Jeremiah 37:11-12
Now when the Chaldean army had withdrawn from Jerusalem at the approach of Pharaoh’s army, Jeremiah set out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to receive his portion there among the people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah 37:11-12
Now when the Chaldean army had withdrawn from Jerusalem at the approach of Pharaoh’s army, Jeremiah set out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to receive his portion there among the people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jeremiah's departure wasn't simply a desire for peace; he was headed to his ancestral land of Benjamin for family matters. This moment highlights the tragic irony of God's messengers: Jeremiah, free to leave the besieged city because the enemy was momentarily distracted, was immediately suspected and arrested by his own people, accused of the very betrayal he had warned against.
Jeremiah was leaving Jerusalem, intending to return to his family's land in Benjamin, when the Babylonian army unexpectedly withdrew from the city because the Egyptian army was approaching. An officer at the gate, Irijah, stopped Jeremiah and accused him of deserting to the enemy, leading to the prophet's arrest and imprisonment by the princes. This verse marks the turning point where Jeremiah's ministry shifts from public prophecy to a period of intense personal suffering and confinement.
Jerusalem was under siege, but a sudden change in the political landscape offered a brief window of relief. What was God doing in this moment of shifting armies?
The Chaldean army, which had encircled Jerusalem, suddenly withdrew. This wasn't because they were defeated, but because Pharaoh's approaching army presented a different strategic challenge.
A Strategic Shift
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Jeremiah stepped out of the city with a personal reason, but was immediately accused of treason. What does this reveal about the spiritual climate of Jerusalem?
Jeremiah left Jerusalem with the intention of attending to family matters in his ancestral home. However, in the tense atmosphere of a city under threat, his movement was immediately suspect.
A Grievous Accusation
Understand the original words
kasdiy · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Refers to the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II, which God used as an instrument of judgment against Judah. Historically, they were a Semitic people from southern Mesopotamia who became the dominant regional power in the 7th and 6th centuries BC.
Yĕrūshālayim · Hebrew Noun
The central religious and political heart of the Kingdom of Judah, representing the presence of God and the focus of prophetic ministry and national identity. It is frequently referred to in Scripture as the 'city of God' or 'Zion'.
The temporary withdrawal of the Babylonian army was a critical moment. Jeremiah, who had prophesied Jerusalem's fall, was arrested as he tried to leave the city, mistaken for a traitor aiding the enemy.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Judah and deports some of the royal family and talented youth, including Daniel, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation and Jehoiachin's Exile
After a brief revolt, King Jehoiachin and more citizens are exiled to Babylon, with Zedekiah installed as king.
c. 589 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar returns and lays siege to Jerusalem, which will last for approximately two years.
c. February 588 BC— this verse
Pharaoh Hophra's Army Advances
Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt marches to relieve Jerusalem, causing the Babylonian army to temporarily withdraw from the siege.
c. July 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
After a prolonged siege, Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The city is destroyed, the Temple is burned, and the remaining population is exiled.
This passage shows Jeremiah purchasing a field while Babylon is besieging Jerusalem, demonstrating his faithfulness to God's word even in dire circumstances, similar to his attempt to leave the city during a temporary reprieve.
Jeremiah 38:14-28This section details Jeremiah's imprisonment and his interactions with King Zedekiah, directly following the events of his arrest described in Jeremiah 37.
Jeremiah 39:1-14This passage describes the final fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent treatment of Jeremiah, illustrating the consequences of the political and military situation referenced in chapter 37.
1 Kings 18:4This passage describes Obadiah hiding prophets from Jezebel, highlighting a historical parallel of faithful individuals being persecuted and needing to act covertly during times of oppressive rule.
calvinJeremiah 37:11-14: "And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army,"
And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.
Quum esset in porta Benjamin, illic erat magister custodiae, cujus nomen liria, filius Selemiae, filii Chananiae, qui apprehendit Jeremia…
barnesJeremiah 37:11: "And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army,"
Was broken up for fear of - Or, "had got them up from the face of." It was simply a strategic movement.
Jeremiah's departure wasn't simply a desire for peace; he was headed to his ancestral land of Benjamin for family matters. This moment highlights the tragic irony of God's messengers: Jeremiah, free to leave the besieged city because the enemy was momentarily distracted, was immediately suspected and arrested by his own people, accused of the very betrayal he had warned against.
Jeremiah was leaving Jerusalem, intending to return to his family's land in Benjamin, when the Babylonian army unexpectedly withdrew from the city because the Egyptian army was approaching. An officer at the gate, Irijah, stopped Jeremiah and accused him of deserting to the enemy, leading to the prophet's arrest and imprisonment by the princes. This verse marks the turning point where Jeremiah's ministry shifts from public prophecy to a period of intense personal suffering and confinement.
Jeremiah was leaving Jerusalem, intending to return to his family's land in Benjamin, when the Babylonian army unexpectedly withdrew from the city because the Egyptian army was approaching. An officer at the gate, Irijah, stopped Jeremiah and accused him of deserting to the enemy, leading to the prophet's arrest and imprisonment by the princes. This verse marks the turning point where Jeremiah's ministry shifts from public prophecy to a period of intense personal suffering and confinement.
"Now when the Chaldean army had withdrawn from Jerusalem at the approach of Pharaoh’s army, Jeremiah set out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to receive his portion there among the people." — Jeremiah's departure wasn't simply a desire for peace; he was headed to his ancestral land of Benjamin for family matters. This moment highlights the tragic irony of God's messengers: Jeremiah, free…
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