Unsung Heroes: Ebed-Melech, A Man Who Helped Jeremiah The Prophet

Introduction: The Old Testament prophets sometimes faced severe persecution. Jeremiah certainly had his share of troubles and in this instance, he had preached God’s message but was thrown into a cistern! Most likely he was going to be left there to die, but an unsung hero helped rescue Jeremiah. Only mentioned in Jeremiah’s book, the deeds of Ebed-Melech should be an inspiration for generations to come.

1 Ebed-Melech’s concern for Jeremiah

Text, Jeremiah 38:7-10, KJV: 7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin; 8 Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying, 9 My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city. 10 Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

“Ebed-Melech” is close to a pair of Hebrew words for ‘servant of the king” so this may be his title rather than his actual name. Regardless, this man, an Ethiopian (and how or why was he now in Jerusalem?) noticed that Jeremiah was in a lot of trouble.

He took courage and went to Zedekiah the king, telling him Jeremiah was going to die in that “dungeon (“cistern” in several other translations)” because there was no bread left in the city. The Babylonians had encamped around Jerusalem already so the hope of reinforcements, deliverance, or even resupply probably grew fainter every day.

Note that Ebed-Melech didn’t mention anything about Jeremiah’s prophecies, only that Jeremiah faced certain death from starvation unless (implied) the king did something about this situation.

For whatever reason (conscience, maybe, or respect, or maybe the king still had a spark of decency left in him), the king reversed his previous judgment (or lack of same, see verses 5 and 6) and gave Ebed-Melech official permission to take 30 additional men and rescue Jeremiah.

Now Ebed-Melech made an additional stop before he arrived at the “dungeon”.

2 Ebed-Melech’s compassion for Jeremiah

Text, Jeremiah 38:11-13, KJV: 11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. 12 And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. 13 So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

How long Jeremiah had been left in the “dungeon” is never stated. A word about a “dungeon”; as mentioned, other translations call this a cistern, or pit for storing rain water. There seemed to be plenty of mud or mire (one can only imagine the smell) and Jeremiah sank into that stuff. He had to be miserable, physically, but we do not read that he ever lost his faith in God.

Ebed-Melech stopped by the king’s house and selected some “old cast clouts” and “old rotten rags”. The word “clout” here most likely refers to old clothing or something patched; “rotten” seems to be only worn-out. In a word, these were old rags and probably not fit for much of anything good. One is reminded about the old, worn-out clothing the men of the Canaanites wore when they tricked Joshua and the nation of Israel into making peace with them (Joshua 9).

But these were apparently just the thing for Jeremiah. Ebed-Melech and the others let those “rags” down by “cords” or, likely, ropes. He then told Jeremiah to put these rags under his armpits—comfort, for one reason; to avoid rope-burn, another possibility/ Another thought is that Jeremiah might have been literally stuck in the mud and they didn’t want to risk pulling him apart when they were trying to save his life.

Of note, Alistair Begg in a “Truth for Life” radio message of several years ago spoke on this passage, commenting about the “rags and the ropes”.

Ebed-Melech’s strategy worked: they were able to pull Jeremiah out of the “dungeon” and deliver him to safety (such as it was). If any words were exchanged by any of the people, we have no record in the text. Ebed-Melech apparently went back to his lodging and his duties, while Jeremiah “remained in the court of the prison”.

Even so, Jeremiah remembered Ebed-Melech and had a later message for him.

3 Jeremiah’s message for Ebed-Melech

Text, Jeremiah 39:15-18, KJV: 15 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. 17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

When this event took place, the city had just fallen to the Babylonians. The king and many others had already been taken captive but others were apparently still able to live (?) in Jerusalem. Ebed-Melech was one of these people, allowed to stay and neither killed nor taken captive to Babylon. The message came directly from God through Jeremiah, promising Ebed-Melech that he wouldn’t be killed by the sword (executed) nor would he be betrayed to others who may have wanted to hurt or kill him.

It’s interesting that this message and promise is not related directly to Ebed-Melech’s care and compassion towards Jeremiah. God says He gave this promise “because (Ebed-Melech had) put his trust in (the LORD)”! At the very least, this should remind us to take advantage of every opportunity to do good to others. Also, this might well be a prelude to the words of Jesus Himself when He says to the “sheep” in Matthew 25 that when they did good things to His brethren, the people of Israel, they did it to Him!

You and I may never have to literally lift someone up from a pit, but we can still do good for as many as we can. Ebed-Melech’s one deed is mentioned in Scripture as an act of faith and love—and God rewarded him for so doing. When the opportunity comes, I hope we’ll be ready!

Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)