Ebed-melech: The name means literally “servant of the king,” but is here a proper name. For the promise that the LORD makes to Ebedmelech, see 39.15-18.

Ethiopian: Translators can use either “Ethiopian” (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation) or “Cushite” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible) throughout this passage. See the Good News Translation note.

Eunuch: This may be an official title rather than an indication that Ebedmelech was physically a eunuch (see 29.2). It can be translated “court official.”

The king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate: To “sit in the gate” suggests that Zedekiah was hearing and deciding on law cases (so Good News Translation), though it could also be that he was there inspecting the defenses of the city. Most versions simply follow the text. If the king were indeed hearing cases, it would indicate that he would be available to hear Ebedmelech’s plea. The Benjamin Gate (see 37.13) was on the northern wall of the city. The restructuring of Good News Translation, making this information a separate sentence, is helpful for readers.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .