The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
Written probably when, after having repulsed the Egyptians who brought assistance to the Jews (Jeremiah 37:5-8; 2 Kings 24:7), the Chaldees were a second time advancing against Jerusalem, but were not yet closely besieging it (Jeremiah 21:4; Jeremiah 21:13). (Rosenmuller.) This chapter, in point of time, stands between Jeremiah 37:1-21; Jeremiah 38:1-28; since what the "princes," in Jeremiah 38:2, represent Jeremiah as having said is exactly what we find in Jeremiah 21:9. Moreover, the same persons as here (Jeremiah 21:1) are mentioned in Jeremiah 37:3; Jeremiah 38:1 - namely, Pashur and Zephaniah. What is here more fully related is there simply referred to in the historical narrative. (Compare Jeremiah 52:24; 2 Kings 25:18, where "Zephaniah the second priest" is mentioned as put to death by Nebuchadnezzar, along with "Seraiah, the chief priest," after the capture of the city.)
Zedekiah - a prince having some reverence for sacred things, for which reason he sends an honourable embassy to Jeremiah; but not having moral courage to obey his better impulses.
Pashur - son of Melchiah, of the 5th order of priests, distinct from Pashur, son of Immer (Jeremiah 20:1), of the 16th order (1 Chronicles 24:9; 1 Chronicles 24:14).
Zephaniah - of the twenty-fourth order. They are designated, not by their father, but by their family (1 Chronicles 24:18).