Jeremiah 39
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CHAPTER 39
The Fall of Jerusalem (39:1–18)
(2 Kings 25:1–12; Jeremiah 52:4–16)
1–10 See 2 Kings 25:1–12 and comment.
11–14 As Jerusalem was being destroyed by the Babylonians, Nebuchadnezzar took special care to protect Jeremiah from harm. He ordered that the prophet be turned over to those who were his supporters (verse 14); he was placed in the care of Gedaliah, the appointed governor of Judah (Jeremiah 40:7). This Gedaliah was the son of Ahikam, who had helped save Jeremiah’s life some years earlier113 (Jeremiah 26:24).
Why did Nebuchadnezzar treat Jeremiah with special care? No doubt he was aware that Jeremiah had urged the people of Judah to surrender; perhaps he looked on Jeremiah as an “ally.” In any event, Jeremiah ended up receiving better treatment from the Babylonians than he had from his own countrymen!
15–18 The Lord sent Jeremiah to assure Ebed–Melech that he would be spared on the day of Jerusalem’s fall. Ebed–Melech had demonstrated his trust in God by rescuing Jeremiah from the cistern (Jeremiah 38:7–13); therefore, God would reward him for his trust (verses 17–18).
In this chapter we see side by side the two essential aspects of God’s character: first, His anger and terrible judgment against sinners, as manifested by His destruction of Jerusalem (verses 1–10); second, His love and care for His faithful servants, as manifested by His protection of Jeremiah and Ebed–Melech (verses 11–18). These two aspects of God’s character reflect, respectively, His holiness and His love; they can never be separated (see Exodus 34:4–7 and comment).