Chapter 39
The capture of Jerusalem
Lecture 1
Jerusalem captured
39:1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and all his army, came to Jerusalem, and they besieged it.
39:2 Moreover, in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, the city was breached.
39:3 And all the princes of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the middle gate: Neregel, Sereser, Semegar-nabu, Sarsachim, Rab-sares, Neregel, Sereser, Rab-mag, and all the other princes of the king of Babylon.
39:4 And when Zedekiah, the king of Judah, had seen them, and all the men of war, they fled; and they went out by night from the city by way of the garden of the king, and through the gate which was between the two walls, and they went out to the way of the desert.
39:5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them, and seized Zedekiah in the field of the wilderness of Jericho, and led him bound to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, in Reblath, which is in the land of Emath; and he spoke judgments to him.
39:6 And the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; and the king of Babylon killed all the nobles of Judah.
39:7 He also gouged out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with shackles that he should be led to Babylon.
39:8 The Chaldeans also burned the house of the king and the house of the people with fire, and cast down the walls of Jerusalem.
39:9 And Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took the remnant of the people who had remained in the city, and the deserters who had fled over to him, and the rest of the people who had stayed to Babylon.
204 . Here is given the ordering of the remnant of the people, after the people themselves were taken captive. It is divided into three parts.
In the first is given the captivity;
in the second, the preservation of the remnant: the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord (Jer 40:1);
in the third, the ordering of the remnant: and all the captains of the men at war came near (Jer 42:1).
Concerning the former, there are two points.
First, the captivity of the people is spoken of;
second, the liberation of certain men, at but some of the poor people, who had nothing within (Jer 39:10).
Concerning the former, there are three points.
First, he speaks of the siege: and they besieged . And I shall make a circle round about you, and cast up a mound against you, and raise up bulwarks to besiege you (Isa 29:3).
Second, he speaks of the taking of the city: in the eleventh year, in the fourth month , that is, in July. Nevertheless, it was burned in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, as it is related in 2 Kings 25:8, on the fifth day of the month . Contrary to this, it is said in 2 Kings 25:3 that it was on the ninth of the month. It could have been that people began to flee because of hunger on the fifth day, and that on the ninth day the city was breached, its guards having been removed; and because they first took the outer wall, it was then as if the city had been taken, and afterward, they took the city.
For this reason, the text continues: and all the princes sat in the middle gate , that is, in the midst of the two walls; alternatively, one which was between two gates on the same side of the city. Above: each one shall place his sole in the entry of the gates of Jerusalem, and upon all her walls round about, and upon all the cities of Judah (Jer 1:15).
He also speaks of the taking of the king when he notes his flight: and when Zedekiah, the king of Judah, had seen them, and all the men of war, they fled; and they went out by night from the city by way of the garden of the king, and through the gate which was between the two walls , which were joined to the wall of the city near the house of the king and surrounded the royal garden, between which there was both a road and a gate equidistant from one another. Her princes have become like rams which find no pasture; they have gone away without strength before the face of the pursuer (Lam 1:6).
And he subjoins their capture: but the army of the Chaldeans pursued them . Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky (Lam 4:19).
Third, he speaks of the condemnation of the captives:
first, of the king, and of the princes, to death: and led the king bound to Nebuchadnezzar , for the pronouncing of sentence: and he spoke judgments to him . I shall judge you with the judgments of adulteresses, and of those who spill blood (Ezek 16:38).
And the execution of the sentence of the princes: and the king killed .
And the blindness of his eyes: he also gouged out the eyes of Zedekiah . . . that he should be led to Babylon . One finds the same in 2 Kings 25.
Second, the condemnation of the city to destruction: the Chaldeans also burned the house of the king and the house of the people with fire . He cast down all her walls, and destroyed all her bulwarks (Lam 2:5).
Third, the condemnation of the people to exile: and Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took the remnant of the people . . . to Babylon . My delicate ones have walked rough ways, for they were taken away as a flock made a prey by the enemies (Lam 4:26).
Lecture 2
Those left at liberty
39:10 But some of the poor people, who had nothing within, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and cisterns on that day.
39:11 But Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had commanded Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, concerning Jeremiah, saying:
39:12 ‘Take him, and put your eyes upon him, but do no evil to him; but do unto him as he shall wish.’
39:13 Therefore, Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, sent, and Nebushazban, and Rab-sares, and Neregel, and Sereser, and Rab-mag, and all the nobles of the king of Babylon,
39:14 they sent, and took Jeremiah from the vestibule of the prison, and handed him over to Gedaliah, the son of Ahicam, the son of Shaphan, and sent him to his house, and he dwelt among the people.
39:15 Moreover, the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah when he was shut up in the vestibule of the prison, saying:
39:16 go, and say to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying: ‘Thus says the Lord , God of Israel: behold, I shall bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good, and they shall be in your sight on that day.
39:17 And I will free you on that day, says the Lord , and you shall not be handed over into the hands of the men whom you fear.
39:18 But I shall surely free you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but your life shall be saved for you, says the Lord .’
205 . Here, he speaks of the liberation of certain people.
First, of the poor people, who had nothing within . . . and gave them vineyards and cisterns , because the land suffers from a lack of water. Above: nevertheless, in those days, says the Lord , I will not make an end of you (Jer 5:18).
Second, the liberation of the just.
First, of the prophet, when he speaks of the command: Nebuchadnezzar had commanded , and its execution: therefore, Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, sent him . . . to his house , that is, the prophet’s own house. The just is freed from distress, and the wicked shall be given up for him (Prov 11:8). What the wicked man fears shall come upon him, his desire shall be given to the just (Prov 10:24). When the ways of a man are pleasing to the Lord, he shall turn even his enemies to peace (Prov 16:7).
Second, the liberation of the eunuch: moreover, the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah .
First, he promises liberation from the dominion of the enemy: and you shall not be handed over . He kept him from his enemies, and made him safe from the deceivers (Wis 10:12).
Second, from being slain by the sword: and you shall not fall by the sword . A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but to you it shall not approach (Ps 90:7). Above: blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord , and the Lord will be his confidence (Jer 17:7). Believe in the Lord, and he will recover you, and direct your way, and hope in him (Sir 2:6).