Jeremiah 52:16

16 But Nebuzaradan allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind to care for the vineyards and fields.

Jeremiah 52:16 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 52:16

But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left [certain] of the
poor of the land
Of the land of Judea, who lived in the country, and had not been concerned in defending the city against the Chaldeans: for vinedressers, and for husbandmen;
to look after the vineyards and fields, and dress and manure them, that the king of Babylon might receive some advantage by the conquest he had made; (See Gill on Jeremiah 39:10).

Jeremiah 52:16 In-Context

14 Then he supervised the entire Babylonian army as they tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side.

15 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took as exiles some of the poorest of the people, the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had declared their allegiance to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen.

16 But Nebuzaradan allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind to care for the vineyards and fields.

17 The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars in front of the LORD ’s Temple, the bronze water carts, and the great bronze basin called the Sea, and they carried all the bronze away to Babylon.

18 They also took all the ash buckets, shovels, lamp snuffers, basins, dishes, and all the other bronze articles used for making sacrifices at the Temple.