Jeremiah 39:8

8 The Kasdim burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and broke down the walls of Yerushalayim.

Jeremiah 39:8 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 39:8

And the Chaldeans burnt the king's house
His palace: this was a month after the city was taken, as appears from ( Jeremiah 52:12 Jeremiah 52:13 ) ; and the houses of the people, with fire;
the houses of the common people, as distinct from the king's house, and the houses of the great men, ( Jeremiah 52:13 ) ; though Jarchi interprets of the synagogues. It is in the original text in the singular number, "the house of the people"; which Abarbinel understands of the temple, called, not the house of God, he having departed from it; but the house of the people, a den of thieves; according to Adrichomius ^F11, there was a house in Jerusalem called "the house of the vulgar", or common people, where public feasts and sports were kept; but the former sense seems best: and broke down the walls of Jerusalem;
demolished all the fortifications of it, and entirely dismantled it, that it might be no more a city of force and strength, as it had been.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 154.

Jeremiah 39:8 In-Context

6 Then the king of Bavel killed the sons of Tzidkiyahu in Rivlah before his eyes: also the king of Bavel killed all the nobles of Yehudah.

7 Moreover he put out Tzidkiyahu's eyes, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Bavel.

8 The Kasdim burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and broke down the walls of Yerushalayim.

9 Then Nevuzar'adan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Bavel the residue of the people who remained in the city, the deserters also who fell away to him, and the residue of the people who remained.

10 But Nevuzar'adan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, who had nothing, in the land of Yehudah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.