Jeremiah 39

Jerusalem Captured

1 Now when Jerusalem was captured ¹in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it;

2 in the eleventh * year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the city wall was ²breached.

3 Then all the ³officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the ⁴Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.

4 When Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they ⁵fled and went out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate ⁶between the two walls; and he went out toward the Arabah.

5 But the army of the ⁷Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the ⁸plains of Jericho; and they seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at ⁹Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence on him.

6 Then the ¹⁰king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah ¹¹before his eyes at Riblah; the king of Babylon also slew all the ¹²nobles of Judah.

7 He then ¹³blinded Zedekiah's eyes and bound him in ¹⁴fetters of bronze to bring him to ¹⁵Babylon.

8 The Chaldeans also ¹⁶burned with fire the king's palace and the houses of the people, and they ¹⁷broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

9 As for the rest of the people who were left in the city, the ¹⁸deserters who had gone over to him and ¹⁹the rest of the people who remained, ²⁰Nebuzaradan the ²¹captain of the bodyguard carried them into exile in Babylon.

10 But some of the ²²poorest people who had nothing *, ²³Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard left behind in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at that time.

Jeremiah Spared

11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders about ²⁴Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, saying,

12 "Take him and look * after him, and ²⁵do nothing * harmful to him, but rather * deal with him just as he tells you."

13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard sent word, along with Nebushazban the Rab-saris, and Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the leading officers of the king of Babylon;

14 they even sent and ²⁶took Jeremiah out of the court of the guardhouse and entrusted him to ²⁷Gedaliah, the son of ²⁸Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he stayed among the people.

15 Now the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was ²⁹confined in the court of the guardhouse, saying,

16 "Go and speak to ³⁰Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Behold, I am about to bring My words on this city ³¹for disaster and not for prosperity; and they will ³²take place before you on that day.

17 "But I will ³³deliver you on that day," declares the LORD, "and you will not be given into the hand of the men whom you dread.

18 "For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own ³⁴life as booty, because you have ³⁵trusted in Me," declares the LORD.' "

Jeremiah 39 Commentary

Chapter 39

The taking of Jerusalem. (1-10) Jeremiah used well. (11-14) Promises of safety to Ebed-melech. (15-18)

Verses 1-10 Jerusalem was so strong, that the inhabitants believed the enemy could never enter it. But sin provoked God to withdraw his protection, and then it was as weak as other cities. Zedekiah had his eyes put out; so he was condemned to darkness who had shut his eyes against the clear light of God's word. Those who will not believe God's words, will be convinced by the event. Observe the wonderful changes of Providence, how uncertain are earthly possessions; and see the just dealings of Providence: but whether the Lord makes men poor or rich, nothing will profit them while they cleave to their sins.

Verses 11-14 The servants of God alone are prepared for all events; and they are delivered and comforted, while the wicked suffer. They often meet with more kindness from the profane, than from hypocritical professors of godliness. The Lord will raise them up friends, do them good, and perform all his promises.

Verses 15-18 Here is a message to assure Ebed-melech of a recompence for his great kindness to Jeremiah. Because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord. God recompenses men's services according to their principles. Those who trust God in the way of duty, as this good man did, will find that their hope shall not fail in times of the greatest danger.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Kings 25:1-12; Jeremiah 52:4; Ezekiel 24:1, 2
• 2. 2 Kings 25:4; Jeremiah 52:7
• 3. Jeremiah 38:17
• 4. Jeremiah 21:4
• 5. 2 Kings 25:4; Isaiah 30:16; Jeremiah 52:7; Amos 2:14
• 6. 2 Chronicles 32:5
• 7. Jeremiah 32:4, 5; Jeremiah 38:18, 23; Jeremiah 52:8
• 8. Joshua 4:13; Joshua 5:10
• 9. 2 Kings 23:33; Jer 52:9, 26, 27
• 10. 2 Kings 25:7; Jeremiah 52:10
• 11. Deuteronomy 28:34
• 12. Jeremiah 21:7; Jeremiah 24:8-10; Jeremiah 34:19-21
• 13. 2 Kings 25:7; Jeremiah 52:11; Ezekiel 12:13
• 14. Judges 16:21
• 15. Jeremiah 32:5
• 16. 2 Kings 25:9; Jeremiah 21:10; Jeremiah 38:18; Jeremiah 52:13
• 17. 2 Kings 25:10; Nehemiah 1:3; Jeremiah 52:14
• 18. Jeremiah 38:19; Jeremiah 52:15
• 19. Jeremiah 24:8
• 20. 2 Kings 25:11, 20; Jeremiah 39:13; Jeremiah 40:1; Jeremiah 52:12-16, 26
• 21. Genesis 37:36
• 22. 2 Kings 25:12; Jeremiah 52:16
• 23. 2 Kings 25:12; Jeremiah 52:16
• 24. Job 5:15, 16; Jeremiah 1:8; Jeremiah 15:20, 21; Acts 24:23
• 25. Psalms 105:14, 15; Proverbs 16:7; Proverbs 21:1; 1 Peter 3:13
• 26. Jeremiah 38:28; Jeremiah 40:1-6
• 27. Jeremiah 40:5
• 28. 2 Kings 22:12, 14; 2 Chronicles 34:20; Jeremiah 26:24
• 29. Jeremiah 38:28
• 30. Jeremiah 38:7
• 31. Jeremiah 21:10; Daniel 9:12; Zechariah 1:6
• 32. Psalms 91:8
• 33. Psalms 41:1, 2; Psalms 50:15
• 34. Jeremiah 21:9; Jeremiah 38:2; Jeremiah 45:5
• 35. Psalms 34:22; Jeremiah 17:7, 8

Footnotes

• [a]. Ch 38:28-b in Heb
• [b]. Ch 39:1 in Heb
• [c]. I.e. chief official
• [d]. I.e. title of a high official
• [e]. I.e. Jordan valley
• [f]. Lit "fallers who had fallen"
• [g]. Lit "on that day"
• [h]. Lit "set your eyes on"
• [i]. I.e. chief official
• [j]. I.e. title of a high official
• [k]. Lit "good"

Chapter Summary

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.