. The Lord God can make even the cells of a prison become pastures to his people, and will raise up friends to provide for them, so that in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.