Ebed-Melech
Encyclopedia
Ebed-Melech is mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah
as an official at the Palace of King Zedekiah
,of Judah
during the Siege of Jerusalem. The name is translated as Servant of the King, and as such may not be his proper name but a hereditary title. The text relates that he was an Ethiopian
and a eunuch.
Ebed-Melech is notable for rescuing the prophet Jeremiah from the cistern
where he was imprisoned. (Jer. 38:7-13). Later, Jeremiah informed him that he would be spared after the fall of the city to the Babylonians (Jer. 39:15-18). We see that Ebed-Melech is a precursor to the faith of the New Testament believers. He is saved because he trusted in God (Jer. 39:18). When we compare him to Zedekiah in Jeremiah 38 &39 and we see their two different outcomes and that the major difference is the amount they trusted God, we see how valuable having trust (or faith) in God really is.
Book of Jeremiah
The Book of Jeremiah is the second of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, following the book of Isaiah and preceding Ezekiel and the Book of the Twelve....
as an official at the Palace of King Zedekiah
Zedekiah
Zedekiah or Tzidkiyahu was the last king of Judah before the destruction of the kingdom by Babylon. He was installed as king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, after a siege of Jerusalem to succeed his nephew, Jeconiah, who was overthrown as king after a reign of only three months and...
,of Judah
Kingdom of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah was a Jewish state established in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. It is often referred to as the "Southern Kingdom" to distinguish it from the northern Kingdom of Israel....
during the Siege of Jerusalem. The name is translated as Servant of the King, and as such may not be his proper name but a hereditary title. The text relates that he was an Ethiopian
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and a eunuch.
Ebed-Melech is notable for rescuing the prophet Jeremiah from the cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
where he was imprisoned. (Jer. 38:7-13). Later, Jeremiah informed him that he would be spared after the fall of the city to the Babylonians (Jer. 39:15-18). We see that Ebed-Melech is a precursor to the faith of the New Testament believers. He is saved because he trusted in God (Jer. 39:18). When we compare him to Zedekiah in Jeremiah 38 &39 and we see their two different outcomes and that the major difference is the amount they trusted God, we see how valuable having trust (or faith) in God really is.