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Jer 39:1-18.

JERUSALEM TAKEN. ZEDEKIAH'S FATE. JEREMIAH CARED FOR. EBED-MELECH ASSURED.

This chapter consists of two parts: the first describes the capture of Jerusalem, the removal of the people to Babylon, and the fate of Zedekiah, and that of Jeremiah. The second tells of the assurance of safety to Ebed-melech.

1. ninth year . . . tenth month--and on the tenth day of it

(Jer 52:4; 2Ki 25:1-4).

From

Jer 39:2,

"eleventh year . . . fourth month . . . ninth day," we know the siege lasted one and a half years, excepting the suspension of it caused by Pharaoh. Nebuchadnezzar was present in the beginning of the siege, but was at Riblah at its close

(Jer 39:3, 6;

compare

Jer 38:17).

3. sat--expressing military occupation or encampment.

middle gate--the gate from the upper city (comprehending Mount Zion) to the lower city (north of the former and much lower); it was into the latter (the north side) that the Chaldeans forced an entry and took up their position opposite the gate of the "middle" wall, between the lower and upper city. Zedekiah fled in the opposite, that is, the south direction

(Jer 39:4).

Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo--proper names formed from those of the idols, Nergal and Nebo

(2Ki 17:30; Isa 46:1).

Rab-saris--meaning "chief of the eunuchs."

Rab-mag--chief of the magi; brought with the expedition in order that its issue might be foreknown through his astrological skill. Mag is a Persian word, meaning "great," "powerful." The magi were a sacerdotal caste among the Medes, and supported the Zoroastrian religion.

4. the king's garden--The "gate" to it from the upper, city above was appropriated to the kings alone; stairs" led down from Mount Zion and the palace to the king's garden below

(Ne 3:15).

two walls--Zedekiah might have held the upper city longer, but want of provisions drove him to flee by the double wall south of Zion, towards the plains of Jericho

(Jer 39:5),

in order to escape beyond Jordan to Arabia-Deserta. He broke an opening in the wall to get out

(Eze 12:12).

5. Riblah--north of Palestine (see

Jer 1:14; Nu 34:11).

Hamath is identified by commentators with Antioch, in Syria, on the Orontes, called Epiphania, from Antiochus Epiphanes.

gave judgment upon him--literally, "spake judgments with him," that is, brought him to trial as a common criminal, not as a king. He had violated his oath

(Eze 17:13-19; 2Ch 36:13).

6. slew . . . sons . . . before his eyes--previous to his eyes being "put out"

(Jer 39:7);

literally, "dug out." The Assyrian sculptures depict the delight with which the kings struck out, often with their own hands, the eyes of captive princes. This passage reconciles

Jer 32:4,

"his eyes shall behold his eyes"; with

Eze 12:13,

"he shall not see Babylon, though he shall die there."

slew all . . . nobles--

(Jer 27:20).

8. burned . . . the houses--

(Jer 52:12, 13).

Not immediately after the taking of the city, but in the month after, namely, the fifth month (compare

Jer 39:2).

The delay was probably caused by the princes having to send to Riblah to know the king's pleasure as to the city.

9. remnant--excepting the poorest

(Jer 39:10),

who caused Nebuchadnezzar no apprehensions.

those . . . that fell to him--the deserters were distrusted; or they may have been removed at their own request, lest the people should vent their rage on them as traitors, after the departure of the Chaldeans.

rest . . . that remained--distinct from the previous "remnant"; there he means the remnant of those besieged in the city, whom Nebuchadnezzar spared; here, those scattered through various districts of the country which had not been besieged [CALVIN].

10. left . . . the poor . . . which had nothing--The poor have least to lose; one of the providential compensations of their lot. They who before had been stripped of their possessions by the wealthier Jews obtain, not only their own, but those of others.