2 Kings 25:19

_AND OUT OF THE CITY HE TOOK AN OFFICER THAT WAS SET OVER THE MEN OF WAR, AND FIVE MEN OF THEM THAT WERE IN THE KING'S PRESENCE, WHICH WERE FOUND IN THE CITY, AND THE PRINCIPAL SCRIBE OF THE HOST, WHICH MUSTERED THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND, AND THREESCORE MEN OF THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND THAT WERE FOUND IN THE CITY:_ Five men of them that were in the king's presence - i:e., who belonged to the royal retinue: it is probable that there were five at first, and that other two were found afterward (Jeremiah 52:25). AND THE PRINCIPAL SCRIBE OF THE HOST. There were two army registrars, whose figures are seen in almost every bas-relief, writing down the various objects brought to them by the victorious warriors-the heads of the slain, the prisoners, cattle, sheep. furniture, and vessels of metal ('Nineveh and Babylon,' p. 633)....

8-21 The city and temple were burnt, and, it is probable, the ark in it. By this, God showed how little he cares for the outward pomp of his worship, when the life and power of religion are neglected. The walls of Jerusalem were thrown down, and the people carried captive to Babylon. The vessels of the temple were carried away. When the things signified were sinned away, what should the signs stand there for? It was righteous with God to deprive those of the benefit of his worship, who had preferred false worships before it; those that would have many altars, now shall have none. As the Lord spared not the angels that sinned, as he doomed the whole race of fallen men to the grave, and all unbelievers to hell, and as he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, we need not wonder at any miseries he may bring upon guilty nations, churches, or persons....

Verse 2 Kings 25:19. _AND FIVE MEN OF THEM THAT WERE IN THE KING'S PRESENCE_] These were principal counsellors, and confidential officers. In Jeremiah 52:25, it is said he took _seven_ men who were near the king's person, and the same number is found in the _Arabic_ in this place; and the _Chaldee_ has no less than _fifty men_; but in Jeremiah this, as well as all the rest of the _versions_, reads seven. Probably they were no more than _five_ at first, or, perhaps Jeremiah reckoned with the five the _officer_ that was set _over the men of war_, and the _principal scribe_ of the host mentioned here, as _two_ with the five; and thus made _seven_ in the whole....

OUT OF THE CITY - This clause shows that the five persons mentioned in 2 Kings 25:18 were taken out of the temple. FIVE MEN - Or, “seven men,” according to Jeremiah 52:25. It is impossible to say which of the two numbers is correct. OF THEM THAT WERE IN THE KING’S PRESENCE - See the margin. A mode of speech arising from the custom of Eastern rulers to withdraw themselves as much as possible from the view of their subjects....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 25:1 THE LAST SIEGE OF JERUSALEM. THE JEWS LED INTO CAPTIVITY. HISTORY OF THE REMNANT LEFT BEHIND. RELEASE FROM PRISON OF JEHOIACHIN. 2 KINGS 25:1 LAST SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM. The open rebellion of Zedekiah was followed almost immediately by the advance into J

2 Kings 25:18...

3. THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM AND JUDAH'S COMPLETE OVERTHROW CHAPTER 25 _ 1. The last siege and complete overthrow (2 Kings 25:1; 2 Chronicles 36:17)_ 2. Gedaliah (2 Kings 25:22) 3. Jehoiachin's captivity and release (2 Kings 25:27) Zedekiah's rebellion was a great offence. He had sworn in Jehovah's name to be loyal to Nebuchadnezzar (2 Chronicles 36:13; Ezekiel 17:13). We find more light thrown u

DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. FATE OF THE REMNANT. This again is more fully related in Jeremiah (Jeremiah 39:8 to Jeremiah 42:22), of which the passage before us is probably an abridgement. 2 Kings 25:8. Nebuzar-adan treated Jeremiah with marked favour (Jeremiah 40:8). 2 KINGS 25:22. Gedaliah established himself at Mizpah in Benjamin (Joshua 8:26). His murder by Ishmael was the ruin of the remnant, which escaped to Egypt, taking Jeremiah with t

PRINCIPAL SCRIBE. scribe of the captain of the host....

_five men of them that were in the king's presence_ R.V. THAT SAW THE KING'S FACE. For the expression, cf. Esther 1:14. The officer over the men of war, and the five persons admitted to closest intimacy with the king, together with the scribe, represented the remaining conspicuous persons in the city: Seraiah and the others were prominent among the servants of the temple. _principal scribe of the host_ R.V. THE SCRIBE, THE CAPTAIN OF THE HOST. This was the chief military secretary, Secretary at War. Some would render -the scribe of the captain of the host," and suggest that his superior officer had been already taken away, or had fled. _threescore men of the people of the land_ These, though undefined, had made themselves obnoxious in some way or other; else they would not have been taken and put to death among the distinguished people named before them....