CONTENTS Jerusalem is again besieged. Zedekiah is taken, his sons slain and his eyes put out. The close of the chapter relates that Jehoiachin, who had been long captive in Babylon, was brought out of prison by the kindness of the king, and set at his table.... [ Continue Reading ]
As we read in the foregoing chapter that Jerusalem was taken, and here that it was besieged, we should remember in order to have a clear apprehension of the history, that though Jerusalem had been conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, yet it was not totally subdued as a kingdom, because the conqueror appoint... [ Continue Reading ]
The history in this place is but shortly related, just to manifest God's certain judgments: but very long and painful must have been the process of them in their execution. Jeremiah had been long preaching of them, and was much opposed, as faithful ministers are, more or less, in all ages in this se... [ Continue Reading ]
Pause, Reader! over the perusal of these verses. Behold the very temple of the Lord amidst the general ruins. And now Zion is plowed as a field, as the prophet Micah had foretold; Micah 3:12. which prophecy the prophet Jeremiah quotes in confirmation of his own. See Jeremiah 26:18. Thus the temple o... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have the final account of Judah as a kingdom. So that from Joshua's days, in which it began to be formed, to the last of its kings, Zedeciah, it stood about 850 or 860 years. And the church's history now begins from the Babylonish captivity. Daniel and Ezekiel were the two prophets, whose mi... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah had told Baruch that his life should be given for a prey, and here we find certain of the people were preserved, Jeremiah 45:5. It was the mercy of God, in the midst of judgment, to incline the King of Babylon to preserve some of the people, and to have Gedaliah, a faithful man, made Govern... [ Continue Reading ]
It is hardly possible to read the wonderful change in the circumstances of Jehoiachin, who, after so long a period as thirty-seven years lying in a prison, is brought forth to liberty, and to the king's table, without having our minds led out in the contemplation, how wonderful the changes sometimes... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS READER! we are brought to the final close of Judah's history as a kingdom in this Chapter; and therefore let us pause over the subject, and in beholding the desolated state of Zion as a church, take up the lamentation of the mournful prophet and say, How is the gold become dim! how is t... [ Continue Reading ]