Jeremiah 39:13

So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes; NEBUZAR-ADAN ... SENT. He was then at Ramah ()....

11-14 The servants of God alone are prepared for all events; and they are delivered and comforted, while the wicked suffer. They often meet with more kindness from the profane, than from hypocritical professors of godliness. The Lord will raise them up friends, do them good, and perform all his promises....

Nebuzar-adan is in the inscriptions Nabu-zir-iddina (Nebo has given offspring); and Nebushasban, Nabu-sizibanni (Nebo save me), whom some identify with Sarsechim Jeremiah 39:3....

EXPOSITION This chapter is very confused as it stands. To restore order it is absolutely necessary to suppose that some passages (viz. Jeremiah 39:1, Jeremiah 39:2, and Jeremiah 39:4) have been inserted by after thoughts. It is important to notice that the latter of these passages is omitted in the Septuagint. We need not go so far as to excise them altogether, but we must at any rate enclose them in parentheses. The chapter then becomes a narrative of the solemn session held by the Babylonian officers in the "middle gate," and the charge which they gave to Gedaliah to take Jeremiah under his protection. Verses 1, 2 appear to be taken from...

SO NEBUZARADAN CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD SENT,.... When he was come to Jerusalem, one of the first things he did was, he sent a messenger or messengers to the court of the prison where Jeremiah was, to bring him from thence; and this he did not alone, but with the rest of the princes, who had the same charge, and were joined in the commission with him: two of them are mentioned by name, NEBUSHASBAN RABSARIS AND NERGALSHAREZER RABMAG; the latter of these is manifestly one of the princes that first entered Jerusalem, at the taking of it, Jeremiah 39:3; and perhaps the former is the same with Sarsechim Rabsaris, as Hillerus n thinks, mentioned at the same time, who might have two names; unless we suppose there were two persons in the same office: AND ALL THE KING OF BABYLON'S PRINCES: so that great honour was done to the prophet, to have them all charged with

CHAPTER 39 _ 1. The fall of Jerusalem and the fate of Zedekiah (Jeremiah 39:1) _ 2. Nebuchadnezzar's kindness to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 39:10) 3. Ebed-melech's reward (Jeremiah 39:15) Jeremiah 39:1. The Word of God comes true; the prophecy of Jeremiah is vindicated! The mighty army of Nebuchadnezzar returned to the city; for many months the siege goes on under indescribable suffering. How horrible it must have been! Then the city fell and the victors rushed in; the work of slaughter and burning began. According to Jewish tradition it was on the ninth day of the month Ab. On the same date in

THE FALL OF JERUSALEM: JEREMIAH SPARED. This paragraph well illustrates the growth of the OT text; _cf._ 2 Kings 25:1 (also reproduced in Jeremiah 52:4, from which Jeremiah 39:1 f. and Jeremiah 39:4; Jeremiah 39:13 have been here interpolated. The former verses (Jeremiah 39:1 f., bracketed in RV) break the Hebrew connexion, and refer back to the time prior to the capture of the city; the latter ...

See introd. summary to the section....

NEBUSHASBAN, &C.— _Nebushasban, prime minister,_ or prince of the eunuchs, and Nergal-Sharezer, prince of the Magi. REFLECTIONS.—1st, At last the threatened judgment is executed. Vengeance against sinners, though slow, is sure. 1. The devoted city is taken by storm, after sustaining a siege of eighteen months, begun by the king of Babylon in person, in the midst of winter, and carried on with implacable resentment by his orders for Zedekiah's perfidy, Nebuchadnezzar himself having retired to Riblah, but on what account is uncertain. The names of the princes who took possession of the middle gate are recorded, with their several offices. These, with their companions, sat in the gate in triumph as victors, or to secure the entrance for their troops, till the city was thoroughly possessed; and thus was fulfilled the prophesy, chap. Jeremiah 1:15. 2. Zedekia

D. The Command of Nebuchadnezzar Jeremiah 39:11-14 TRANSLATION (11) Now Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had commanded Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard concerning Jeremiah, saying, (12) Take him and keep your eye on him and do not do any harm to him, but do with him as he tells you. (13) And Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, and Nebushasban the Rab-saris, and Nergalsharezer the Rab-mag, and all the officials of the king of Babylon (14) sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he might escort him home; and he dwelled in the midst of the people. COMMENTS Nebuchadnezzar had given specific orders to the captain of his guard with regard to the welfare of Jeremiah (Jeremiah