Jeremiah 39:1-7

The Fall of Jerusalem

1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it.
2 And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through.
3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon.
4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah.[a]
5 But the Babylonian[b] army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him.
6 There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah.
7 Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

Jeremiah 39:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 39

This chapter gives an account of the taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, according to the several prophecies of Jeremiah concerning it. The time of taking it, and by whom, after a siege of eighteen months, Jer 39:1-3; several things relating to King Zedekiah; his flight; the taking of him; the bringing him to the king of Babylon, and his sentence on him; the execution of that sentence, slaying his sons and nobles, putting out his eyes, and carrying him in chains to Babylon, Jer 39:4-7; the destruction of the city is described, by burning the houses in it, breaking down its walls, carrying the people captive, all, except a few poor persons left in the land, Jer 39:8-10; the preservation of Jeremiah, according to the king of Babylon's orders by his princes; and the committing him to the care of Gedaliah, the governor of the poor Jews, Jer 39:11-14; and the chapter is concluded with a promise of the protection of Ebedmelech, made by the Lord before the taking of the city, while the prophet was in prison; and which, no doubt, had its accomplishment, Jer 39:15-18.

Cross References 16

  • 1. S Jeremiah 25:29
  • 2. S 2 Chronicles 36:11
  • 3. S 2 Kings 24:1; S Jeremiah 28:14
  • 4. S 2 Kings 25:1; Jeremiah 52:4; Ezekiel 4:3; Ezekiel 24:2
  • 5. Zechariah 8:19
  • 6. S 2 Kings 14:13
  • 7. Ezekiel 33:21
  • 8. ver 13; Jeremiah 21:4
  • 9. S Isaiah 22:11
  • 10. Ezekiel 12:12
  • 11. S Jeremiah 24:8; S Jeremiah 32:4
  • 12. S Jeremiah 21:7
  • 13. S Numbers 34:11; 2 Kings 23:33
  • 14. S Isaiah 34:12
  • 15. S Numbers 16:14; Ezekiel 12:13
  • 16. S Jeremiah 2:35; Jeremiah 32:5

Footnotes 2

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