Jeremiah 39:4-13

4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah.^[a]

5 But the Babylonian^[b] army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him.

6 There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah.

7 Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

8 The Babylonians^[c] set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

9 Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people.

10 But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.

11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard:

12 “Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.”

13 So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officers of the king of Babylon

Jeremiah 39:4-13 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. S Isaiah 22:11
• 2. Ezekiel 12:12
• 3. S Jeremiah 24:8; S Jeremiah 32:4
• 4. S Jeremiah 21:7
• 5. S Numbers 34:11; 2 Kings 23:33
• 6. S Isaiah 34:12
• 7. S Numbers 16:14; Ezekiel 12:13
• 8. S Jeremiah 2:35; Jeremiah 32:5
• 9. S Jeremiah 34:22; Jeremiah 38:18
• 10. S Nehemiah 1:3; S Psalms 80:12; S Isaiah 22:5; Lamentations 2:8
• 11. Jeremiah 21:9
• 12. Jeremiah 40:1; Lamentations 1:5
• 13. S Proverbs 16:7; Jeremiah 15:20-21; 1 Peter 3:13
• 14. S ver 3

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "the Jordan Valley"
• [b]. Or "Chaldean"
• [c]. Or "Chaldeans"