7
But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, 1 an important court official, heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate,
8
so Ebed-melech rushed from the palace to speak with him.
9
“My lord the king,” he said, “these men have done a very evil thing in putting Jeremiah the prophet into the cistern. He will soon die of hunger, for almost all the bread in the city is gone.”
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So the king told Ebed-melech, “Take thirty of my men with you, and pull Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies.”
11
So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to a room in the palace beneath the treasury, where he found some old rags and discarded clothing. He carried these to the cistern and lowered them to Jeremiah on a rope.
12
Ebed-melech called down to Jeremiah, “Put these rags under your armpits to protect you from the ropes.” Then when Jeremiah was ready,
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they pulled him out. So Jeremiah was returned to the courtyard of the guard - the palace prison - where he remained.