Jeremiah 39

Jeremiah 39:1-18 . JERUSALEM TAKEN. ZEDEKIAH'S FATE. JEREMIAH CARED FOR. EBED-MELECH ASSURED.

This chapter consists of two parts: the first describes the capture of Jerusalem, the removal of the people to Babylon, and the fate of Zedekiah, and that of Jeremiah. The second tells of the assurance of safety to Ebed-melech.

1. ninth year . . . tenth month--and on the tenth day of it ( Jeremiah 52:4 , 2 Kings 25:1-4 ). From Jeremiah 39:2 , "eleventh year . . . fourth month . . . ninth day," we know the siege lasted one and a half years, excepting the suspension of it caused by Pharaoh. Nebuchadnezzar was present in the beginning of the siege, but was at Riblah at its close ( Jeremiah 39:3 Jeremiah 39:6 ; compare Jeremiah 38:17 ).

3. sat--expressing military occupation or encampment.
middle gate--the gate from the upper city (comprehending Mount Zion) to the lower city (north of the former and much lower); it was into the latter (the north side) that the Chaldeans forced an entry and took up their position opposite the gate of the "middle" wall, between the lower and upper city. Zedekiah fled in the opposite, that is, the south direction ( Jeremiah 39:4 ).
Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo--proper names formed from those of the idols, Nergal and Nebo ( 2 Kings 17:30 , Isaiah 46:1 ).
Rab-saris--meaning "chief of the eunuchs."
Rab-mag--chief of the magi; brought with the expedition in order that its issue might be foreknown through his astrological skill. Mag is a Persian word, meaning "great," "powerful." The magi were a sacerdotal caste among the Medes, and supported the Zoroastrian religion.

4. the king's garden--The "gate" to it from the upper, city above was appropriated to the kings alone; stairs" led down from Mount Zion and the palace to the king's garden below ( Nehemiah 3:15 ).
two walls--Zedekiah might have held the upper city longer, but want of provisions drove him to flee by the double wall south of Zion, towards the plains of Jericho ( Jeremiah 39:5 ), in order to escape beyond Jordan to Arabia-Deserta. He broke an opening in the wall to get out ( Ezekiel 12:12 ).

5. Riblah--north of Palestine (see Jeremiah 1:14 , Numbers 34:11 ). Hamath is identified by commentators with Antioch, in Syria, on the Orontes, called Epiphania, from Antiochus Epiphanes.
gave judgment upon him--literally, "spake judgments with him," that is, .brought him to trial as a common criminal, not as a king. He had violated his oath ( Ezekiel 17:13-19 2 Chronicles 36:13 ).

6. slew . . . sons . . . before his eyes--previous to his eyes being "put out" ( Jeremiah 39:7 ); literally, "dug out." The Assyrian sculptures depict the delight with which the kings struck out, often with their own hands, the eyes of captive princes. This passage reconciles Jeremiah 32:4 , "his eyes shall behold his eyes"; with Ezekiel 12:13 , "he shall not see Babylon, though he shall die there."
slew all . . . nobles--( Jeremiah 27:20 ).

8. burned . . . the houses--( Jeremiah 52:12 Jeremiah 52:13 ). Not immediately after the taking of the city, but in the month after, namely, the fifth month (compare Jeremiah 39:2 ). The delay was probably caused by the princes having to send to Riblah to know the king's pleasure as to the city.