What does Jeremiah 38:9 mean?

He said, 'My lord the king, these men have done a terrible thing to Jeremiah the prophet. They've thrown him into a cistern, and he'll starve to death there, since there's no more bread in the city.' Jeremiah 38:9 - Modern Text Bible

(Ebed-Melek argues that Jeremiah will die if left in the cistern, especially with food running out.)