Jeremiah 39:1-6

1 It happened when Yerushalayim was taken, (in the ninth year of Tzidkiyahu king of Yehudah, in the tenth month, came Nevukhadretztzar king of Bavel and all his army against Yerushalayim, and besieged it;

2 in the eleventh year of Tzidkiyahu, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city,)

3 that all the princes of the king of Bavel came in, and sat in the middle gate, [to wit], Nergal-Sar'etzer, Samgar-Nevo, Sarsekhim, Rav-Saris, Nergal-Sar'etzer, Rav-Mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Bavel.

4 It happened that, when Tzidkiyahu the king of Yehudah and all the men of war saw them, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, through the gate between the two walls; and he went out toward the `Aravah.

5 But the army of the Kasdim pursued after them, and overtook Tzidkiyahu in the plains of Yericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nevukhadretztzar king of Bavel to Rivlah in the land of Hamat; and he gave judgment on him.

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.

Jeremiah 39:1-6 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.