John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 38:11

"So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence rags and worn-out garments, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah." — Jeremiah 38:11 (ASV)

Here Jeremiah continues with the account of his deliverance. The courage of Ebedmelech should always be noticed by us, for he went immediately to the holy Prophet. And it is said that he took from some hidden place old tatters, De vieux haillons, as we call them. It is properly a noun substantive.

But if its harshness is displeasing, we can offer this rendering: “old tatters which had been dragged, and old tatters which were rotten.” Yet some render the words this way: “Worn-out clothes and rotten clothes.” But the former is more accurately the meaning, for סחב, sacheb, means to drag, and it may be rendered in French as Vieux haillons trainez, ou, qui avoyent traine. Then we have סלחים, salechim, corrupted or marred, usez; for סלח, salech, means to salt; but it is a verb in Hophal, and in that conjugation, it means to corrupt.

They were torn or rotten garments, des vieux haillons a demi pourris. It is said then that Ebedmelech took these old, torn, rotten, and used garments. This should be carefully noted, for it appears that Ebedmelech was afraid of the violence of the princes, not so much on his own account, but lest he be hindered in carrying out his purpose.

For if he had provided other things, he might have been apprehended; a report might have reached the princes, who would have immediately assembled and put a stop to his efforts. There is then no doubt that Ebedmelech, being very confident, prudently considered what might hinder his attempt to bring help to the holy Prophet. Hence, he stealthily took these worn-out and marred garments from a hidden place.

This is one point. Then we see the miserable state of the holy Prophet: he lay half-buried in mud and was to be drawn out by ropes or cords, with these torn and worn-out garments under his arms. And we are later expressly told for what purpose these clothes were sent down to him.