Jeremiah 38:14-15
King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of the temple of the LORD. The king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me.” Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Zedekiah seeks a private word from God, not just information, emphasizing his desperate, yet still divided, heart. He calls it "the third entrance," highlighting a hidden, perhaps less accessible, point within the temple—a symbolic place for his hesitant conversation with the divine. This specific location underscores his attempt to circumvent the open pronouncements that had led to Jeremiah's imprisonment, seeking a more confidential divine counsel.
Jeremiah, having been rescued from a cistern and brought to relative safety, is now summoned by King Zedekiah for a private consultation within the temple grounds. Despite his advisors urging him to have Jeremiah executed, Zedekiah still has a lingering need to hear God's word directly, even though he ultimately proves unwilling to obey it. The king seeks a frank and unvarnished answer from the prophet, emphasizing his desire for the unadulterated truth from God.
Why would a king summon a prophet to a specific, almost hidden spot within God's temple?
King Zedekiah calls Jeremiah to a private meeting at the 'third entrance' of the temple. This wasn't just any location; scholars suggest it was a secluded passage, possibly connecting directly from the palace, chosen to ensure privacy for a sensitive conversation.
This wasn't a public declaration of repentance, but a clandestine encounter. It shows Zedekiah's internal conflict: he still sought God's word but was unwilling to openly embrace it, fearing the political fallout or the Babylonian threat.
The choice of this particular entrance highlights the tension between the king's duty to God and his fear of man.
Zedekiah demands the unvarnished truth. What does this reveal about his state of mind?
Zedekiah's command to Jeremiah, 'I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me,' is loaded with desperation. He's not just curious; he's seeking clarity in a moment of extreme crisis for Jerusalem and his kingdom.
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This reflects a deep inner turmoil. While Zedekiah has previously ignored Jeremiah's warnings and even imprisoned him, he now desperately needs God's perspective. He desires to know the unvarnished truth, even if it's painful.
This plea underscores a common human struggle: acknowledging a need for God's truth while wrestling with the fear of what that truth might demand. It's the sound of a soul teetering on the brink, wanting truth but not yet fully committed to obeying it.
Understand the original words
nabi · Hebrew Noun
A person divinely called to speak God's word to humanity. Prophets serve as intermediaries, declaring divine judgment, calling for repentance, or revealing God's will, often in the face of intense opposition or rejection.
hekal · Hebrew Noun
The dwelling place of God's presence on earth, central to Israel's worship. It represents the holiness of God and the place where humanity encounters the divine, though it can also be a site of judgment when the people are unfaithful.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name for the God of Israel, the covenant-keeping God. It is the personal, self-existent name revealed to Moses, emphasizing God's faithfulness and relationship with His people.
etsah · Hebrew Noun
Divine or wise guidance given to direct one's path. In a biblical context, it involves instruction on how to live in accordance with God's will, which can be accepted in humility or rejected in pride.
Zedekiah's desperate, secret meeting with Jeremiah highlights his internal conflict: he seeks God's word but is trapped by political pressures and his own weak will, a common human struggle when truth demands difficult choices.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Jehoiachin and many of Jerusalem's elite were exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II. This event marked a significant blow to Judah's sovereignty and signaled the growing power of Babylon.
c. 597-586 BC
Reign of Zedekiah
Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle, was installed as king of Judah by the Babylonians. He was a weak ruler, caught between Babylonian pressure and Egyptian influence, and ultimately defied Nebuchadnezzar.
c. 589 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
After Zedekiah rebelled against Babylonian rule by forming an alliance with Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. The city would endure a brutal siege for nearly two years.
c. 588 BC
Jeremiah Imprisoned
Jeremiah was imprisoned in the house of Malchijah by officials who accused him of hindering the city's defense. He was later moved to a cistern to die of starvation.
c. 588 BC— this verse
Zedekiah Questions Jeremiah
King Zedekiah secretly sends for Jeremiah from prison for a private consultation within the temple complex. He desperately seeks guidance, urging the prophet to reveal God's word without holding back.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians breached Jerusalem's walls, ending the siege. The city was plundered, its temple destroyed, and the remaining population was exiled to Babylon.
This passage highlights the importance of obedience to God's word over outward religious acts, echoing Zedekiah's internal conflict between hearing Jeremiah and following God's command.
Proverbs 29:25The fear of man brings a trap, but the one who trusts in the LORD is found secure. This verse speaks to Zedekiah's precarious position, caught between the pressure of his advisors and his own flicker of respect for God's prophet.
John 12:42-43This New Testament passage describes leaders who believed in Jesus but, because of their fear of the Pharisees, did not confess Him. It parallels Zedekiah's situation, wanting to know God's will but afraid to fully commit.
Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. This verse serves as a reminder of the urgency and seriousness with which Zedekiah should have approached God's message through Jeremiah.
barnesJeremiah 38:14: "Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me."
The third entry - There was probably a passage from the palace to the temple at this entry, and the meeting would take place in some private chamber close by.
calvinJeremiah 38:14: "Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me."
Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.
Et misit rex Zedechias et tulit (hoc est, accersivit) Jeremiam Pro…
Zedekiah seeks a private word from God, not just information, emphasizing his desperate, yet still divided, heart. He calls it "the third entrance," highlighting a hidden, perhaps less accessible, point within the temple—a symbolic place for his hesitant conversation with the divine. This specific location underscores his attempt to circumvent the open pronouncements that had led to Jeremiah's imprisonment, seeking a more confidential divine counsel.
Jeremiah, having been rescued from a cistern and brought to relative safety, is now summoned by King Zedekiah for a private consultation within the temple grounds. Despite his advisors urging him to have Jeremiah executed, Zedekiah still has a lingering need to hear God's word directly, even though he ultimately proves unwilling to obey it. The king seeks a frank and unvarnished answer from the prophet, emphasizing his desire for the unadulterated truth from God.
Jeremiah, having been rescued from a cistern and brought to relative safety, is now summoned by King Zedekiah for a private consultation within the temple grounds. Despite his advisors urging him to have Jeremiah executed, Zedekiah still has a lingering need to hear God's word directly, even though he ultimately proves unwilling to obey it. The king seeks a frank and unvarnished answer from the prophet, emphasizing his desire for the unadulterated truth from God.
"King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of the temple of the LORD. The king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me.” Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you…" — Zedekiah seeks a private word from God, not just information, emphasizing his desperate, yet still divided, heart. He calls it "the third entrance," highlighting a hidden, perhaps less accessible, po…
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