Jeremiah Thrown Into a Muddy Cistern to Die

Jeremiah tells Jerusalem's defenders to surrender to Babylon — the city is doomed. The officials are furious: 'This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers.' The weak king Zedekiah says: 'He is in your hands.' They lower Jeremiah into an empty cistern with ropes. There is no water, only mud. He sinks into the mud. An Ethiopian palace servant — Ebed-Melek — hears what has happened and pleads with the king. The king orders thirty men to pull Jeremiah up with rags under his arms before he dies.