Jeremiah 52:16-26

16 But 1Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen.
17 Now the bronze 2pillars which belonged to the house of the LORD and the 3stands and the bronze 4sea, which were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried all their bronze to Babylon.
18 They also took away the 5pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the basins, the pans and all the bronze vessels which were used in temple service.
19 The captain of the guard also took away the 6bowls, the firepans, the basins, the pots, the lampstands, the pans and the drink offering bowls, what was fine gold and what was fine silver.
20 The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve * bronze bulls that were under the sea, and the stands, which King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD -the bronze of all these vessels was 7beyond weight.
21 As for the pillars, the 8height of each pillar was eighteen * cubits, and it was twelve * cubits in 9circumference * and four fingers in thickness, and hollow.
22 Now a 10capital of bronze was on it; and the height of each capital was five cubits, with network and 11pomegranates upon the capital all around, all of bronze. And the second pillar was like these, including pomegranates.
23 There were ninety-six exposed pomegranates; all 12the pomegranates numbered a hundred on the network all around.
24 Then the captain of the guard took 13Seraiah the chief priest and 14Zephaniah the second priest, with the three 15officers of the temple.
25 He also took from the city one official who was overseer of the men of war, and seven of the 16king's advisers * who were found in the city, and the scribe of the commander of the army who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the midst of the city.
26 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and 17brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

Jeremiah 52:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 52

This chapter contains the history of the besieging, taking, and destroying of Jerusalem; the moving cause of it, the wicked reign of Zedekiah, Jer 52:1-3; the instruments of it, the king of Babylon and his army, which besieged and took it, Jer 52:4-7; into whose hands the king of Judah, his sons, and the princes of Judah, fell; and were very barbarously and cruelly used by them, Jer 52:8-11. Then follows an account of the burning of the temple, the king's palace, and the houses in Jerusalem, and the breaking down of the walls of it, Jer 52:12-14; and of those that were carried captive, and of those that were left in the land by Nebuzaradan, Jer 52:15,16; and of the several vessels and valuable things in the temple, of gold, silver, and brass, it was plundered of, and carried to Babylon, Jer 52:17-23; and of the murder of several persons of dignity and character, Jer 52:24-27; and of the number of those that were carried captive at three different times, Jer 52:28-30; and the chapter is concluded with the exaltation of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and of the good treatment he met with from the king of Babylon to the day of his death, Jer 52:31-34.

Cross References 17

  • 1. 2 Kings 25:12; Jeremiah 39:10; Jeremiah 40:2-6
  • 2. 1 Kings 7:15-22; 2 Kings 25:13; Jeremiah 27:19-22; Jeremiah 52:20-23
  • 3. 1 Kings 7:27-37
  • 4. 1 Kings 7:23-26
  • 5. Exodus 27:3; 1 Kings 7:40, 45; 2 Kings 25:14
  • 6. 1 Kings 7:49, 50; 2 Kings 25:15
  • 7. 1 Kings 7:47; 2 Kings 25:16
  • 8. 1 Kings 7:15; 2 Kings 25:17; 2 Chronicles 3:15
  • 9. 1 Kings 7:15; 2 Kings 25:17; 2 Chronicles 3:15
  • 10. 1 Kings 7:16; 2 Kings 25:17
  • 11. 1 Kings 7:20, 42
  • 12. 1 Kings 7:20
  • 13. 2 Kings 25:18; 1 Chronicles 6:14; Ezra 7:1
  • 14. 2 Kings 25:18; Jeremiah 21:1; Jeremiah 29:25, 29; Jeremiah 37:3
  • 15. 1 Chronicles 9:19; Jeremiah 35:4
  • 16. 2 Kings 25:19; Esther 1:14
  • 17. 2 Kings 25:20

Footnotes 9

  • [a]. Or "unpaid laborers"
  • [b]. Or "spoons" for incense
  • [c]. Or "spoons" for incense
  • [d]. So Gr and Syriac; Heb omits "the sea"
  • [e]. I.e. One cubit equals approx 18 in.
  • [f]. Lit "a line of 12 cubits would encircle it"
  • [g]. Lit "windward"
  • [h]. Lit "keepers of the door"
  • [i]. Lit "men of those seeing the king's face"
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