17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah , "Thus says the Lord God of hosts , the God of Israel , 'If you will indeed go out to the officers of the king of Babylon , then you will live , this city will not be burned with fire , and you and your household will survive .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 38:17
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.