Whatever his reasons for leaving, Jeremiah is accused of deserting to the Chaldeans (Babylonians), and is arrested by the sentry on duty as he gets to the Benjamin Gate. There is no suggestion at all that Jeremiah is trying to leave secretly, but Jeremiah’s message about submitting to the Babylonians (see Jeremiah 21:8–10; Jeremiah 38:2) was well known, and it is very likely that many had tried to desert the city during the break in the siege, so it is not surprising that Jeremiah is accused of doing the same1. Jeremiah denies the charge of desertion, but the sentry refuses to listen, and he brings Jeremiah to the officials. Unlike the officials who had supported Jeremiah when Jehoiakim burned the scroll (Jeremiah 36:1–32), these officials have no sympathy for Jeremiah. They are clearly very strongly opposed to Babylon, especially now that the siege has lifted, and so they react angrily towards Jeremiah. Not only had Jeremiah’s message undermined the morale of the city and its army, but his attempt to leave the city confirms their view of him as a traitor2. They beat Jeremiah and throw him into prison in the house of Jonathan the secretary, whose house had been turned into a prison. As it turns out the place where Jeremiah is imprisoned is dangerous to his health (see Jeremiah 37:20). His accusers seem to have very little regard for his wellbeing.
13 When he was at the Benjamin Gate, a sentry there named Irijah the son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans.”