Jeremiah 37

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1. 1Zedekiah son of Josiah became king instead of Coniah son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
2. 2But neither Zedekiah, nor his officials, nor the people of the land listened to the words the LORD spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.
3. 3King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah with this message: "Please pray to the LORD our God for us."
4. 4At that time, Jeremiah was still free to move among the people, since he had not yet been thrown in prison.
5. 5Meanwhile, Pharaoh's army had marched out of Egypt. When the Chaldeans besieging Jerusalem heard this news, they pulled back from the city.
6. 6Then the word of the LORD came to the prophet Jeremiah:
7. 7This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of me: Pharaoh's army that came to help you will return to Egypt, to their own land.
8. 8Then the Chaldeans will return. They will attack this city, capture it, and burn it to the ground.'
9. 9"The LORD also says: 'Don't fool yourselves into thinking the Chaldeans are gone for good. They are not leaving.
10. 10Even if you defeated the entire Chaldean army fighting against you and only wounded survivors were left lying in their tents, those men would still get up and burn this city with fire.'"
11. 11When the Chaldean army pulled back from Jerusalem because of Pharaoh's approaching forces,
12. 12Jeremiah left Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin and separate himself there among the people.
13. 13But when he reached the Gate of Benjamin, a guard captain named Irijah son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, seized the prophet Jeremiah and accused him: "You're deserting to the Chaldeans!"
14. 14Jeremiah protested, "That's a lie! I'm not deserting to the Chaldeans!" But Irijah refused to listen. He arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials.
15. 15The officials were furious with Jeremiah. They had him beaten and locked up in the house of Jonathan the scribe, which had been converted into a prison.
16. 16When Jeremiah was put into the dungeon and the cells, he stayed there for many days.
17. 17Then King Zedekiah sent for him and had him brought to the palace. In private, the king asked, "Is there any word from the LORD?" Jeremiah answered, "There is. You will be handed over to the king of Babylon."
18. 18Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, "What crime have I committed against you, your officials, or this people that you've thrown me in prison?
19. 19And where are those prophets of yours who told you, 'The king of Babylon won't attack you or this land'?
20. 20Please listen to me, my lord the king. I'm begging you — don't send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe. I'll die if you send me there."
21. 21So King Zedekiah gave orders to have Jeremiah transferred to the courtyard of the guard. He also commanded that Jeremiah be given a loaf of bread each day from the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city ran out. And so Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.