Jeremiah 52:16

16 He left a few poor dirt farmers behind to tend the vineyards and what was left of the 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 He put the Babylonian troops he had with him to work knocking down the city walls.

15 Finally, he rounded up everyone left in the city, including those who had earlier deserted to the king of Babylon, and took them off into exile.

16 He left a few poor dirt farmers behind to tend the vineyards and what was left of the fields.

17 The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the bronze washstands, and the huge bronze basin (the Sea) that were in the Temple of God, and hauled the bronze off to Babylon.

18 They also took the various bronze-crafted liturgical accessories, as well as the gold and silver censers and sprinkling bowls, used in the services of Temple worship.