26 then tell them, 'I was pleading with the king not to send me back to Jonathan's house to die there.' "
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.
26 then you shall say to them, 'I made a humble plea to the king that he would not send me back to the house of Jonathan to die there.'"
26 If this happens, tell them, 'I presented my case to the king so that he wouldn't send me back to the dungeon of Jonathan to die there.'"
26 then you shall say to them, 'I presented my request before the king, that he would not make me return to Jonathan's house to die there.' "
26 If this happens, just tell them you begged me not to send you back to Jonathan's dungeon, for fear you would die there."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 38:26
Commentary on Jeremiah 38:14-28
(Read Jeremiah 38:14-28)
Jeremiah was not forward to repeat the warnings, which seemed only to endanger his own life, and to add to the king's guilt, but asked whether he feared to do the will of God. The less men fear God, the more they fear men; often they dare not act according to their own judgments and consciences.