The officials then said to the king, “This man ought to die, because he is weakening the morale[a] of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not pursuing the welfare of this people, but their harm.”(A)

King Zedekiah said, “Here he is; he’s in your hands since the king can’t do anything against you.” So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the guard’s courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 38:4 Lit hands

Then the officials(A) said to the king, “This man should be put to death.(B) He is discouraging(C) the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.”

“He is in your hands,”(D) King Zedekiah answered. “The king can do nothing(E) to oppose you.”

So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard.(F) They lowered Jeremiah by ropes(G) into the cistern; it had no water in it,(H) only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.(I)

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