Jeremiah 38:14

“Then Zedekiah the king sent and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him, etc.] When the prophet was taken out of the dungeon, and brought to the court of the prison, of which the king had knowledge, he sent some person or persons to bring him to him, to have some private conversation with him: into the third entry that [is] in the house of the Lord; what place is meant Jarchi confesses his ignorance of, but conjectures it was the court of the Israelites; the outward court, and the court of the women, being before it. Kimchi rightly takes it to be a place through which they went from the king’s house to the house of the Lord; no doubt the same that is called the king’s ascent, by which he went up…”

“third entry--The Hebrews in determining the position of places faced the east, which they termed "that which is in front"; the south was thus called "that which is on the right hand"; the north, "that which is on the left hand"; the west, "that which is behind." So beginning with the east they might term it the first or principal entry; the south the second entry; the north the "third entry" of the outer or inner court [MAURER]. The third gate of the temple facing the palace; for through it the entrance lay from the palace into the temple (Kg1 10:5, Kg1 10:12). It was westward (Ch1 26:16, Ch1 26:18; Ch2 9:11) [GROTIUS]. But in the future temple it is eastward (Eze 46:1-2, Eze 46:8).”

“The third entry - There was probably a passage from the palace to the temple at this entry, and the meeting would take place in some private chamber close by. return to 'Top of Page'”

“38:14-16 Zedekiah so desperately wanted a miracle to save his kingdom from the attacking Babylonian armies that he arranged a secret meeting with Jeremiah. 38:14 The location of the third entrance of the Lord’s Temple is not known. The gates of the Temple had small rooms nearby, so the private meeting probably took place in one of them.”

“sent: Jer 21:1, Jer 21:2, Jer 37:17 third: or, principal, Kg1 10:5; Kg2 16:18 I will: Jer 42:2-5, Jer 42:20; Sa1 3:17, Sa1 3:18; Kg1 22:16; Ch2 18:15 Jeremiah 38:15”

“Conversation between the king and the prophet. - Jer 38:14. King Zedekiah was desirous of once more hearing a message of God from the prophet, and for this object had him brought into the third entrance in the house of the Lord. Nothing further is known about the situation and the nature of this entrance; possibly it led from the palace to the temple, and seems to have been an enclosed space, for the king could carry on a private conversation there with the prophet. The king said to him, "I ask you about a matter, do not conceal anything from me." He meant a message from God regarding the final issue of the siege, cf. Jer 37:7. Jeremiah, knowing the aversion of the king to the truth,…”