1.
In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they beseiged it.
2.
And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.
broken up. Compare Ch. Jeremiah 52:6 ; which explains that provisions had failed before then.
3.
And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Sarsechim. Some codices, with four early printed editions, read "Sar-sechim". It is the plural of the Akkadian Sar-sak = king ' s son. R
ab-saris = chief of the chamberlains. Compare 2 Kings 18:17 . Daniel 1:3 , Daniel 1:7 .
Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag = Nergal-sharezer, chief of the physicians (or magi). Only four names of persons in this verse, not six.
4.
And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain.
the plain. To avoid the Jordan.
5.
But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.
Jericho. Thus, Jericho was the scene of Israel's first victory (Joshua 6 ), and final defeat.
Riblah. Now Hibleh, on the east bank of the Greekntes, thirty-five miles north-east of Baalbek, the base and headquarters of Nebuchadnezzar. Some twenty-two years before, Jehoahaz was put in bonds here by Pharaoh-nechoh, to be led captive to Egypt. See 2 Kings 23:33 .
gave judgment = pronounced sentence: i.e. for his perjury. See 2 Chronicles 36:10 , 2 Chronicles 36:13 .Ezekiel 17:15 , Ezekiel 17:18 .
6.
Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.
before his eyes. A specimen of the inhumanity of those days.
7.
Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.
put out Zedekiah's eyes. So that Ezekiel was quite correct when he said that Zedekiah should be taken to Babylon, though he should not see it (Ezekiel 12:13 ).
with chains = with two fetters.
to carry him. Ch. Jeremiah 52:11 , and 2 Kings 25:7 , show that this purpose was executed. It was not so with Jehoiakim (2 Chronicles 36:6 ).
8.
And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.
the Chaldeans burned, &c. On the tenth day of the fifth month. Compare Jeremiah 52:12 , Jeremiah 52:13 . The same day as the capture of the city by the Romans in A.D. 69.
9.
Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained.
Nebuzar-adan = the prince favoured by Nebo.
the guard = the executioners (2 Kings 25:8 ). Compare Genesis 37:36 ; Genesis 39:1 .
10.
But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
poor. Hebrew. dal. See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11 .
11.
Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard, saying,
to = to the hand of, or through.
12.
Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.
look well to him. Not the first, rejected by the Jews, who was honoured by the Gentiles.
13.
So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes;
14.
Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.
prison = house of detention: as in Jeremiah 38:6 , Jeremiah 38:13 , Jeremiah 38:28 .
Gedaliah. See note on Ahikam, Jeremiah 26:24 . Compare Jeremiah 40:6 .
Shaphan. See note on 2 Kings 22:3 .
carry him home. Some codices, with one early printed edition (Rabbinic), read "out of the [prison] house". From the next chapter we learn that he was taken north to Ramah with other captives, and from that place was set free, and went to Gedaliah to Mizpah (Jeremiah 40:6 ). This verse (Jeremiah 39:14 ) is only a brief summary.
so = and.
15.
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
The Thirty-Fifth Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
16.
Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.
Go and speak. Not to interrupt the history, this incident as to Ebed-melech is reserved till now.
the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
17.
But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
18.
For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
a prey: i.e. he should save it. Compare Jeremiah 21:9 .
put thy trust = confided. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .