--- title: "Clarke" description: "Verse Jeremiah 39:1. In the ninth year of Zedekiah - in the tenth month — This month is called Tebeth in Esther 2:16. It began with the first new moon of" image: "/images/missing.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/jeremiah/39" --- Verse [Jeremiah 39:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/1). ***In the ninth year of Zedekiah - in the tenth month*** — This month is called *Tebeth* in [Esther 2:16](../../../kjv/esther/2/16). It began with the first new moon of our *January*, and it was on the tenth day of this month that Nebuchadnezzar invested the city. Verse [Jeremiah 39:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/2). ***The eleventh year - in the fourth month*** — This month in the Hebrew calendar is called *Thammuz*, and commences with the first new moon of our *July*. The siege had lasted just *eighteen* months. ***The city was broken up.*** — A breach was made in the wall by which the Chaldeans entered. Verse [Jeremiah 39:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/3). ***Sat in the middle gate*** — The city of Jerusalem stood upon two hills, *Sion* to the south, and *Acra* to the north, with a deep valley between them. The *gate of the centre*, as the term seems plainly to import, was a gate of communication in the middle of the valley, between the *two* parts of the city, sometimes called the *higher* and the *lower* city. The Chaldeans entered the city on the *north* side by a breach in the walls, and rushing forward and posting themselves in this gate, in the very heart or centre of the city, became thereby masters at will of the whole. Zedekiah with his troop, perceiving this, fled out of the opposite gate on the *south* side. See *Blayney*. This is likely; but we know nothing positively on this subject. ***Nergal-sharezer*** — These were the principal commanders; but Dr. *Blayney* thinks that instead of *six* persons, we have in reality but *three*, as the name that follows each is a *title* of office. Thus, *Nergal-sharezer*, who was *Samgar; Nebusarsechim*, who was *Rab-saris*; and *Nergal-sharezer*, who was *Rab-mag*. As *Nergal-sharezer* occurs *twice* here, and we know that *Nebuzaradan* was general-in-chief, the first Nergal-sharezer is probably a mistake for Nebuzar-adan, or some other of the commanders. But these things are as uncertain as they are unimportant. Verse [Jeremiah 39:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/4). ***Went forth out of the city by night*** — Probably there was a *private passage under ground*, leading without the walls, by which Zedekiah and his followers might escape unperceived, till they had got some way from the city. ***The way of the plain.*** — There were two roads from Jerusalem to Jericho. One passed over the mount of Olives; but, as this might have retarded his flight, he chose *the way of the plain*, and was overtaken near Jericho, perhaps about sixteen or eighteen miles from Jerusalem. He had probably intended to have passed the Jordan, in order to escape to Egypt, as the Egyptians were then his professed allies. Verse [Jeremiah 39:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/5). ***To Riblah*** — This city was situated on the northern frontier of Palestine, and Hamath was a large city belonging also to Syria. See [Genesis 10:18](../../../kjv/genesis/10/18). Verse [Jeremiah 39:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/7). ***Bound him with chains*** — Margin: "Two brazen chains;" one for his hands, and the other for his feet. Verse [Jeremiah 39:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/9). ***Those that fell away*** — That deserted to the Chaldeans during the siege. Verse [Jeremiah 39:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/10). ***Left of the poor of the people*** — The very refuse of the inhabitants, who were not worthy of being carried away; and among them he divided the fields and vineyards of those whom he took away. Verse [Jeremiah 39:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/12). ***Take him - look well to him*** — Nebuchadnezzar had heard that this prophet had foretold his capture of the city, and had frequently used all his influence to induce Zedekiah to pay the tribute, and not rebel against him; and on this account would be inclined to show the prophet especial favour. Verse [Jeremiah 39:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/16). ***Go and speak to Ebed-melech*** — The king's servant, the Cushite. Verse [Jeremiah 39:18](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/18). ***I will surely deliver thee*** — Thou hast feared the Lord, and not the king, nor his princes, and thou hast taken the part of the prophet, and become his intercessor. Thou shalt not be slain. Thou hast put thy trust in me; thou shalt therefore be safe whithersoever thou goest. They that fear God need fear nothing besides. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/jeremiah/39#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Clarke's Commentary - Jeremiah 39"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/jeremiah/39#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/jeremiah/39","name":"Clarke's Commentary - Jeremiah 39","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/jeremiah/39#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Verse Jeremiah 39:1. 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