2 Kings 24:14

_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._ All the craftsmen and smiths, х_ KAAL_ (H3605) _ HECHAARAASH_ (H2796) _ WªHAMACGEER_ (H4525)] - all the artisans and forgers of arms....

8-20 Jehoiachin reigned but three months, yet long enough to show that he justly smarted for his fathers' sins, for he trod in their steps. His uncle was intrusted with the government. This Zedekiah was the last of the kings of Judah. Though the judgments of God upon the three kings before him might have warned him, he did that which was evil, like them. When those intrusted with the counsels of a nation act unwisely, and against their true interest, we ought to notice the displeasure of God in it. It is for the sins of a people that God hides from them the things that belong to the public peace. And in fulfilling the secret purposes of his justice, the Lord needs only leave men to the blindness of their own minds, or to the lusts of their own hearts. The gradual approach of Divine judgments affords sinners space for repentance, and believers leisure to prepare for meeting the calamity,...

Verse 2 Kings 24:14. _HE CARRIED AWAY ALL JERUSALEM_] That is, all the chief men, the nobles, and artificers. Among these there were of mighty men _seven thousand_; of craftsmen and smiths, _one thousand_....

The entire number of the captives was not more than 11,000. They consisted of three classes: (1) the “princes” or “mighty of the land,” i. e., courtiers, priests, elders, and all who had any position or dignity - in number 3,000 (compare 2 Kings 24:14, 2 Kings 24:16). (2) the “mighty men of valor” or “men of might,” i. e., the soldier class, who were 7,000. And (3) craftsmen or artisans, who numbered 1,000. The word here translated “craftsmen” denotes artisans in stone, wood, or metal, and thus includes our “masons, carpenters, and smiths.” The word translated “smiths” means strictly “lock-smiths.” The object of carrying off these pers

AND HE CARRIED AWAY ALL JERUSALEM,.... The inhabitants of it; not every individual of them, but the chief of them, the more honourable, rich, and useful; for the poorer sort were left, as afterwards expressed: AND ALL THE PRINCES, AND ALL THE MIGHTY MEN OF VALOUR, EVEN TEN THOUSAND CAPTIVES; which was the number of them in the whole; the particulars are after delivered: AND ALL THE CRAFTSMEN AND SMITHS; besides the nobles and the soldiers, he took all the artificers that exercised any handicraft trade or business; carpenters and blacksmiths, as some interpret these two words; so that there were none left to make arms for them; the last word may be rendered "enclosers", and are by some interpreted of enclosers of jewels in metals, as gold and silver: NONE REMAINED, SAVE THE POOREST SORT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND; who were left to till it, and to dress the vines; see...

2. JEHOIACHIN AND ZEDEKIAH: THE BEGINNING OF JUDAH'S CAPTIVITY CHAPTER 24 _ 1. Jehoiakim, Servant of Nebuchadnezzar, and His Death (2 Kings 24:1; 2 Chronicles 36:6)_ 2. Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6; 2 Chronicles 36:8) 3. The first deportation to Babylon (2 Kings 24:11) 4. Zedekiah, the last king, and his rebellion (2 Kings 24:17) The foe of Judah, the chosen instrument of the Lord to execute His

2 Kings 24:8. JEHOIACHIN AND THE FIRST CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH. The name of this king is also given as Coniah (Jeremiah 22:24) and Jeconiah (Jeremiah 29:2). Evidently Babylon's vengeance for his father's treachery fell on him. 2 Kings 24:8. Eighteen years old: 2 Chronicles 36:9 has eight, an obvious error, for Jehoaichin was evidently grown up (Jeremiah 22:28). The Captivity dates from his reign, and he is considered the last of the kings of J

CARRIED AWAY. This deportation was eleven years before that of Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:18). Mordecai was in this deportation. See note on 2 Chronicles 36:6. The Captivity begun in 489. CRAFTSMEN. artificers. THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND. Compare 2 Kings 23:6....

_he carried away all Jerusalem_ The policy of Nebuchadnezzar was to remove out of the way all those who might be able to organize and plan a revolt when he and his army had departed. Hence all the people of rank, of wealth, and of skill as handicraftsmen are deported, and only the poorest folk left, who had neither knowledge nor means for doing more than work of drudgery. The total number of captives was 10,000. In verse 16 the numbers of some classes are specified, the -men of might" were 7000, and the craftsmen 1000, which leaves 2000 for the royal household and their retainers, and the princes and the others who are spoken of in the general phrase as -strong and apt for war". Such men it would have been dangerous to leave behind. In this captivity the prophet Ezekiel was included. See Ezekiel 1:3....

AND HE CARRIED AWAY ALL JERUSALEM— Among these were Ezekiel the prophet, and Mordecai the uncle of Esther....