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英文原文
Things are here ripening for, and hastening towards, the utter destruction of Jerusalem. We left Jehoiakim on the throne, placed there by the king of Egypt: now here we have, I. The troubles of his reign, how he was brought into subjection by the king of Babylon, and severely chastised for attempting to shake off the yoke (2Ki 24:1-6), and how Egypt also was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, 2Ki 24:7. II. The desolations of his son's reign, which continued but three months; and then he and all his great men, being forced to surrender at discretion, were carried captives to Babylon, 2Ki 24:8-16. III. The preparatives of the next reign (which was the last of all) for the utter ruin of Jerusalem, which the next chapter will give us an account of, 2Ki 24:17-20.
1-7
Jehoiakim Subdued by Nebuchadnezzar (599 BC)
约雅敬被尼布甲尼撒制伏（主前599年）
¹ 在约雅敬年间，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒上到犹大；约雅敬服事他三年，然后背叛他。
² 耶和华使迦勒底军、亚兰军、摩押军，和亚扪人的军来攻击约雅敬，毁灭犹大，正如耶和华藉他仆人众先知所说的。
³ 这祸临到犹大，诚然是耶和华所命的，要将他们从自己面前赶出，是因玛拿西所犯的一切罪，
⁴ 又因他流无辜人的血，充满了耶路撒冷；耶和华决不肯赦免。
⁵ 约雅敬其余的事，凡他所行的，都写在犹大列王记上。
⁶ 约雅敬与他列祖同睡。他儿子约雅斤接续他作王。
⁷ 埃及王不再从他国中出来，因为巴比伦王将埃及王所管之地，从埃及小河直到伯拉河都夺去了。
在此我们头一次见到一个在旧约的史事与预言中都举足轻重的名字，就是尼布甲尼撒，巴比伦王（王下24:1），那金头。他是一位强大的君王，是活人之地中威慑勇士的人；然而他的名字本不会出现在圣经中，若不是因他被用来毁灭耶路撒冷、掳掠犹太人。
I. 他使约雅敬作他的臣属，使他服在他权下三年（王下24:1）。尼布甲尼撒在约雅敬第四年开始作王。在他第八年，他掳了约雅敬，但约雅敬应许向他效忠后，他便释放了他。那应许约雅敬守了约三年，但随后便背叛了，大概是指望得着埃及王的援助。约雅敬若照所当行的去服事他的神，本不至于作巴比伦王的仆人；但神要这样使他知道，服事他与服事外邦列国的分别（代下12:8）。他若甘于臣服，并信守诺言，他的境况本不至更糟；但他既背叛巴比伦王，便把自己投入更大的祸患中。
II. 他既背叛，尼布甲尼撒便差遣军兵来攻击他、毁灭他的国，就是迦勒底人、亚兰人、摩押人、亚扪人的军队，他们如今都在巴比伦王的役使与雇佣之下（王下24:2），同时仍怀着、且如今显出他们对神的以色列素来的仇恨。然而经上在此没有提到他们从巴比伦王所得的命令，只提到那从万王之王所出的命令：耶和华使这一切军队来攻击他；又说（王下24:3），这祸临到犹大，诚然是耶和华所命的，否则尼布甲尼撒的命令断不能成就此事。许多人正在成就神的旨意，自己却不自知。神容让犹大如此遭蹂躏，有两重用意：—1. 惩罚玛拿西的罪，就是神如今追讨到三四代的。他等候了如此之久才追讨，要看这国是否肯悔改；但他们竟执迷不悟，虽有约西亚极力改革他们，却仍随时准备一有机会便重蹈他们从前的偶像崇拜。如今旧的债券既被告上公堂，从前的审判便被追讨；那曾被神积蓄起来、封锁在他府库中的（申32:34，伯14:17），如今被重提了，他便记念这事，将犹大从自己面前赶出，叫世人知道时间不能磨灭罪的罪咎，又知道缓刑并非赦免。玛拿西所行的一切都被追念，尤其是他所流无辜人的血，我们可以推想，其中许多是神的见证人与敬拜者的血，这是耶和华决不肯赦免的。那么，除了亵渎圣灵之罪以外，还有不得赦免的罪么？这是指暂时刑罚的免除而言。玛拿西虽然悔改了，且我们有理由认为，连他所犯的逼迫与杀戮也都得了赦免，以致他得脱离将来的忿怒；然而这些既是全国性的罪，便仍归在那地的账上，呼求全国性的审判。或许有些当年从犯如今还活着；而现今这王自己也犯了流无辜人血的罪，这从耶22:17可以看出。看杀人是何等可激神怒的罪，它的呼声何等大，何等长久。看列国何等需要为他们列祖的罪哀哭，免得他们因此受苦。神藉此还要成就那些预言；这是照着耶和华藉他仆人众先知所说的话。宁可犹大被从他面前赶出，是的，宁可天地废去，神的话也断没有一句落空。警告必如应许一样确实地应验，若罪人的悔改不加以拦阻。
III. 埃及王也照样被巴比伦王制伏，他国中很大一部分被夺去（王下24:7）。不久之前他还欺压以色列（王下23:33）。如今他自己却被打败，无力再图谋恢复其所失，或援助其盟友。他不敢再从他国中出来。后来他曾试图给西底家一些救援，却不得不退回（耶37:7）。
IV. 约雅敬见自己的国土荒废、自己将落入仇敌之手，似乎在壮年之时就忧愤而死（王下24:6）。这样约雅敬与他列祖同睡；但经上没有说他与他列祖同葬，因无疑耶利米的预言应验了，说他不被人哀哭，不像他父亲那样，乃要被埋葬如埋驴一样（耶22:18,19），他的尸首要被抛弃在外（耶36:30）。
英文原文
Jehoiakim Subdued by Nebuchadnezzar (599 BC)
¹ In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
² And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.
³ Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;
⁴ And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.
⁵ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
⁶ So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.
⁷ And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
We have here the first mention of a name which makes a great figure both in the histories and in the prophecies of the Old Testament; it is that of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (2Ki 24:1), that head of gold. He was a potent prince, and one that was the terror of the mighty in the land of the living; and yet his name would not have been known in sacred writ if he had not been employed in the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the Jews.
I. He made Jehoiakim his tributary and kept him in subjection three years, 2Ki 24:1. Nebuchadnezzar began his reign in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. In his eighth year he made him his prisoner, but restored him upon his promise of faithfulness to him. That promise he kept about three years, but then rebelled, probably in hopes of assistance from the king of Egypt. If Jehoiakim had served his God as he should have done, he would not have been servant to the king of Babylon; but God would thus make him know the difference between his service and the service of the kings of the countries, 2Ch 12:8. If he had been content with his servitude, and true to his word, his condition would have been no worse; but, rebelling against the king of Babylon, he plunged himself into more trouble.
II. When he rebelled Nebuchadnezzar sent his forces against him to destroy his country, bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, Ammonites, who were all now in the service and pay of the king of Babylon (2Ki 24:2), and withal retained, and now showed, their ancient enmity to the Israel of God. Yet no mention is here made of their commission from the king of Babylon, but only of that from the King of kings: The Lord sent against him all these bands; and again (2Ki 24:3), Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah, else the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar could not have brought it. Many are serving God's purposes who are not aware of it. Two things God intended in suffering Judah to be thus harassed:—1. The punishment of the sins of Manasseh, which God now visited upon the third and fourth generation. So long he waited before he visited them, to see if the nation would repent; but they continued impenitent, notwithstanding Josiah's endeavours to reform them, and ready to relapse, upon the first turn, into their former idolatries. Now that the old bond was put in suit they were called up upon the former judgment; that was revived which God had laid up in store, and sealed among his treasures (De 32:34, Job 14:17), and in remembrance of that he removed Judah out of his sight, and let the world know that time will not wear out the guilt of sin and that reprieves are not pardons. All that Manasseh did was called to mind, but especially the innocent blood that he shed, much of which, we may suppose, was the blood of God's witnesses and worshippers, which the Lord would not pardon. Is there then any unpardonable sin but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? This is meant of the remitting of the temporal punishment. Though Manasseh repented, and we have reason to think even the persecutions and murders he was guilty of were pardoned, so that he was delivered from the wrath to come; yet, as they were national sins, they lay still charged upon the land, crying for national judgments. Perhaps some were now living who were aiding and abetting; and the present king was guilty of innocent blood, as appears Jer 22:17. See what a provoking sin murder is, how loud it cries, and how long. See what need nations have to lament the sins of their fathers, lest they smart for them. God intended hereby the accomplishment of the prophecies; it was according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servants the prophets. Rather shall Judah be removed out of his sight, nay, rather shall heaven and earth pass away, than any word of God fall to the ground. Threatenings will be fulfilled as certainly as promises, if the sinner's repentance prevent not.
III. The king of Egypt was likewise subdued by the king of Babylon, and a great part of his country taken from him, 2Ki 24:7. It was but lately that he had oppressed Israel, 2Ki 23:33. Now he is himself brought down and disabled to attempt any thing for the recovery of his losses or the assistance of his allies. He dares not come any more out of his land. Afterwards he attempted to give Zedekiah some relief, but was obliged to retire, Jer 37:7.
IV. Jehoiakim, seeing his country laid waste and himself ready to fall into the enemy's hand, as it should seem, died of a broken heart, in the midst of his days (2Ki 24:6). So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; but it is not said that he was buried with them, for no doubt the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled, that he should not be lamented, as his father was, but buried with the burial of an ass (Jer 22:18,19), and his dead body cast out, Jer 36:30.
8-20
Jehoiachin Carried Captive to Babylon (599 BC)
约雅斤被掳到巴比伦（公元前599年）
⁸ 约雅斤登基的时候年十八岁，在耶路撒冷作王三个月。他母亲名叫尼护施他，是耶路撒冷人以利拿单的女儿。
⁹ 约雅斤行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，效法他父亲一切所行的。
¹⁰ 那时，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒的军兵上到耶路撒冷，围困城。
¹¹ 当他军兵围困城的时候，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒就亲自来到城下。
¹² 犹大王约雅斤和他母亲、臣仆、首领、太监一同出城，投降巴比伦王；巴比伦王便拿住他。那时是巴比伦王第八年。
¹³ 巴比伦王将耶和华殿和王宫里的宝物都拿去了，将以色列王所罗门所造耶和华殿里的金器都毁坏了，正如耶和华所说的。
¹⁴ 又将耶路撒冷的众民和众首领，并所有大能的勇士，共一万人，连一切工匠、铁匠都掳了去，除了国中极贫穷的人以外，没有剩下的。
¹⁵ 并将约雅斤和王母、后妃、太监，与国中的大官都从耶路撒冷掳到巴比伦去了。
¹⁶ 又将一切勇士七千人，和工匠、铁匠一千人，都是能上阵的勇士，全掳到巴比伦去了。
¹⁷ 巴比伦王立约雅斤的叔叔玛探雅代替他作王，给玛探雅改名叫西底家。
¹⁸ 西底家登基的时候年二十一岁，在耶路撒冷作王十一年。他母亲名叫哈慕他，是立拿人耶利米的女儿。
¹⁹ 西底家行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，是照约雅敬一切所行的。
²⁰ 因此耶和华的怒气在耶路撒冷和犹大发作，以致将人民从自己面前赶出。后来西底家背叛巴比伦王。
这本该是约雅斤王“在位”的历史，可叹哪！这不过是约雅斤王“被掳”的历史，正如以西结书1:2所称的那样。他登上王位，并非要得着戴冠的尊荣，乃是要受失冠的羞辱。Ideo tantum venerat, ut exiret——他进来，只是为要出去。
一、他在位的日子短暂而无足轻重。他作王不过三个月，便被废黜，掳到巴比伦去；他父亲若多活那么些时日，照样也会被掳去的。这位年轻的君王何等不幸，竟被推入一座将倾的房屋、一座下沉的王位！他有一位何等不近人情的父亲，生下他来替自己受苦，又因自己的罪与愚妄，给儿子留不下别的产业，惟有自身的祸患！然而这位年轻的君王在位虽短，却也足以表明：他遭报应是公正的，因他承受了列祖的罪，因他步了他们的后尘（王下24:9）：他“行耶和华眼中看为恶的事”，像他们所行的一样；他丝毫没有作为去截断那咒诅的世袭，去清偿王位的重负，所以（transit cum onere——重负随王冠而下传）他自己的罪孽连同列祖的罪孽都要一并算账。
二、在他作王之初，临到他、他的家、他的百姓的灾难极其惨重。1. 耶路撒冷被巴比伦王围困（王下24:10,11）。他先前已差遣军队蹂躏全地（王下24:2）。如今他亲自前来，围攻这城。这时神的话便应验了（申28:49-69等）：“耶和华要从远方带一国的民来攻击你，其面貌凶恶”，先“吃尽你地土所产的”，然后“在你各城里把你困住”。2. 约雅斤随即无条件投降。他一听见巴比伦王亲自前来攻城，巴比伦王此时声名已极其可畏，便求和出城投降（王下24:12）。他若与神和好，效法希西家在类似处境中所行的，便不必惧怕巴比伦王，反倒能凭着勇气、尊荣与成功坚守到底（一人本可追赶千人）；但他既缺乏以色列人当有的信心与虔诚，便也没有大丈夫、军人、君王当有的果决。他和他的王室、他的母亲妻妾、他的臣仆首领，都投降作了战俘；这便是作罪之奴仆的结局。3. 尼布甲尼撒洗劫了教会与国家两处的库房，将二者的金银都掳掠而去（王下24:13）。这时神借以赛亚所说的话便应验了（王下20:17）：“凡你家里所有的，必被掳到巴比伦去。”就连所罗门所造、贮存起来以备旧器用坏时替换的圣殿器皿，他也从殿中夺去，起初动手将它们切成碎块，但转念之后，又将它们留为己用，因为我们看见伯沙撒曾用它们饮酒（但5:2,3）。4. 他将耶路撒冷的大部分人掳去，为要削弱这城，使自己得以稳固地辖制它，免得它背叛，并以所掳之人的财富或劳役充实自己。在此之前八年，即尼布甲尼撒元年、约雅敬第三年，已有一批人被掳去，但以理和他的同伴便在其中（见但1:1,6）。他们既如此出众，这位精明的君王便贪图更多这样的人。如今他掳去了：（1）那年轻的王自己和他的家眷（王下24:15），我们也看见（王下25:27-29）他作了三十七年的阶下囚。（2）所有的大人物，那些首领和官长，他们的财富“积存归主，反害自己”（传5:13），先引诱仇敌来掠夺他们。（3）所有的军人，那些“大能的勇士”（王下24:14）、“国中的大官”（王下24:15）、“能上阵的勇士”（王下24:16）。这些人既不能自保，征服者也不肯留他们防卫本国，反将他们掳去，为要供自己驱使。（4）所有制造军器的工匠和铁匠；掳走他们，实际上就解除了这城的武装，正如非利士人的策略（撒上13:19）。在这次被掳中，先知以西结被掳去了（结1:1,2），末底改也是（斯2:6）。这约雅斤又名“耶哥尼雅”（代上3:16），又被人轻蔑地称为“哥尼雅”（耶22:24，那里预言了他的被掳）。
三、巴比伦王所立、代替约雅斤的继位者。神已注定约雅斤无子（耶22:30），因此政权便交托给他的叔叔。巴比伦王立约西亚的儿子玛探雅作王；并且为要提醒他、又叫普天下都知道他不过是巴比伦王手中所立的，便给他改名，称他为“西底家”（王下24:17）。神曾屡次责备他的子民说：“他们立君王，却不由我”（何8:4）；如今为要因此惩罚他们，便让巴比伦王来立他们的王。那些妄用自由、坚持己见、违抗神权柄的人，被剥夺自由也是公正的。这西底家是犹大列王中的末一位。巴比伦王给他所起的名字意思是“耶和华的公义”，预示着神的公义要在他的败亡中得着荣耀。1. 看这西底家何等不敬虔。虽然神在他三位前任身上的审判本可警戒他不要步其后尘，他却仍“行恶”，与其余诸王一样（王下24:19）。2. 看他何等愚拙。他前任随同信仰一起丧失了勇气，他则随同信仰一起丧失了智慧，因他“背叛巴比伦王”（王下24:20），他原是巴比伦王的属国，竟去惹动那他全然无力抗衡的王；那王若他始终忠心，本会保护他的。这是他所能做的最愚蠢的事，加速了他王国的覆灭。这事的成就乃是“因耶和华的怒气，要将他们从自己面前赶出”。请注意，当那些受托掌管一国谋略的人行事不智、违背本国真正的利益时，我们当从中看出神的不悦。一国的百姓既犯了罪，神便“废去忠信人的言论，夺去老年人的聪明”，又“向他们的眼睛遮蔽那关乎”公众“平安的事”。神所要毁灭的，他必先使其昏愚。
英文原文
Jehoiachin Carried Captive to Babylon (599 BC)
⁸ Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
⁹ And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.
¹⁰ At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
¹¹ And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.
¹² And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
¹³ And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
¹⁴ And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
¹⁵ And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
¹⁶ And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
¹⁷ And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
¹⁸ Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
¹⁹ And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
²⁰ For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
This should have been the history of king Jehoiachin's reign, but, alas! it is only the history of king Jehoiachin's captivity, as it is called, Eze 1:2. He came to the crown, not to have the honour of wearing it, but the shame of losing it. Ideo tantum venerat, ut exiret—He came in only to go out.
I. His reign was short and inconsiderable. He reigned but three months, and then was removed and carried captive to Babylon, as his father, it is likely, would have been if he had lived but so much longer. What an unhappy young prince was this, that was thrust into a falling house, a sinking throne! What an unnatural father had he, who begat him to suffer for him, and by his own sin and folly had left himself nothing to bequeath to his son but his own miseries! Yet this young prince reigned long enough to show that he justly smarted for his fathers' sins, for he trod in their steps (2Ki 24:9): He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as they had done; he did nothing to cut off the entail of the curse, to discharge the incumbrances of his crown, and therefore (transit cum onere—the incumbrance descends with the crown) with his own iniquity that of his fathers shall come into the account.
II. The calamities that came upon him, and his family, and people, in the very beginning of his reign, were very grievous. 1. Jerusalem was besieged by the king of Babylon, 2Ki 24:10,11. He had sent his forces to ravage the country, 2Ki 24:2. Now he came himself, and laid siege to the city. Now the word of God was fulfilled (De 28:49-69, etc.), The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, of fierce countenance, that shall first eat of the fruit of thy land and then besiege thee in all thy gates. 2. Jehoiachin immediately surrendered at discretion. As soon as he heard the king of Babylon had come in person against the city, his name having at this time become very formidable, he beat a parley and went out to him, 2Ki 24:12. Had he made his peace with God, and taken the method that Hezekiah did in the like case, he needed not to have feared the king of Babylon, but might have held out with courage, honour, and success (one should have chased a thousand); but, wanting the faith and piety of an Israelite, he had not the resolution of a man, of a soldier, of a prince. He and his royal family, his mother and wives, his servants and princes, delivered themselves up prisoners of war; this was the consequence of their being servants of sin. 3. Nebuchadnezzar rifled the treasuries both of the church and of the state, and carried away the silver and gold of both, 2Ki 24:13. Now the word of God by Isaiah was fulfilled (2Ki 20:17), All that is in thy house shall be carried to Babylon. Even the vessels of the temple which Solomon had made, and laid up in store to be used as the old ones were worn out, he cut off from the temple, and began to cut them in pieces, but, upon second thoughts, reserved them for his own use, for we find Belshazzar drinking wine in them, Da 5:2,3. 4. He carried away a great part of Jerusalem into captivity, to weaken it, that he might effectually secure to himself the dominion of it and prevent its revolt, and to enrich himself with the wealth or service of those he took away. There had been some carried away eight years before this, in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar and the third of Jehoiakim, among whom were Daniel and his fellows. See Da 1:1,6. They had approved themselves so well that this politic prince coveted more of them. Now he carried off, (1.) The young king himself and his family (2Ki 24:15), and we find (2Ki 25:27-29) that for thirty-seven years he continued a close prisoner. (2.) All the great men, the princes and officers, whose riches were kept for the owners thereof to their hurt (Ec 5:13), tempting the enemies to make a prey of them first. (3.) All the military men, the mighty men of valour (2Ki 24:14), the mighty of the land (2Ki 24:15), the men of might, even all that were strong and apt for war, 2Ki 24:16. These could not defend themselves, and the conqueror would not leave them to defend their country, but took them away, to be employed in his service. (4.) All the craftsmen and smiths who made weapons of war; in taking them he did, in effect, disarm the city, according to the Philistines' policy, 1Sa 13:19. In this captivity Ezekiel the prophet was carried away (Eze 1:1,2) and Mordecai, Es 2:6. This Jehoiachin was also called Jeconiah (1Ch 3:16), and in contempt (Jer 22:24, where his captivity is foretold) Coniah.
III. The successor whom the king of Babylon appointed in the room of Jehoiachin. God had written him childless (Jer 22:30) and therefore his uncle was entrusted with the government. The king of Babylon made Mattaniah king, the son of Josiah; and to remind him, and let all the world know, that he was his creature, he changed his name and called him Zedekiah, 2Ki 24:17. God had sometimes charged it upon his people, They have set up kings, but not by me (Ho 8:4), and now, to punish them for that, the king of Babylon shall have the setting up of their kings. Those are justly deprived of their liberty that use it, and insist upon it, against God's authority. This Zedekiah was the last of the kings of Judah. The name which the king of Babylon gave him signifies The justice of the Lord, and was a presage of the glorifying of God's justice in his ruin. 1. See how impious this Zedekiah was. Though the judgments of God upon his three immediate predecessors might have been a warning to him not to tread in their steps, yet he did that which was evil, like all the rest, 2Ki 24:19. 2. See how impolitic he was. As his predecessor lost his courage, so he his wisdom, with his religion, for he rebelled against the king of Babylon (2Ki 24:20), whose tributary he was, and so provoked him whom he was utterly unable to contend with, and who, if he had continued true to him, would have protected him. This was the most foolish thing he could do, and hastened the ruin of his kingdom. This came to pass through the anger of the Lord, that he might cast them out from his presence. Note, When those that are entrusted with the counsels of a nation act unwisely, and against their true interest, we ought to take notice of the displeasure of God in it. It is for the sins of a people that God removes the speech of the trusty and takes away the understanding of the aged, and hides from their eyes the things that belong to the public peace. Whom God will destroy he infatuates.
事情在此渐趋成熟、急速逼近，以致耶路撒冷被彻底毁灭。前文我们看见约雅敬登基为王，是埃及王立他在那位上的；如今在此我们读到：一、他在位时的患难，他如何被巴比伦王征服，并因图谋挣脱所负之轭而遭受严厉的惩治（2Ki 24:1-6），以及埃及也如何被尼布甲尼撒所征服，2Ki 24:7。二、他儿子在位时的荒凉，这朝代仅延续三个月；随后他和他一切的大臣，被迫无条件投降，被掳到巴比伦去，2Ki 24:8-16。三、下一朝代（也是末后的一朝）为耶路撒冷彻底的败亡所作的预备，下一章必将这事记述给我们听，2Ki 24:17-20。