Jeremiah 37:13 - When he was in Benjamin’s gate, a captain of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans!”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Jeremiah 37:13" mean?
This verse, Jeremiah 37:13, describes a specific incident where Jeremiah is accused of treason. Let's break it down:
"When he was in Benjamin’s gate": This places Jeremiah in a specific location, the Benjamin Gate, which was likely an entrance to Jerusalem, perhaps one leading towards the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. Gates were often important places of commerce and public gathering, so being arrested here would be highly visible.
"a captain of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah": This identifies the arresting officer, Irijah. The verse includes his lineage, possibly to emphasize his status or connections within Jerusalem society.
"and he seized Jeremiah the prophet": This is the act of arrest. Jeremiah is physically apprehended by Irijah.
"saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans!”": This is the accusation. The Chaldeans (Babylonians) were besieging Jerusalem at this time. To defect to them would be treason, seen as abandoning one's own people in favor of the enemy.
What it means in context:
This verse is part of a larger narrative in Jeremiah chapters 37-39. The context is crucial for understanding its meaning:
Jerusalem under Siege: The verse occurs during the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's army. The city is under immense pressure, food is scarce, and morale is low.
Jeremiah's Warnings: Jeremiah had been prophesying the downfall of Jerusalem for years, claiming it was God's punishment for the people's sins. He urged the people to surrender to the Babylonians, claiming it was God's will, as resisting would only lead to destruction.
Misunderstanding and Rejection: Jeremiah's message of surrender was highly unpopular. Many considered it unpatriotic and a form of treason. They wanted to resist the Babylonians.
Therefore, the verse highlights the following key points:
Accusation of Treason: Jeremiah is accused of being a traitor due to his prophecies and his advocating for surrender. The authorities likely viewed his message as undermining the war effort and encouraging people to give up.
Rejection of Jeremiah's Message: The arrest symbolizes the rejection of Jeremiah's message by the leadership of Jerusalem. They refuse to believe his warnings and see him as a threat.
Conflict between Prophecy and Politics: The incident illustrates the tension between Jeremiah's prophetic calling and the political realities of his time. His allegiance to God and his prophetic duty clashed with the nationalistic fervor of those in power.
Persecution of Prophets: The verse is a common theme found in the Old Testament where prophets are persecuted for speaking truth to power.
Irony: It may be an irony that Jeremiah, as a faithful prophet, was accused of being unfaithful to his people. His true loyalty, however, was to God and the message God gave him to deliver.
In essence, the verse paints a picture of a prophet, Jeremiah, facing arrest and accusations of treason for delivering an unpopular message in a time of national crisis. This arrest contributes to the continued narrative of the sufferings and persecution of Jeremiah due to his prophetic calling.
Jeremiah 37:13 - When he was in Benjamin’s gate, a captain of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans!”
What does "Jeremiah 37:13" mean?
This verse, Jeremiah 37:13, describes a specific incident where Jeremiah is accused of treason. Let's break it down:
"When he was in Benjamin’s gate": This places Jeremiah in a specific location, the Benjamin Gate, which was likely an entrance to Jerusalem, perhaps one leading towards the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. Gates were often important places of commerce and public gathering, so being arrested here would be highly visible.
"a captain of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah": This identifies the arresting officer, Irijah. The verse includes his lineage, possibly to emphasize his status or connections within Jerusalem society.
"and he seized Jeremiah the prophet": This is the act of arrest. Jeremiah is physically apprehended by Irijah.
"saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans!”": This is the accusation. The Chaldeans (Babylonians) were besieging Jerusalem at this time. To defect to them would be treason, seen as abandoning one's own people in favor of the enemy.
What it means in context:
This verse is part of a larger narrative in Jeremiah chapters 37-39. The context is crucial for understanding its meaning:
Jerusalem under Siege: The verse occurs during the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's army. The city is under immense pressure, food is scarce, and morale is low.
Jeremiah's Warnings: Jeremiah had been prophesying the downfall of Jerusalem for years, claiming it was God's punishment for the people's sins. He urged the people to surrender to the Babylonians, claiming it was God's will, as resisting would only lead to destruction.
Misunderstanding and Rejection: Jeremiah's message of surrender was highly unpopular. Many considered it unpatriotic and a form of treason. They wanted to resist the Babylonians.
Therefore, the verse highlights the following key points:
Accusation of Treason: Jeremiah is accused of being a traitor due to his prophecies and his advocating for surrender. The authorities likely viewed his message as undermining the war effort and encouraging people to give up.
Rejection of Jeremiah's Message: The arrest symbolizes the rejection of Jeremiah's message by the leadership of Jerusalem. They refuse to believe his warnings and see him as a threat.
Conflict between Prophecy and Politics: The incident illustrates the tension between Jeremiah's prophetic calling and the political realities of his time. His allegiance to God and his prophetic duty clashed with the nationalistic fervor of those in power.
Persecution of Prophets: The verse is a common theme found in the Old Testament where prophets are persecuted for speaking truth to power.
Irony: It may be an irony that Jeremiah, as a faithful prophet, was accused of being unfaithful to his people. His true loyalty, however, was to God and the message God gave him to deliver.
In essence, the verse paints a picture of a prophet, Jeremiah, facing arrest and accusations of treason for delivering an unpopular message in a time of national crisis. This arrest contributes to the continued narrative of the sufferings and persecution of Jeremiah due to his prophetic calling.