Jeremiah 39:2

_AND IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR OF ZEDEKIAH, IN THE FOURTH MONTH, THE NINTH DAY OF THE MONTH, THE CITY WAS BROKEN UP._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

It then follows, _In the eleventh year, in the fourth month, the city was broken up _We hence see that the city was besieged for a year and half; for there was the whole of the tenth year, and then added must be two months of the ninth year and four months of the eleventh year; and thus a year and half was the whole time. Here also we must remember how much the Jews must have suffered; for were a city at this day to bear a siege for a few months, it would appear a rare instance of valor; but Jerusalem was besieged for a year and half. Let us now consider what number of people must have been there, and we have seen that the Prophet threatened them with famine. And how much scarcity there was in the city, the Prophet has not only testified elsewhere, but in the book of Lamentations he has shewed most fully. (Lamentations 4:10.) And there was not only famine, but it was followed by pestilen...

1-10 Jerusalem was so strong, that the inhabitants believed the enemy could never enter it. But sin provoked God to withdraw his protection, and then it was as weak as other cities. Zedekiah had his eyes put out; so he was condemned to darkness who had shut his eyes against the clear light of God's word. Those who will not believe God's words, will be convinced by the event. Observe the wonderful changes of Providence, how uncertain are earthly possessions; and see the just dealings of Providence: but whether the Lord makes men poor or rich, nothing will profit them while they cleave to their sins....

Verse Jeremiah 39:2. _THE ELEVENTH YEAR - IN THE FOURTH MONTH_] This month in the Hebrew calendar is called _Thammuz_, and commences with the first new moon of our _July_. The siege had lasted just _eighteen_ months. _THE CITY WAS BROKEN UP._] A breach was made in the wall by which the Chaldeans entered....

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...

[AND] IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR OF ZEDEKIAH, IN THE FOURTH MONTH,.... The month Tammuz, which answers to part of June, and part of July: THE NINTH [DAY] OF THE MONTH, THE CITY WAS BROKEN UP; or taken by storm; the walls of it were broken by engines and battering rams, so that the Chaldeans could enter it, and take it. This was just a year and a half after it had been besieged, not being able to hold out any longer, because of the famine; see Jeremiah 52:6....

FOURTH MONTH That is, July....

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 ...

BROKEN UP. Compare Ch. Jeremiah 52:6. which explains that provisions had failed before then....