22. women--The very evil which Zedekiah wished to escape by disobeying
the command to go forth shall befall him in its worst form thereby. Not
merely the Jewish deserters shall "mock" him
(Jer 38:19),
but the very "women" of his own palace and harem, to gratify their new
lords, will taunt him. A noble king in sooth, to suffer thyself to be
so imposed on!
Thy friends--Hebrew, "men of thy peace" (see
Jer 20:10;
Ps 41:9,
Margin). The king's ministers and the false prophets who misled
him.
sunk in . . . mire--proverbial for, Thou art involved
by "thy friends'" counsels in inextricable difficulties. The phrase
perhaps alludes to
Jer 38:6;
a just retribution for the treatment of Jeremiah, who literally "sank
in the mire."
they are turned . . . back--Having involved thee in the calamity, they
themselves shall provide for their own safety by deserting to the
Chaldeans
(Jer 38:19).
JFB.
Picture Study Bible