What does Ebed-melech do when he heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern?

A new character is introduced into the narrative; Ebed-melech the Ethiopian. He is an official in the king’s household and when he hears that Jeremiah has been left in the cistern to die, he courageously goes to speak to king Zedekiah while the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate. It is very likely that the king is carrying out his official duty of hearing cases brought to him by the people. Ebed-melech therefore brings Jeremiah’s case to the king and pleads for the prophet’s life. He describes what has been done to Jeremiah as evil and makes it very clear that Jeremiah will die of starvation in the cistern. Ebed-melech is another example of the very few officials in Jerusalem who courageously do what they can to support Jeremiah as the Lord’s true prophet. He is placing his own life at risk by openly pleading for Jeremiah’s.