Jeremiah 39:1-7

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.

Jeremiah 39:1-7 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

• 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

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