During the Babylonians’ final siege of Jerusalem, the prophet Jeremiah kept announcing that the city would fall and advised surrender. To the leaders of Judah, this message seemed like treason and discouragement to the troops still resisting.
Four officials, Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jucal and Pashhur, asked King Zedekiah for the prophet’s death. The king, weak before them, answered that Jeremiah was in the hands of his own accusers.
They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, in the courtyard of the guard. There was no water there, only mud, and the prophet sank, without strength to get out on his own.
Ebed-Melek, a Cushite official of the palace, learned what they had done and interceded before the king. With royal authorization, he pulled Jeremiah out using ropes padded with old rags, saving his life.
The cistern of Malkijah shows how God raises up unexpected help, often through those least expected, to protect his servants when the authorities themselves fail to do justice.
