2 Kings 25

Jerusalem is besieged, verse1 &c. Zedekia taken prisoner his eyes put and carried to Babel, 5 Nebuchadnezar burneth Jerusalem and the temple, and breaketh down the wall of the city, 8. the carrieth much people away, 11. Also much treasure, 14, carrieth some of the chiefest sort to riblath, where they are put to death, 18. Gedalia is made governour of Juda Jojachin is delivered and advanced by Evilmerodach,27.

1. And it came to pass in the nineth year of his [Namely, Zedekia’s] reign in the tebth moneth, on the tenth day of the moneth, (that) Nebuchadnezar King of Babel came against Jerusalem he and all his host and camped himself against it and they built forts [the Hebrew word (as many conceive) signifieth a warlike structure on building in the form or fashin of a tower or high scaffold, made of wood, which was reared up without the city over against the walls to shoot from thence arrows and stones against the walls and unto the city. The same word is found, Jer.52.4. and Ezek.4.2 and 17.17 &c.] against it round about.]

2. So the city was besieged, [so above chap.24.10.] unto the eleventh year of King Zedekia.

3. On the ninth (day) of the (fourth)[This word is inserted out of Jerem. 30.2 and 52.6.] moneth, when the famine grew strong in the city, and the people of the land had no bread.

4. Then was the city broken thorow, [to wit, by the Chaldeans, that besieged the city and had already taken the middle gate. Jer.39.3.] and the souldiers (shed) [this word is also here inserted to fill up the sense, out of Jeremiah 39:4.] by night by the way of the gate, between the two walls, [Understand a private gate, or passage, which was made between two walls of the city. See this secret typified, Ezek.12.6.] which were [or, was: to wit, the gate or way] by the king’s garden, (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about) and (the king) went (by) the way of the plain

5. But the army of the Chaldeans pursed after the king and they overtook him in plains of Jericho. [see 2 Kings 2 on verse 43.] and all his army were scattered from him.

6. then they took hold of the King and brought him up to the king of Babel to Ribla: [see bove chap.23.33. in this city Nebuchadnezar intended to keep his court until he had subdued Jerusalem, especially seeing the siege lasted a long while] and they passed sentence against him. [for they accused him of disloyalty and falsehood, because he had broken his promise and oath, and of thankfulness against king Nebuchadnezar, that had made him king above chapter 24.17,28. Oth. They passed a sentence with him; to wit, with the king of Babel upon the King of Juda.]

7. And they did slay the sons of Zedekia before his eyes, and they blinded Zed’s eyes, [see Jer. 39 on v.5.] and they bowed him with two copper chains, and carried him to Babel.

8. After that in the fifth month, [which answers to part of our July and to part of our August. See Numb. 33v38.] on the seventh (day) of the moneth (this was the nineenth year of Nebuchadnezar king of Babel) came Nebuchadnezar the commander of the guard] see genesis 37 on v.36. Heb. The master of the guard] the servant of the king of Babel unto Jerusalem.

9. And he burnt the house of the Lord and the king’s house; together with all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of great men [oth. Great houses. Understand the houses of rich and mighty men, that had been of great means, or estates; these were chiefly to suffer. Whence it seemeth, that some small cottages of poor and mean people were spared. Great men are taken for rich men, Gen. chap.24.35 and 26.13. 1 Sam.25.2. item, for men of honor and high estate, 2 kings 10.6 Jona 3.7of both may the word be taken here: as also Levit. 19. V15.] burnt he with fire.

10. And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the commander of the guard break down the walls of Jerusalem round about.

11. Now the remainder of the people that were left in the city and the revolters that are fallen away to the king of Babel and the rest of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry captive away.

12. But the commander of the guard left (some) of the poorest (fort) of the land, [Heb. Of the thinness of the land: see above chapter 24 .on v.14] (to be) vine-dressers and husbandmen.

13. Moreover the Chaldeans brake (in pieces) the copper-pillar, [see of these 1 kings 7.15.] that were in the house of the Lord and the bases, [i.e. feet, stools, or props on which the leaves or kettles stood that Salomon had left in the court of the priests: see 1 kings 7. V. 27.] and the copper sea, [see 1 kings 7.23.] which was in the house of the Lord: and they carried the copper of them to Babel.

14. They took also the pots, and the shovels, and the forks, and the incense bowls and all the copper vessels, wherewith they ministred. [of all this furniture of the Temple, ye may also see 1 kings 7.45.]

15. And the commander of the guard took away the incense vessels [or, coal-pans: see Lev.10. on v.1.] and the sprinkling basins, which was all good and that which (was) all silver; [Heb. Gold and silver silver; i.e pure and substantial gold or silver; or all of gold and silver and not barely gift or silvered over. Oth. Which (to wit, the sprinkling basins) were all gold and which were all silver.]

16. The two pillars, one see and bases which Salomon had made for the house of the Lord: the copper of all these was without weight. [That is, there was so great a quantity of copper that they neither could nor would weigh it.]

17. The weight of one pillar was eighteen ells (or cubits) and the chapter upon it was copper, and the height of the chapiter was three ells and the net, and the pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, were all of copper: and the like unto these had the second pillar with the net. [see of all these things 1 kings 7. V. 15, 16,17.]

18. The commander of the Guard took also Seraja [this man was the son of Azaria, who was the son of Hilkia, 1 Chronicles 6. V.13,14 who found the book of the law in the temple, above chap.22.8. Seraja’s son was Ezra, whose book we have among the books of the old Testament, Ezra 7:1.] the head-priest, [Hebr. The priest the head, or, that was the head, that is, the first, or the chiefest or highest to wit, of the priests: so 2 Chron. 26.20 and 31.10. Ezra 7:4.] and Zephania [the son of Maaseia, Jeremiah 21:1. differing from Zephania the prophet, who was the son of Chufi, Zeph.1.1.] the second priest, [see Numb. 3. On v.32 and 1 kings 1 on verse 4.] and the keepers of the threshold.

19. And he took out of the city a courtier that was set over the souldiers and five men [which were the chiefest and of greatest note among the rest, of whom Jeremy speaketh, chapter 52.25.] of those that behold the king’s face, [that is, which were ordinarily in the kings presence and ever at hand, to minister unto him: so Efth. 1.14.] which were found in the city; together with the chiefest scribe of the host, that lifted the people of the land for the war; [or, took them on for the war, or, mustred them, or, exercised them in arms. See of this man also Jeremiah 52:25.] and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the city.

20. When Bebuzaradan the commander of the Guard had taken these; then he brought them to the king of Babel to Ribla.

21. And the King of Babel smote them, some are of opinion, that these were those that had set themselves against the prophet Jeremy, crying. The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, Jer.7.4. of the word smitting, see Gen.8 on v.21.] and shew them at Ribla, in the Land of Hamath: so Juda was carried away captive out of their own land. [This is the fulfilling of the prophecie, of which see above chap.23.27. Jer .25.9.]

22. But as for the people that remained in the land of Juda, which Nebuchadnezzar the King of babel had left, over the he set Gedalia [a pious and upright man, much affected towrd the prophet Jeremia and following his counsel in all things: see of him also Jer.40v5. he is to be distinguished from another Gedalia that was the grndafather of the prphet Zephania, Zeph.1.1.] the son of Ahitkam [also a friend and favourer of the prophet Jeremy. See Jer.2625.] the son of Saphan. [who was king Josia’s scribe, 2 king 22.3.]

23. Now when all the commanders of the armies they are their men heard, that the king of Babel had made Gedalia governour; they came to Gedalia to Mizza; [see of this city, Judges 11:11.] namely Ismael the son of Nethania and Johana the son of Kareth and Seraja the son of Tanhameth the Netophatite and Jaazania the son of the Maachatte, [see of these men also Jer.40.7.8. some are of opinion that these wee the officerd of the Army, and the captains that with their men were present with king Zedeka, when he was taken prisoner by Jericho, and there were scattered from him, above v.5.] they and their men.

24. And gedalia sware to them and to their men, and said unto them; fear not to be the servants of the Chaldeans, abide in the land and serve the king of Babel, so shall it go well with you.

25. But it came to pass in the seven moneth, [see Jer.41 on verse1.] that Ismael the son of Nethania the son of Elizama of the royal seed [Heb, of the seed of the kingdome; that is, of the Family of David and Solomon. They are otherwise called usually, princess of the blood] came ten men with him and smote Gedalia this he died, [either because they envied gedali’s greatness or because they hated the king of babel; or for both reasons] and likewise the Jewes, and the Chaldeans, that were with him as Mizpa.

26. Then all the people gat them up, from the least, to the greatest and the commander of the armies and came into Egypt for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

27. After that it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the carrying away of Joiachin, the king of Juda, in the twelfth moneth on the seven ad twentieth (day) of the moneth, that Evilmerodach [the son of Nebuchadnezar who succeeded his father in the mornachie and reigned about eight and twenty years. Some are of opinion that he had some knowledge of the true God ad therefore was called by the Insidels evilmerodach, that is the foolish Merdach] king of Babe, in the year when he became king, did lift up the head of Jojachin king of Juda out of prison. [Heb. Out of the house of compulsion or shutting up. That without doubt was done, partly through compassion of his age and long imprisonment sustained, partly through observation, that he had willingly surrendered himself into the hands of Nebuchadnezar: see above chap.24.12.]

28. And he spake friendly to him; [Heb. He spake good things. See 1 Kings 12 verse 7 and Jer.12.6.] And sat his seat above the seats of the king’s that were with him at Babel.

29. Ad he changed his prison-garments: to wit, which he used to be in prison. Compare herewith, en.41.14 and the annotate. Thereon] and he did eat bread continued before his face all the dayes of his life.

30. And concerning his allowances, [to wit, the allowance and maintenance of Jojachins household: for of Jojachins own personal allowance and diet, is spoken in the former verse] a continual allowance was given him of the king [oth. For his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king] every daily appointed every day. See the like phrase. Exo.5.13. Lev.23.37. 1 kings 8.59.] All the dayes of his life.