Jeremiah 39

Jerusalem is taken by the Chaldeans verse1 c. Zedekiah is taken prisoner and his eyes put out and the son all the nobles of Judah are slain the city is burnt the chiefest of the people are carried away captive 5 Nebuchadnezzar’s charge concerning Jeremiah 11 Whereupon he is released out of prison13. God promiseth to Ebedmelech 15c.

1. In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah in the tenth month came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel [see 2Kings 25.1 below chapter 52.4] and all his army against Jerusalem [or by to c. that is before Jerusalem] and they besieged it.

2. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah in the forth month on the ninth day of the month the city was broken through [compare 2Kings 25.4 and below chapter 52.7 meaning the outermost wall of the city.]

3. And all the princes of king of Babel marched in and kept in by the middle gate that is they kept or stayed there to wit by or at the gate of the middle wall which parted the upper city from the lower city]namely Negal-Sarezar, Samgar [some render this word Samgar treasurer or master of the treasure which some apply as Sarezar]Nebu, Sarsechim ,Rab-Saris [that is upper chamberlain or courtier; that is steward as some conceive]Negal-Samarezar,Reb-mag[that is field marshal or field officer as others compare below verse 13]and all the remaining [Heb. All remnant that is here all the others all the rest] princes of king of Babel.

4. It came to pass when Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them then they fled and went out of the city by night by the way of the kings garden [which was at or by the kings garden compare 2Kings 9 on verse 27] by the gate between the two walls [see 2Kings 25 on verse 6]and he [namely the king] went out by the way of the plain [or the wilderness this wilderness or plains lay between Jerusalem and Jericho see 2 Samuel 15 on verse 23 and here the next verse.]

5. But the Chaldeans army pursued after them and hey overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho and took him prisoner [see the Hebrew word above chapter 36 on verse 26 albeit it may be here also simply rendered and they took him but it is as much as to say they caught him and took him prisoner and brought him to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babel to Ribla [see 2Kings 23 on verse 33] in the land of Hamath where he pronounced judgments [or sentences in plural number for which 2Kings 25.6 judgment is used in the singular number see the annotate there and compare above chapter 1.6 and 4.12 so below chapter 52.9.]

6. And the king of Babel slew [that is caused to be slain [the sons of Zedekiah before Ribla before his eyes also the king of Babel slew all the nobles [Heb white ones see Nehemiah 2 on verse 16] of Judah.

7. and he put out the eyes of Zedekiah [or he made blind. causing his eyes to be put out or at least so to be spoiled that he came blind as it is conceived that at this day some nations in the eastern countries do spoil the eyes of those whom they take prisoners in war and bereave them quite of their sight without putting their eyes] and bound him with two copper chains to carry him to Babel.

8. And the Chaldeans burnt the kings house the house of the people [and the house &c that is the house of the inhabitants but especially of the great ones see 2Kings 25 on verse 9] with fire and they brake down the walls of Jerusalem.

9. Now Nebuchadnezzar the captain of the guard [see Genesis 37 on verse 36] carried away captive to Babel to residue of the people that remained in the city and revolters that are fallen to him [that were gone over or were revolted to the king of Babel or to this Nebuzaradan see 2Kings 25.11] with the residue of the people that remained .

10. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the people that were poor that had nothing at all in the land of Judah and gave them that day vineyards and fields [to dress and till.]

11. But Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babel had given charge concerning Jeremiah [of whose prophesies doubtless the king had heard by the revolters or some other way compare 40.2,3c] in the hand of Nebuzaradan the captain [this may be understood of a charge or commission in writing given to him or it may be taken barely for by or to him] saying.

12. Take him and set thy eyes upon him [that is take care of him look well of him see above chapter 24 on verse 6] and do him no harm but according as he shall speak unto thee [that is shall desire of thee] so do unto him.

13. So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard together with Nebushasban sent Rab-Saris and Nergal –Serezar,Rabmag [see these names on verse 3] and all the commanders of the king of Babel.

14. They then sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the custody[see above chapter 38.28 but afterwards he was fetched away from among the captives that were on the way to be carried to Babel]and delivered him to Gedaliah[see 2Kings 25 on verse 22] the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan that he should bring him forth home so he remained in the midst of the people [or dwelt &c conversing among the people and dwelling in his own house for he came until afterwards to Geladiah unto Mizpa see below chapter 40.4,5,6 where it is related that Jeremiah because he had not joined himself unto Gedeliah was carried away a good part of the way with other captives .

15. The word of the Lord also came unto Jeremiah when he was in the court of custody saying:

16. Go thy way and speak unto Ebedmelech saying thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel behold I will bring my word upon this city for evil not for good [I will perform that which I have threatened the foretold]and they shall be in that day before thy face [that is my words shall be accomplished before thine eyes that thou shalt behold it.]

17. But I will deliver thee in that day saith the Lord and shalt not be given up in the hand of the men of whose face thou afraid.

18. For I will surely free thee [Heb seeing free thee] and shalt not fall by the sword but thou shalt have the right soul [that is life as above chapter 38.2] for a prey because thou hast trusted in me [that I would descend thee against all the enemies for my servant Jeremiah whom for my sake thou hast assisted and delivered out of his trouble see above chapter 38.7,8&c.]