A Vacillating King’s Secret Rendezvous

While the princes were still vainly looking toward Egypt for help, King Zedekiah was thinking of the prophet of God who had been put in prison. After many days the king sent for him and asked him secretly, “‘Is there any word from the Lord?’ And Jeremiah said, ‘There is.’ Then he said, ‘You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon!’RR 162.1

“Moreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, ... ‘Where now are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, “The king of Babylon will not come against you or against this land”? Therefore please hear now, O my lord the king ... and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.’” Jeremiah 37:17-20.RR 162.2

At this Zedekiah commanded that they commit “Jeremiah to the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread from the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone.” Verse 21.RR 162.3

The king dared not openly show any faith in Jeremiah. Though fear drove him to seek information privately, he was too weak to risk the disapproval of his princes and people by submitting to the will of God as the prophet had declared it.RR 162.4

Jeremiah continued to advise submission to the Babylonian rule: “He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live.” Jeremiah 38:2.RR 162.5

At last the princes, enraged over the counsels that were contrary to their policy of resistance, protested vigorously to the king. The prophet was an enemy to the nation. He should be put to death!RR 162.6