ירמיהו, פרק ל״ח, פסוק י״ב

Rescuing the prophet from the muddy pit required a great deal of sensitivity and caution. Jeremiah was severely weakened and deeply sunk in the mire, creating a delicate situation for those trying to save him. His rescuers had no way of knowing in advance exactly how much effort and force would be required to pull him free. Because of his fragile state and the heavy suction of the mud, there was a real concern that the rescue operation itself might cause him physical harm.

To prevent any injury, Ebed-melech the Ethiopian instructed Jeremiah to gather old, worn-out garments that had decayed into rags [רש״י]. He told the prophet to place these pieces of cloth directly under his armpits. The primary approach among commentators is that this specific placement was chosen to pad his body exactly where the rescue ropes would bear his weight. By positioning the rags under his arms, they created a necessary buffer. Even if pulling him from the thick mud required tremendous force, the layers of old clothing would sit between the harsh ropes and his bare flesh. This careful preparation ensured that the ropes would not cut into him, sparing him from unnecessary pain and preventing any further physical damage during the difficult ascent [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].