• Jeremiah 38:1
  Jeremiah Cast into the Cistern
  Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah was saying to all the people:
• Jeremiah 38:6
  So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

Who are these men that put Jeremiah in a waterless well? Why should their names be recorded for posterity? Names are often repeated in the bible and it is difficult to determine who it is that holds a particular name in any one place. Hence the inclusion of parentage. These names would be lost in history if it were not for the writings of Jeremiah.

I ask myself why it is important to include these names? It is recorded in verse 4 “Then the officials said to the king, “Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.” It was unnamed officials that brought this to the attention of the King. Why weren’t they named?

Jeremiah 38:6 So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

So Pashhur was the King’s grandson and the well belonged to his father.

What is the point of all this?

Do not rely on your family name to protect you from the wrath of God, from public shaming, and be sure that your sins will be remembered.

So what was the sin of these 4 named men?

I can only look within myself and say what my sin would be if I had friends like these.

And that is the lesson of naming.