Ebed Melech
“Servant of the king (an official title)”
Summary
An Ethiopian eunuch serving in King Zedekiah's court who courageously rescued the prophet Jeremiah from a cistern where he had been left to die, and was rewarded with divine promise of deliverance when Jerusalem fell.
☩The Rescue of Jeremiah
Ebed-Melech served as a eunuch in King Zedekiah's court, likely having charge of the royal harem, which gave him direct access to the king. When Jeremiah was thrown into the muddy cistern of Malchiah and left to die of starvation, Ebed-Melech took courageous action. Rather than speaking privately to the king, he went publicly to the gate of Benjamin where Zedekiah was sitting and boldly denounced the princes' treatment of the prophet. He declared that they had done evil and that Jeremiah would die of hunger since there was no more bread in the city. The king authorized him to take thirty men—likely to guard against interference from the hostile princes—and rescue the prophet. With characteristic gentleness, Ebed-Melech lowered torn cloths and worn garments for Jeremiah to pad under his arms before being drawn up by ropes.
☩Divine Reward
God sent word through Jeremiah to Ebed-Melech promising his deliverance when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. Though his enemies would perish in the city's destruction, this Ethiopian servant would be saved because he had put his trust in the Lord. Often God raises up friends for His people from unexpected quarters. A Gentile slave did what none of Jeremiah's own countrymen attempted. His example illustrates that none ever loses by being bold for God, and that trust in God brings safety both for time and eternity.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ebed-melech," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Ebedmelech," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Ebed-Melech," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).