Thou shalt say to them: I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not command me to be carried back into the house of Jonathan, to die there.

then thou hast said unto them, I am causing my supplication to fall before the king, not to cause me to return to the house of Jonathan, to die there.'

Then you are to say to them, I made my request to the king, that he would not send me back to my death in Jonathan's house.

then you shall tell them, 'I presented my petition before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there.'

then you shall say to them: 'I presented my supplication before the king, so that he would not order me to be led back to the house of Jonathan, to die there.' "

Et tunc, (copula enim resolvi debet in adverbium temporis, tunc) dices illis, Prostravi ego preces meas coram facie regis (hoc est, suppliciter deprecatus sum regem,) ne reduceret me in domum Jonathan, ut morerer illic.

I presented my supplication - This was telling the truth, and nothing but the truth, but not the whole truth. The king did not wish him to defile his conscience, nor did he propose any thing that was not consistent with the truth.

Then thou shalt say to them, I (l) presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there.
(l) In this appears the infirmity of the prophet, who dissembled to save his life even though it was not to the denial of his doctrine or to the hurt of any.

Then thou shalt say unto them,.... Here the king puts words into the prophet's mouth, what he should say to the princes, to put them off from inquiring further, and so keep the matter a secret:
I presented my supplication before the king; or "caused it to fall" (d); delivered it in an humble and submissive manner:
that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there; this he had entreated of the king before, Jeremiah 37:20; and now, no doubt, renewed his request, having this fair opportunity with the king alone to do it; or, however, it is highly probable he did it upon this hint of the king. This shows how much the king stood in fear of his princes in this time of his distress; and that he had only the name of a king, and had not courage and resolution enough to act of himself, according to the dictates of his mind; yea, that he feared men more than he feared the Lord.
(d) "cadere feci deprecationem meam", Pagninus; "cadere faciens fui", &c. Schmidt.

presented--literally, "made my supplication to fall"; implying supplication with humble prostration (see on Jeremiah 36:7).
Jonathan's house-- (Jeremiah 37:15), different from Malchiah's dungeon (Jeremiah 38:6). This statement was true, though not the whole truth; the princes had no right to the information; no sanction is given by Scripture here to Jeremiah's representation of this being the cause of his having come to the king. Fear drove him to it. Compare Genesis 20:2, Genesis 20:12; on the other hand, 1-Samuel 16:2, 1-Samuel 16:5.
left off speaking with--Hebrew, "were silent from him," that is, withdrawing from him they left him quiet (1-Samuel 7:8, Margin).