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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 39:1-10

We were told, in the close of the foregoing chapter, that Jeremiah abode patiently in the court of the prison, until the day that Jerusalem was taken. He gave the princes no further disturbance by his prophesying, nor they him by their persecutions; for he had no more to say than what he had said, and, the siege being carried on briskly, God found them other work to do. See here what it came to. I. The city is at length taken by storm; for how could it hold out when God himself fought against... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 39:5

But the Chaldean army pursued after them ,.... Being informed of the flight of them, by those who surrendered to them, as Josephus says; or not finding the king, his family, nobles, and guards, at the palace, where they expected them; and, knowing which way they must take, pursued after them; not the whole army, only a part of it; for some must remain at Jerusalem to demolish the city, and take the spoil of it: and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho ; not far from it, as Josephus... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 39:6

Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes ,.... Not with his own hands, but gave orders to do it: these must be very young, at least some of them; since Zedekiah at this time was but thirty two years of age. This must be a dreadful spectacle for him to behold; and the consideration must be cutting, that it was owing to his own obstinacy in not taking the advice of the Prophet Jeremiah to surrender to the Chaldeans, whereby he and his family would have been... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 39:7

Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes ,.... By what means is not certain; however, hereby the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled, that his eyes should see the king of Babylon, as they did, before they were put out, and that he should not die by the sword, Jeremiah 34:3 ; and also the prophecy of Ezekiel, Ezekiel 12:13 ; that he should be brought to Babylon, and yet should not see it; for his eyes were put out before he was carried there: a full proof this of the prescience of God; of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 39:8

And the Chaldeans burnt the king's house ,.... His palace: this was a month after the city was taken, as appears from Jeremiah 52:12 ; and the houses of the people, with fire ; the houses of the common people, as distinct from the king's house, and the houses of the great men, Jeremiah 52:13 ; though Jarchi interprets of the synagogues. It is in the original text in the singular number, "the house of the people"; which Abarbinel understands of the temple, called, not the house of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 39:9

Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard ,.... The Targum is, "the captain of those that kill;' of the soldiers, of the militia. Some render it, the captain of the "cooks"; others, of the "butchers" F12 רב טבחים "praefectus coquorum"; so some in Vatablus; "magister laniorum", Pagninus, Montanus. ; but no doubt it was a military office he bore; he was captain of the forces that were left in Jerusalem, after the other part went in pursuit of the king and those with him; or the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 39:10

But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah ,.... Because they would have been of no service to the Chaldeans, but a burden to them; and because they had nothing to fear from them; they had no arms to rebel against them, nor money to purchase any; and because it would be to their interest to have the land manured, and not lie waste, that they might have some tribute from it: and gave them vineyards and fields at the same... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 39:5

To Riblah - This city was situated on the northern frontier of Palestine, and Hamath was a large city belonging also to Syria. See Genesis 10:18 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 39:7

Bounds him with chains - Margin: "Two brazen chains;" one for his hands, and the other for his feet. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 39:9

Those that fell away - That deserted to the Chaldeans during the siege. read more

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