The eunuchs— Who made part of the court-officers. See 2 Kings 25:19.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, This prophesy in its date precedes the former, being, it seems, the cause of Jeremiah's commitment to the court of the prison, chap. Jeremiah 32:2-5. It was directed particularly to Zedekiah, and, though a king, the prophet faithfully delivered it; for they who will be true to their trust must neither flatter nor fear the greatest. Matters were now brought to a very desperate point: but two cities, Azekah and Lachish, remained to Judah; and these, as well as Jerusalem, were now invested by the army of Nebuchadnezzar; yet Zedekiah and the people persisted in their obstinacy, and refused to surrender. Hereupon,
1. Their doom is read. Jerusalem should be burned to the ground, the king himself made a prisoner, and, though attempting to escape, should be seized and brought to the king of Babylon, and carried by him into a miserable captivity—the just punishment of his rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, and disobedience to the warnings of God.
2. A gleam of mercy breaks through the gloom. God assures him, and his word cannot fail, that he shall not be put to death, but die in peace, on his bed; treated kindly by the king of Babylon; and it may include, in peace with God, his sufferings in Babylon having been blessed to bring about his repentance; and, though a captive, he should be honourably interred, with the usual respect paid to the kings of Judah, and with the lamentations of the people, deeply afflicted at his loss. Note; They who at last, though late, return to God, will find peace with him; and, however severe their afflictions may have been, they will have reason to bless God for them as their chief mercies. The prison that leads to repentance is far preferable to a palace which proves the scene of iniquity.
2nd, The second prophesy contained in this chapter was delivered during that interval when Nebuchadnezzar had raised the siege of Jerusalem to go to meet the army of Egypt which was advancing to relieve it.
1. The occasion of the prophesy was, their unjust and hypocritical conduct toward their servants. The law had enjoined them every seventh year to release their brethren, who for poverty or debt had been sold for bondmen, in gratitude for their own deliverance from Egypt. But this, among their other sins, their fathers had neglected, and they kept them still in servitude, notwithstanding the year of release was past: and, custom having authorized the evil, it was become general. But, when the Chaldean army besieged the city, as the prophets, no doubt, had before rebuked them for such an avowed disobedience to the law, they now laid the matter to heart, convinced of the evil of the practice; an edict was published by the king, princes, and people, for a general release; and, to confirm it, they made a solemn covenant in the temple, to abide by God's law for the future, passing between the parts of the divided calf, as imprecating God's wrath, that they might be thus cut asunder, if they failed of performing their engagement. In consequence of this, all their servants and handmaids were set free, as was right in God's sight; but when the siege was raised, and the storm seemed to be blown over, they again forced them to return to servitude, committing a most flagrant piece of injustice to them, playing a part most hypocritical and affronting to God, and justly bringing upon their heads the curse of a broken covenant. Note; (1.) The reformations which fear and danger make are seldom sincere or abiding. (2.) The most solemn bonds and vows will not long restrain those whose hearts are not right with God. (3.) If God's reprieves are abused, and made an encouragement to persist in the ways of wickedness, he will then proceed to execution; for none ever hardened their hearts against him and prospered.
2. God pronounces judgment upon them for this treacherous dealing. He dismisses them from his service and protection, and devotes them to famine, pestilence, and the sword; the men who have transgressed the covenant, shall be as the calf which they divided, even the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the eunuchs, or officers about the court, the priests, and all the people of the land, who had so solemnly sworn to observe it. Given up into the hands of the Chaldeans, they are doomed to a miserable death; their carcases, unburied, shall be cast as dung upon the earth, and be meat for the beards and birds. Nor may they think, because the king of Babylon is gone up from them, that they are safe. He shall return infallibly, besiege, storm, and burn Jerusalem, with all the other cities of Judah, spread desolation on the land, and leave it as an uninhabited wilderness, dragging Zedekiah and his princes, with the remnant that escape the sword, into an ignominious captivity, to know themselves the miseries of that servitude which they had made so heavy to their brethren. Note; (1.) The sinner's security is a sad presage of his destruction. (2.) Promising beginnings, with which the end does not correspond, only bring more aggravated guilt, and surer destruction. Apostates, who were once professors, shall receive greater damnation.