XXXIX. (1) IN THE NINTH YEAR OF ZEDEKIAH... — The great crisis came at last, as Jeremiah had long ago predicted. A fuller narrative of the siege and capture is given in Jeremiah 52. The two verses which open the chapter seem to have been inserted here by the editor of the prophecies in their presen... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MIDDLE GATE. — The term indicates a position in the line of walls between the citadel of Zion — the “upper city” of Josephus (_Ant. v._ 20. 2), which as yet was not surrendered (Jeremiah 39:4) — and the lower city, in the walls of which a breach had been effected. Here an open space, original... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN ZEDEKIAH THE KING OF JUDAH SAW THEM... — The hasty flight is narrated again in Jeremiah 52:7. The gate between the two walls was one apparently that opened from the park-like garden of the palace, near the pool of Siloah (Nehemiah 3:15); probably identical with the garden of Uzza, which was use... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE PLAINS OF JERICHO. — Here again we have the distinctive word, the _Araboth_ of the Jordan, the enlargement of the Jordan valley, three miles wide, near Jericho. The intention of the king was apparently to make his way to the ford near Jericho, cross the river, and escape to the open country o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SONS OF ZEDEKIAH. — The history of Eastern monarchies presents us with many examples of this refinement of cruelty, notably in the case of (Eobazus under Darius (Herod. Iv. 84), and Pythius under Xerxes (Herod, vii. 39). The slaughter of the “nobles” probably included most of those whom we have... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER HE PUT OUT ZEDEKIAH’S EYES. — The special form of punishment is noticeable as fulfilling the two prophecies — (1) that Zedekiah should see the king of Babylon and be taken to that city (Jeremiah 32:4); and (2) that though he was to die in Babylon, he should never see it (Ezekiel 12:13). Bey... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHALDEANS BURNED THE KING’S HOUSE. — In the fuller account of Jeremiah 52:12, we find that this was the work of Nebuzar-adan, who had been sent by Nebuchadnezzar, on hearing of the capture of the city, and that it included the destruction of the Temple as well as the palace.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN NEBUZAR-ADAN THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD. — Here again the title in the Hebrew — _Bab-tab-bachim_ — takes a form like that of Rab-saris and Rab-shaken, and means literally, “chief of the slaughterers” The title is given to Potiphar in Genesis 37:36, and probably answered to our “commander of the k... [ Continue Reading ]
NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON...._ — _It is clear that Nebuchadrezzar had been well informed of the part which Jeremiah had taken from first to last in counselling submission. This he may have heard from the deserters named in Jeremiah 39:9, or even from the lips of Zedekiah. Possibly the journey t... [ Continue Reading ]
NEBUSHASBAN. — The name, which occurs in the _Annals_ cf Assur-banipal (_Records of the Past,_ i. 64), is possibly another form of the Nebo-sarsechim of Jeremiah 39:3. Rab-saris (= chief eunuch, or chamberlain) is, as before, his title. Ashpenaz appears as holding the same position, possibly, as Neb... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE COURT OF THE PRISON. — There is a slight apparent discrepancy between this statement and that in Jeremiah 40:1, that the prophet was set free at Ramah. It seems likely that, at first, he was sent back to the prison where he had been found, till he could be placed under the protection of G... [ Continue Reading ]
GO AND SPEAK TO EBED-MELECH. — It lies in the nature of the case that the prophet, when he put this prediction, given during the progress of the siege, on record, knew that it had been fulfilled. We hear nothing more of the faithful Ethiopian, but we may believe that he was spared by the Chaldæans,... [ Continue Reading ]