Jeremiah 52:16

16 But he left in Judah some of the poorest people, who owned no property, and he put them to work in 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 and his soldiers tore down the city walls.

15 Then Nebuzaradan took away to Babylonia the people who were left in the city, the remaining skilled workers, and those who had deserted to the Babylonians.

16 But he left in Judah some of the poorest people, who owned no property, and he put them to work in the vineyards and fields.

17 The Babylonians broke in pieces the bronze columns and the carts that were in the Temple, together with the large bronze tank, and they took all the bronze to Babylon.

18 They also took away the shovels and the ash containers used in cleaning the altar, the tools used in tending the lamps, the bowls used for catching the blood from the sacrifices, the bowls used for burning incense, and all the other bronze articles used in the Temple service.