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Jeremiah 38 Introduction
英文原文
The object of the princes in imprisoning Jeremiah in Jonathan's house had been to get him out of the way, as his predictions depressed the minds of the people. This purpose was frustrated by his removal to the guard-house, where he was with the soldiery, and his friends had free access to him Jeremiah 32:12. Therefore, the princes determined upon the prophet's death. Zedekiah was powerless Jeremiah 38:5, and Jeremiah was thrown into a miry pit.
1
Jeremiah 38:1
「已經說了」——宜作「說了」；或作「正在說話」。
英文原文
Had spoken - Spake; or, was speaking.
4
Jeremiah 38:4
「For thus ...」——因為他使作戰的人灰心喪膽。這無疑是真的。然而,耶利米並非以平民身分說話,而是以政府代表的身分說話;在神權政體中,屬世的統治者須直接向神負責。
英文原文
For thus ... - Because he makes the men of war dispirited. No doubt this was true. Jeremiah, however, did not speak as a private person, but as the representative of the government; the temporal ruler in a theocracy being responsible directly to God.
5
Jeremiah 38:5
一切實權都握在他們手中；他們既堅稱處死耶利米是必要之事，王便不敢拒絕他們的要求。
英文原文
All real power was in their hands, and as they affirmed that Jeremiah's death was a matter of necessity, the king did not dare refuse it to them.
6
Jeremiah 38:6
「牢獄」——即蓄水池。耶路撒冷每一家都有地下蓄水池，建造得極為良好，以致這城在被圍困時從不因缺水而受苦。這些水池大得很，乾涸之後似乎曾被用作監牢（Zechariah 9:11）。
哈米勒——見 Jeremiah 36:26 註釋。
「監獄」——即護衛兵院。他們把耶利米扔進最近的一個蓄水池裡，打算讓他餓死。有人認為詩篇六十九篇乃是耶利米在這蓄水池中時所寫。
英文原文
The dungeon - The cistern. Every house in Jerusalem was supplied with a subterranean cistern, so well constructed that the city never suffered in a siege from want of water. So large were they that when dry they seem to have been used for prisons Zechariah 9:11.
Hammelech - See Jeremiah 36:26 note.
The prison - The guard. They threw Jeremiah into the nearest cistern, intending that he should die of starvation. Some have thought that Psalm 69 was composed by Jeremiah when in this cistern.
7
Jeremiah 38:7
「埃布得米勒」——即「王的奴僕」。「古實人」指非洲的古實人，即黑人。看來（參 2 Kings 23:11）這類太監（或內臣）的名字取自君王，而王室成員與大臣的名字，通常則由與神明稱號複合的字構成。
英文原文
Ebed-melech - i. e., the king's slave. By "Ethiopian" or Cushite is meant the Cushite of Africa, or negro. It seems (compare 2 Kings 23:11) as if such eunuchs (or, chamberlains) took their names from the king, while the royal family and the princes generally bore names compounded with the appellations of the Deity.
10
Jeremiah 38:10
「三十個人」——如此多的人數表明西底家預料會遇到一些抵抗。（有人讀作「三」人。）
英文原文
Thirty men - So large a number suggests that Zedekiah expected some resistance. (Some read "three" men.)
11
Jeremiah 38:11
「舊的破爛衣服……」——即撕裂衣裳的碎布和穿破衣裳的爛布。
英文原文
Old cast clouts ... - Rags of torn garments and rags of worn-out garments.
14
Jeremiah 38:14
「第三門」——這門處大概有從王宮通往聖殿的通道，會面可能就在附近某個密室中進行。
英文原文
The third entry - There was probably a passage from the palace to the temple at this entry, and the meeting would take place in some private chamber close by.
15
Jeremiah 38:15
「你豈不聽……！」——宜作「你必不聽」。
英文原文
Wilt thou not hearken ...! - Rather, Thou wilt not hearken.
16
Jeremiah 38:16
「賜我們這生命的」——在起誓的套語上加上這非常特別的片語（1 Samuel 20:3），是為了加強誓言。西底家承認自己的生命是神的作為，也就表明他信神有掌管這生命的能力。
英文原文
That made us this soul - This very unusual addition to the formula of an oath 1 Samuel 20:3 was intended to strengthen it. By acknowledging that his soul was God's workmanship Zedekiah also implied his belief in God's power over it.
19
Jeremiah 38:19
「那些投降迦勒底人的猶大人」——這些投誠者大概自成一個人數眾多的黨派，如今對西底家當初拒絕他們投降的建議，更加忿恨。
英文原文
The Jews that are fallen to the Chaldaeans - These deserters probably formed a numerous party, and now would be the more indignant with Zedekiah for having rejected their original advice to submit.
22
Jeremiah 38:22
「所剩下的婦女」——屬於先王後宮的婦女（比較 1 Kings 2:22）、侍女和奴婢。
「你的朋友……」——這首諷刺的歌（比較 Obadiah 1:7）當譯作兩行：
你的朋友慫恿你，且說服了你； 你的腳陷在淤泥中，他們卻轉身退去。
「你的朋友」——按字面是「你平安的人」，即你的相識（Jeremiah 20:10）。他們慫恿西底家與迦勒底人作無望的抗爭，及至他陷入困境，便棄他不顧。
英文原文
All the women that are left - Belonging to the harems of former kings (compare 1 Kings 2:22), attendants, and slaves.
Thy friends ... - This satirical song (compare Obadiah 1:7) should be translated as a distich:
Thy friends have urged thee on and prevailed upon thee:
Thy feet are stuck in the mire; they have turned back.
Thy friends - literally "men of thy peace," thy acquaintance Jeremiah 20:10. They urge Zedekiah on to a hopeless struggle with the Chaldaeans, and when he gets into difficulties leave him in the lurch.
23
Jeremiah 38:23
「以致」——即「而且」。除了嘲弄之外，還要加上城破被擄的苦難。
「你使這城被火焚燒」——按字面如旁註。這要全然成為你自己的作為，如同親手所作的一樣。
英文原文
So - And. In addition to the ridicule there shall be the miseries of the capture.
Thou shalt cause this city to be burned - literally, as margin. It shall be thy own act as completely as if done with thine own hand.
28
Jeremiah 38:28
「他還在那裏當……」——有人把這些字改作「……的時候，事情就發生了」等，作為 Jeremiah 39 章的開頭。
英文原文
And he was there when ... - These words are altered by some to "and it came to pass when" etc., and taken to form the opening of Jeremiah 39.
眾首領把耶利米囚在約拿單的房屋裏，目的本是要除掉他這個障礙，因為他的預言使百姓的心消沉。但他被移到護衛兵的院子之後，這目的就落空了；在那裏他與士兵同處，他的朋友可以自由接近他（Jeremiah 32:12）。因此，眾首領決意要先知的命。西底家無能為力（Jeremiah 38:5），耶利米便被扔進一個滿是淤泥的坑裏。