And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.
JEREMIAH 37:13KJVWhat does Jeremiah 37:13 mean?
Jeremiah 37:13 describes how, as Jeremiah was leaving Jerusalem through the Benjamin gate, a guard captain named Irijah stopped him, accused him of defecting to the Chaldeans (Babylonians), and seized him. This moment marks the beginning of Jeremiah’s arrest on suspicion of being a traitor.
The verse takes place during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Jeremiah, a prophet known for his unpopular warnings, is confronted by Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, at a city gate. The accusation that Jeremiah is "falling away" to the Chaldeans shows the tense atmosphere and suspicion among the people, especially toward someone like Jeremiah who had spoken of Babylon’s coming victory.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 37:13
- "gate" (שַׁעַר, shaʿar): This word refers to a city gate, which was a main entry and exit point, often guarded and used for official business. The "gate of Benjamin" (בִּנְיָמִין, Binyamin) was likely on the north side of Jerusalem, named after the nearby territory of the tribe of Benjamin.
- "captain" (בַּעַל, baʿal): Here, this word means "leader" or "chief," not just a military rank. Irijah was responsible for security at the gate.
- "ward" (פְּקֻדָּה, pequddah): This word means a post or guard duty, highlighting that Irijah was in charge of watching those who came and went.
- "away" (נָפַל, naphal): The phrase "Thou fallest away" uses a word that literally means "to fall." Here, it carries the sense of defecting or deserting to the enemy, showing the suspicion against Jeremiah.
Why Jeremiah 37:13 matters
- Jeremiah 37:13 helps clarify why Jeremiah was arrested: not for his prophecies alone, but because he was suspected of betraying his people to the Babylonians.
- The verse shows the climate of fear and mistrust in Jerusalem during the siege, especially toward anyone perceived as sympathetic to the enemy.
- This encounter sets up the following events, where Jeremiah is imprisoned and mistreated, highlighting the personal cost of his faithfulness to his prophetic calling.