The text does not make clear how the princes of Judah heard these things, but in any case they came immediately and set up court. Princes means “leaders,” as elsewhere in the book (see 1.18). It is clear that the leaders referred to in this verse also served as judges.

Came up may be better expressed as “went” or “went up” in many languages. The temple was on a hill, so up should be kept.

The king’s house is more naturally expressed as “the royal palace” (New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “the king’s palace” and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “the palace.”

The New Gate of the house of the LORD may be an expanded text on the basis of 36.10. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the shorter form of the text, “the gate of the LORD.” Most versions retain the longer text. The exact site of the New Gate is unknown. If translators use the shorter version, they can say “the gate of the temple” or possibly “the gate of the temple called the LORD’s Gate.” But most will follow the Revised Standard Version text, and use a phrase such as “the gate of the temple called New Gate.”

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch very effectively indicates the function of the gathering: “and took their places at the New Gate to hold court.” New American Bible is similar with “and held court at the New Gate of the house of the LORD.”

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 .