Daily Tanach Sunday 17th Kisleiv Sefer Yirmiyah Chapter 37: Yirmiyahu’s Prophecy and Imprisonment During Zedekiah’s Reign

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Chapter 37: Yirmiyahu’s Prophecy and Imprisonment During Zedekiah’s Reign

Summary with Headings

Zedekiah’s Reign and Disobedience

  • Zedekiah, son of Josiah, became king of Judah by Nebuchadrezzar’s appointment.
  • Neither Zedekiah, his officials, nor the people listened to God’s words through Yirmiyahu.

Request for Prayer

  • Zedekiah sent Jehucal and Zephaniah to Yirmiyahu, asking him to pray for them.
  • Yirmiyahu was still free among the people at this time.

Pharaoh’s Army and God’s Message

  • Pharaoh’s army left Egypt, causing the Chaldeans to temporarily withdraw from Jerusalem.
  • God told Yirmiyahu: Pharaoh’s army will return to Egypt; the Chaldeans will come back, capture, and burn Jerusalem.
  • Warning: Do not deceive yourselves—Babylon will not permanently withdraw.

Yirmiyahu Accused and Imprisoned

  • During the Chaldeans’ withdrawal, Yirmiyahu tried to go to Benjamin.
  • At the Benjamin Gate, Captain Irijah accused Yirmiyahu of defecting to the Chaldeans.
  • Yirmiyahu denied it, but was seized, beaten, and imprisoned in Jonathan’s house, which served as a prison.
  • He remained in the dungeon for many days.

Secret Meeting with Zedekiah

  • Zedekiah secretly asked Yirmiyahu if there was a word from God.
  • Yirmiyahu replied: Yes—Zedekiah will be handed over to Babylon.
  • Yirmiyahu pleaded not to be returned to Jonathan’s house to avoid death.

Yirmiyahu’s Conditions in Prison

  • Zedekiah ordered Yirmiyahu to be kept in the prison yard.
  • He was given a daily loaf of bread until supplies ran out.
  • Yirmiyahu stayed in the prison yard.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.