GUARD, COURT OF THE (חֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה, court of the guard).

The word מַּטָּרָ֔ה (from נָטַר֒, H5757, [cf. נָצַר, H5915]) occurs in Nehemiah 3:25; Jeremiah 32:2, 8, 12, and in several vv. of Jeremiah chs. 33, 37-39. It evidently refers either to the open court in the palace complex or to the guardrooms of the palace guards, which served as a place for detaining prisoners in Jerusalem, at least during the siege of that city. Thus, it was a temporary prison. Jeremiah was confined there, but he was permitted to continue his prophetic ministry and to conduct certain business transactions with the assistance of Baruch, his secretary.