Jeremiah 39:8-18

8 The Chaldeans also 1burned with fire the king's palace and the houses of the people, and they 2broke down the walls of Jerusalem.
9 As for the rest of the people who were left in the city, the 3deserters who had gone over to him and 4the rest of the people who remained, 5Nebuzaradan the 6captain of the bodyguard carried them into exile in Babylon.
10 But some of the 7poorest people who had nothing *, 8Nebuzaradan 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 9Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, saying,
12 "Take him and look * after him, and 10do 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 11took Jeremiah out of the court of the guardhouse and entrusted him to 12Gedaliah, the son of 13Ahikam, 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 14confined in the court of the guardhouse, saying,
16 "Go and speak to 15Ebed-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 16for disaster and not for prosperity; and they will 17take place before you on that day.
17 "But I will 18deliver 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 19life as booty, because you have 20trusted in Me," declares the LORD.' "

Jeremiah 39:8-18 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 20

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

Footnotes 6

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