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opportunities to receive visitors and proclaim the gospel were severely limited during that time
(Acts 23:35).The Prison Epistles express Paul’s hope for a favorable verdict (Phil. 1:25; 2:24; Philem.
23).In Caesarea,however,Paul’s only hope for release was either to bribe Felix (Acts 24:26) or agree
to stand trial at Jerusalem under Festus (Acts 25:9).In the Prison Epistles,Paul expected the decision
in his case to be final (Phil. 1:20–23; 2:17,23).That could not have been true at Caesarea, since Paul
could and did appeal his case to the emperor.
Ephesus has been the other suggested location. Most of the same difficulties faced by the
Caesarea suggestion face those who support Ephesus.The most telling argument against Ephesus
as the point of origin for the Prison Epistles,however,is that there is no evidence that Paul was ever
imprisoned at Ephesus.
In light of the serious difficulties faced by both the Caesarean and Ephesian views, no reason
remains for rejecting the traditional view that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles from Rome while
awaiting a hearing before the emperor on his appeal for justice as a Roman citizen.

8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, say-
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OCTOBER 14 ing, “Thus says the LORD: ‘In this manner I will
ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of
Jerusalem. This evil people, who refuse to
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hear My words, who follow the dictates of their
Jeremiah 13:1–14:22
hearts, and walk after other gods to serve them
Thus the LORD said to me: “Go and get and worship them, shall be just like this sash
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13 yourself a linen sash, and put it around which is profitable for nothing. For as the sash
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your waist, but do not put it in water.” So I got clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused
a sash according to the word of the LORD, and the whole house of Israel and the whole house
put it around my waist. of Judah to cling to Me,’ says the LORD, ‘that
they may become My people, for renown, for
praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.’
12 “Therefore you shall speak to them this
13:1 a linen sash. One of several signs word: ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel:
Jeremiah enacted to illustrate God’s message “Every bottle shall be filled with wine.” ’
involved putting a linen sash (generally the “And they will say to you, ‘Do we not cer-
inner garment against the skin) around his tainly know that every bottle will be filled with
waist.This depicted Israel’s close intimacy with wine?’
God in the covenant, so that they could glori- 13
fy Him (v. 11). do not put it in water. Signified “Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the
the moral filth of the nation. Buried and LORD: “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of
allowed time to rot (v. 7), the sash pictured this land—even the kings who sit on David’s
Israel as useless to God due to sin (v. 10). throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the
Hiding it by the Euphrates (v.6) pointed to the inhabitants of Jerusalem—with drunkenness!
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land of Babylon, where God would exile Israel And I will dash them one against another,
to deal with her pride (v. 9). even the fathers and the sons together,” says
the LORD. “I will not pity nor spare nor have
mercy, but will destroy them.” ’ ”
3 And the word of the LORD came to me the
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second time, saying, “Take the sash that you Hear and give ear:
acquired, which is around your waist, and Do not be proud,
arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in For the LORD has spoken.
a hole in the rock.” So I went and hid it by the 16 Give glory to the LORD your God
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Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me. Before He causes darkness,
6 Now it came to pass after many days that And before your feet stumble
the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to the On the dark mountains,
Euphrates, and take from there the sash And while you are looking for light,
which I commanded you to hide there.” Then He turns it into the shadow of death
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I went to the Euphrates and dug, and I took And makes it dense darkness.
the sash from the place where I had hidden it; 17 But if you will not hear it,
and there was the sash, ruined. It was profita- My soul will weep in secret for your
ble for nothing. pride;
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