CHAPTER XXV _Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem; it is taken, after having_ _been sorely reduced by famine, c. and Zedekiah, endeavouring_ _to make his escape, is made prisoner, his sons slain before his_ _eyes; then, his eyes being put out, he is put in chains and_ _carried to Babylon_, 1-7. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:2. _AND THE CITY WAS BESIEGED, C._] Nebuchadnezzar, having routed the Egyptian army, returned to Jerusalem, and besieged it so closely that, being reduced by famine, and a breach made in the wall, the Chaldeans entered it on the _ninth day of the_ _fourth month_, (_Wednesday, July_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:3. 2 Kings 25:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:4. 2 Kings 25:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:5. _THE ARMY OF THE CHALDEANS PURSUED_] Zedekiah was taken, and brought captive to Riblah in Syria, where Nebuchadnezzar then lay, who ordered his sons to be slain before his face, and then put out his eyes; and having loaded him with chains, sent him to Babylon, (see Jeremiah 39:4... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:8. _IN THE FIFTH MONTH_] On the _seventh day of the fifth_ _month_, (answering to _Wednesday, Aug_. 24,) Nebuzar-adan made his entry into the city; and having spent two days in making provision, on the _tenth day_ of the same month, (_Saturday, Aug_. 27,) he set fire to the temple... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:10. _BRAKE DOWN THE WALLS_] In the same _fifth month_, Jeremiah 1:3, the walls of Jerusalem being razed to the ground, all that were left in the city, and all that had fled over formerly to Nebuchadnezzar, and all the common people of the city, with all the king's treasures, those... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:18. _SERAIAH THE CHIEF PRIEST - ZEPHANIAH_] The person who is here called the _second priest_ was what the Jews call _sagan_, a sort of _deputy_, who performed the functions of the high priest when he was prevented by any infirmity from attending the temple service. See on 2 Kings 2... [ Continue Reading ]
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_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:21. _THE KING OF BABYLON SMOTE THEM_] He had, no doubt, found that these had counselled Zedekiah to revolt.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:22. _MADE GEDALIAH - RULER._] This was no _regal_ dignity; he was only a sort of _hind_ or _overseer_, appointed to regulate the _husbandmen_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:23. _TO MIZPAH_] This is said to have been situated on the _east_ side of the river Jordan, and most contiguous to Babylon, and therefore the most proper for the residence of Gedaliah, because nearest to the place from which he was to receive his instructions. But there were several... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:24. _GEDALIAH SWARE TO THEM_] He pledged himself in the most solemn manner to encourage and protect them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:25. _SMOTE GEDALIAH_] This was at an entertainment which Gedaliah had made for them; see Jeremiah 41:1, c. He was not content with this murder, but slew fourscore more, who were coming with offerings to the temple, and took several as prisoners, among whom were some of the _king's... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:27. _AND IT CAME TO PASS_] Nebuchadnezzar was just now dead; and Evil-merodach, his son, succeeded to the kingdom in the _thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin_: and on the _seven and twentieth_ day [Jeremiah says _five_ and _twentieth_] of the _twelfth month_ of that y... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 25:30. _A CONTINUAL ALLOWANCE GIVEN HIM OF THE KING_] He lived in a _regal style_, and had his _court_ even in the city of Babylon, being supplied with every requisite by the munificence and friendship of the king. In about _two years_ after this, Evil-merodach was slain in a conspirac... [ Continue Reading ]