CHAPTER 25
. JERUSALEM
AGAIN BESIEGED.
1. Nebuchadnezzar . . . came . . .
against Jerusalem—Incensed by the revolt of Zedekiah, the
Assyrian despot determined to put an end to the perfidious and
inconstant monarchy of Judea. This chapter narrates his third and
last invasion, which he conducted in person at the head of an immense
army, levied out of all the tributary nations under his sway. Having
overrun the northern parts of the country and taken almost all the
fenced cities (Jeremiah 34:7), he
marched direct to Jerusalem to invest it. The date of the beginning
as well as the end of the siege is here carefully marked (compare
Ezekiel 24:1; Jeremiah 39:1;
Jeremiah 52:4-6); from which it
appears, that, with a brief interruption caused by Nebuchadnezzar's
marching to oppose the Egyptians who were coming to its relief but
who retreated without fighting, the siege lasted a year and a half.
So long a resistance was owing, not to the superior skill and valor
of the Jewish soldiers, but to the strength of the city
fortifications, on which the king too confidently relied (compare
Jeremiah 21:1-14; Jeremiah 37:1-38).
pitched against it, and . . .
built forts—rather, perhaps, drew lines of circumvallation,
with a ditch to prevent any going out of the city. On this rampart
were erected his military engines for throwing missiles into the
city.
4. the city was broken up—that
is, a breach was effected, as we are elsewhere informed, in a part of
the wall belonging to the lower city (2 Chronicles 32:5;
2 Chronicles 33:14).
the men of war fled by night
by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's
garden—The king's garden was (2 Chronicles 33:14) at the pool of Siloam, that is, at the mouth of the
Tyropæon. A trace of the outermost of these walls appears to be
still extant in the rude pathway which crosses the mouth of the
Tyropæon, on a mound hard by the old mulberry tree, which marks the
traditional spot of Isaiah's martyrdom [ROBINSON].
It is probable that the besiegers had overlooked this pass.
the king went . . . toward
the plain—that is, the Ghor, or valley of Jordan, estimated at
five hours' distance from Jerusalem. The plain near Jericho is about
eleven or twelve miles broad.
6, 7. they took the king, and
brought him . . . to Riblah—Nebuchadnezzar, having gone from
the siege to oppose the auxiliary forces of Pharaoh-hophra, left his
generals to carry on the blockade, he himself not returning to the
scene of action, but taking up his station at Riblah in the land of
Hamath (2 Kings 23:33).
they gave judgment upon
him—They, that is, the council (Jeremiah 39:3;
Jeremiah 39:13; Daniel 6:7;
Daniel 6:8; Daniel 6:12),
regarding him as a seditious and rebellious vassal, condemned him for
violating his oath and neglecting the announcement of the divine will
as made known to him by Jeremiah (compare Jeremiah 32:5;
Jeremiah 34:2; Jeremiah 38:17).
His sons and the nobles who had joined in his flight were slain
before his eyes (Jeremiah 39:6;
Jeremiah 52:10). In conformity with
Eastern ideas, which consider a blind man incapable of ruling, his
eyes were put out, and being put in chains, he was carried to
perpetual imprisonment in Babylon (Jeremiah 52:10), which, though he came to it, as Ezekiel had foretold, he
did not see (Jeremiah 32:5; Ezekiel 12:13;
Ezekiel 17:16).
8-18. on the seventh day of the
month . . . came Nebuzar-adan—(compare ). In attempting to reconcile these two passages, it must be
supposed either that, though he had set out on the seventh, he did
not arrive in Jerusalem till the tenth, or that he did not put his
orders in execution till that day. His office as captain of the guard
(Genesis 37:36; Genesis 39:1)
called him to execute the awards of justice on criminals; and hence,
although not engaged in the siege of Jerusalem (Genesis 39:1), Nebuzar-adan was despatched to rase the city, to plunder
the temple, to lay both in ruins, demolish the fortifications, and
transport the inhabitants to Babylon. The most eminent of these were
taken to the king at Riblah (Genesis 39:1) and executed, as instigators and abettors of the
rebellion, or otherwise obnoxious to the Assyrian government. In
their number were Seraiah, the high priest, grandfather of Ezra (Genesis 39:1), his sagan or deputy, a priest of the second order (Jeremiah 21:2;
Jeremiah 29:25; Jeremiah 29:29;
Jeremiah 37:3).
19. five men of them that were in
the king's presence—that is, who belonged to the royal retinue.
It is probable that there were five at first, and that other two were
found afterwards (Jeremiah 52:25).
22-26. Nebuchadnezzar . . . made
Gedaliah . . . ruler—The people permitted to remain were,
besides the king's daughters, a few court attendants and others () too insignificant to be removed, only the peasantry who
could till the land and dress the vineyards. Gedaliah was Jeremiah's
friend (Jeremiah 26:24), and
having, by the prophet's counsel, probably fled from the city as
abandoned of God, he surrendered himself to the conqueror (Jeremiah 38:2;
Jeremiah 38:17), and being promoted to
the government of Judea, fixed his provincial court at Mizpeh. He was
well qualified to surmount the difficulties of ruling at such a
crisis. Many of the fugitive Jews, as well as the soldiers of
Zedekiah who had accompanied the king in his flight to the plains of
Jericho, left their retreats (Jeremiah 40:11;
Jeremiah 40:12) and flocked around the
governor; who having counselled them to submit, promised them on
complying with this condition, security on oath that they would
retain their possessions and enjoy the produce of their land (Jeremiah 40:12).
25. Ishmael . . . of the seed royal,
came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah—He had found
refuge with Baalis, king of the Ammonites, and he returned with a bad
design, being either instigated by envy of a governor not descended
from the house of David, or bribed by Baalis to murder Gedaliah. The
generous governor, though apprised of his intentions, refused to
credit the report, much less to sanction the proposal made by an
attached friend to cut off Ishmael. The consequence was, that he was
murdered by this same Ishmael, when entertaining him in his own house
(Jeremiah 41:1).
27. seven and thirtieth year of the
captivity of Jehoiachin—corresponding with the year of
Nebuchadnezzar's death, and his son Evil-merodach's ascension to the
throne.
Evil-merodach . . . did lift
up the head of Jehoiachin . . . and spake kindly—gave him
liberty upon parole. This kindly feeling is said to have originated
in a familiar acquaintance formed in prison, in which Evil-merodach
had lain till his father's death, on account of some malversation
while acting as regent during Nebuchadnezzar's seven years' illness
(Daniel 4:32; Daniel 4:33).
But doubtless the improvement in Zedekiah's condition is to be traced
to the overruling providence and grace of Him who still cherished
purposes of love to the house of David (2 Samuel 7:14;
2 Samuel 7:15).
29. Jehoiachin . . . did eat . . .
continually before him—According to an ancient usage in Eastern
courts, had a seat at the royal table on great days, and had a stated
provision granted him for the maintenance of his exiled court.
CHAPTER 25
. JERUSALEM AGAIN BESIEGED.
1. Nebuchadnezzar . . . came . . . against Jerusalem—Incensed by the revolt of Zedekiah, the Assyrian despot determined to put an end to the perfidious and inconstant monarchy of Judea. This chapter narrates his third and last invasion, which he conducted in person at the head of an immense army, levied out of all the tributary nations under his sway. Having overrun the northern parts of the country and taken almost all the fenced cities (Jeremiah 34:7), he marched direct to Jerusalem to invest it. The date of the beginning as well as the end of the siege is here carefully marked (compare Ezekiel 24:1; Jeremiah 39:1; Jeremiah 52:4-6); from which it appears, that, with a brief interruption caused by Nebuchadnezzar's marching to oppose the Egyptians who were coming to its relief but who retreated without fighting, the siege lasted a year and a half. So long a resistance was owing, not to the superior skill and valor of the Jewish soldiers, but to the strength of the city fortifications, on which the king too confidently relied (compare Jeremiah 21:1-14; Jeremiah 37:1-38).
pitched against it, and . . . built forts—rather, perhaps, drew lines of circumvallation, with a ditch to prevent any going out of the city. On this rampart were erected his military engines for throwing missiles into the city.
3. on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed—In consequence of the close and protracted blockade, the inhabitants were reduced to dreadful extremities; and under the maddening influence of hunger, the most inhuman atrocities were perpetrated (Lamentations 2:20; Lamentations 2:22; Lamentations 4:9; Lamentations 4:10; Ezekiel 5:10). This was a fulfilment of the prophetic denunciations threatened on the apostasy of the chosen people (Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:53-57; Jeremiah 15:2; Jeremiah 27:13; Ezekiel 4:16).
Ezekiel 4:16. ZEDEKIAH TAKEN.
4. the city was broken up—that is, a breach was effected, as we are elsewhere informed, in a part of the wall belonging to the lower city (2 Chronicles 32:5; 2 Chronicles 33:14).
the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden—The king's garden was (2 Chronicles 33:14) at the pool of Siloam, that is, at the mouth of the Tyropæon. A trace of the outermost of these walls appears to be still extant in the rude pathway which crosses the mouth of the Tyropæon, on a mound hard by the old mulberry tree, which marks the traditional spot of Isaiah's martyrdom [ROBINSON]. It is probable that the besiegers had overlooked this pass.
the king went . . . toward the plain—that is, the Ghor, or valley of Jordan, estimated at five hours' distance from Jerusalem. The plain near Jericho is about eleven or twelve miles broad.
6, 7. they took the king, and brought him . . . to Riblah—Nebuchadnezzar, having gone from the siege to oppose the auxiliary forces of Pharaoh-hophra, left his generals to carry on the blockade, he himself not returning to the scene of action, but taking up his station at Riblah in the land of Hamath (2 Kings 23:33).
they gave judgment upon him—They, that is, the council (Jeremiah 39:3; Jeremiah 39:13; Daniel 6:7; Daniel 6:8; Daniel 6:12), regarding him as a seditious and rebellious vassal, condemned him for violating his oath and neglecting the announcement of the divine will as made known to him by Jeremiah (compare Jeremiah 32:5; Jeremiah 34:2; Jeremiah 38:17). His sons and the nobles who had joined in his flight were slain before his eyes (Jeremiah 39:6; Jeremiah 52:10). In conformity with Eastern ideas, which consider a blind man incapable of ruling, his eyes were put out, and being put in chains, he was carried to perpetual imprisonment in Babylon (Jeremiah 52:10), which, though he came to it, as Ezekiel had foretold, he did not see (Jeremiah 32:5; Ezekiel 12:13; Ezekiel 17:16).
8-18. on the seventh day of the month . . . came Nebuzar-adan—(compare ). In attempting to reconcile these two passages, it must be supposed either that, though he had set out on the seventh, he did not arrive in Jerusalem till the tenth, or that he did not put his orders in execution till that day. His office as captain of the guard (Genesis 37:36; Genesis 39:1) called him to execute the awards of justice on criminals; and hence, although not engaged in the siege of Jerusalem (Genesis 39:1), Nebuzar-adan was despatched to rase the city, to plunder the temple, to lay both in ruins, demolish the fortifications, and transport the inhabitants to Babylon. The most eminent of these were taken to the king at Riblah (Genesis 39:1) and executed, as instigators and abettors of the rebellion, or otherwise obnoxious to the Assyrian government. In their number were Seraiah, the high priest, grandfather of Ezra (Genesis 39:1), his sagan or deputy, a priest of the second order (Jeremiah 21:2; Jeremiah 29:25; Jeremiah 29:29; Jeremiah 37:3).
18. the three keepers of the door—not mere porters, but officers of high trust among the Levites (2 Kings 22:4; 1 Chronicles 9:26).
19. five men of them that were in the king's presence—that is, who belonged to the royal retinue. It is probable that there were five at first, and that other two were found afterwards (Jeremiah 52:25).
22-26. Nebuchadnezzar . . . made Gedaliah . . . ruler—The people permitted to remain were, besides the king's daughters, a few court attendants and others () too insignificant to be removed, only the peasantry who could till the land and dress the vineyards. Gedaliah was Jeremiah's friend (Jeremiah 26:24), and having, by the prophet's counsel, probably fled from the city as abandoned of God, he surrendered himself to the conqueror (Jeremiah 38:2; Jeremiah 38:17), and being promoted to the government of Judea, fixed his provincial court at Mizpeh. He was well qualified to surmount the difficulties of ruling at such a crisis. Many of the fugitive Jews, as well as the soldiers of Zedekiah who had accompanied the king in his flight to the plains of Jericho, left their retreats (Jeremiah 40:11; Jeremiah 40:12) and flocked around the governor; who having counselled them to submit, promised them on complying with this condition, security on oath that they would retain their possessions and enjoy the produce of their land (Jeremiah 40:12).
25. Ishmael . . . of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah—He had found refuge with Baalis, king of the Ammonites, and he returned with a bad design, being either instigated by envy of a governor not descended from the house of David, or bribed by Baalis to murder Gedaliah. The generous governor, though apprised of his intentions, refused to credit the report, much less to sanction the proposal made by an attached friend to cut off Ishmael. The consequence was, that he was murdered by this same Ishmael, when entertaining him in his own house (Jeremiah 41:1).
26. and all the people . . . came to Egypt—In spite of Jeremiah's dissuasions (Jeremiah 43:7; Jeremiah 43:8) they settled in various cities of that country (Jeremiah 44:1).
27. seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin—corresponding with the year of Nebuchadnezzar's death, and his son Evil-merodach's ascension to the throne.
Evil-merodach . . . did lift up the head of Jehoiachin . . . and spake kindly—gave him liberty upon parole. This kindly feeling is said to have originated in a familiar acquaintance formed in prison, in which Evil-merodach had lain till his father's death, on account of some malversation while acting as regent during Nebuchadnezzar's seven years' illness (Daniel 4:32; Daniel 4:33). But doubtless the improvement in Zedekiah's condition is to be traced to the overruling providence and grace of Him who still cherished purposes of love to the house of David (2 Samuel 7:14; 2 Samuel 7:15).
29. Jehoiachin . . . did eat . . . continually before him—According to an ancient usage in Eastern courts, had a seat at the royal table on great days, and had a stated provision granted him for the maintenance of his exiled court.