Ebed-Melech

Ebed-Melech (e-bed-me'-lek, Hebrew: עֶבֶד-מֶלֶךְ‎; Latin: Abdemelech) is mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah as an official at the palace of king Zedekiah of Judah during the Siege of Jerusalem. The name is translated as Servant of the King, and as such may not be his proper name but a hereditary title. The text relates that he was an Ethiopian (Jer 38:7) and a eunuch.

Ebed-Melech is notable for rescuing the prophet Jeremiah from the cistern into which he had been cast to his death (Jer 38:4–13). Later Jeremiah relayed God's message to him saying that he, Ebed-Melech, would "not fall by the sword" during the Fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians (Jer 39:15–18) because he had put his trust in Him (God).

See also

• Proselyte