Here the cause of the prophet's imprisonment is expressed. The things were true which Jeremiah prophesied, and fulfilled, Jeremiah 39:5, and Jeremiah could not forbear speaking them, because he was sent of God upon the errand, Jeremiah 34:2,3; yet the king and court could not bear his words. There shall he be until I visit him, saith the Lord: interpreters are divided whether the visitation here mentioned were a visitation of judgment, and the same with until he die; or of mercy: it is certain Zedekiah was not put to death, only his eyes put out, and he carried into Babylon, Jeremiah 39:7, where some think he afterward found favour with the king of Babylon; certain it is that he died in Babylon, and had an honourable burial, but whether he met with any other favour, or no, the Scripture saith not. Some will have the words read, until I visit this people, and think that Zedekiah lived in prison in Babylon till the restoration; but he was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years, so as he was thirty-two years old when he was carried to Babylon, 2 Chronicles 36:11, and must be then ninety-two years old when he died, which is hardly probable, considering the delicate education and life of princes, that he, having lost his eyes, and seen so much misery, should continue sixty years longer. Though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper; though ye make many sallies out upon the Chaldeans, that are now besieging you, yet you shall be beaten in all, and not be able to drive them from your walls, Hitherto hath been but the preface to the prophetical type and discourse in this chapter, which now followeth.

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