And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign ,.... Of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. From hence to the end of 2 Kings 25:7 , the account exactly agrees with Jeremiah 52:4 . read more
And the city was besieged , etc. - Nebuchadnezzar, having routed the Egyptian army, returned to Jerusalem, and besieged it so closely that, being reduced by famine, and a breach made in the wall, the Chaldeans entered it on the ninth day of the fourth month, (Wednesday, July 27), Zedekiah and many others endeavoring to make their escape by night. read more
LAST SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM . The open rebellion of Zedekiah was followed almost immediately by the advance into Judaea of a Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar in person, and the strict investment of the capital. We learn the circumstances of the siege from Jeremiah, in the prophecy which bears his name, and in the Book of Lamentations. It lasted one year and seven months, and was accompanied by a blockade so strict that the defenders were reduced to the last extremity,... read more
The fall of Judah and Jerusalem a warning for all time to all nations. Jerusalem had defied Zerah with his host of a minion men ( 2 Chronicles 14:9-15 ), and had triumphed over Sennacherib at the head of all the armed force of Assyria ( 2 Kings 19:35 , 2 Kings 19:36 ): why did she succumb to Nebuchadnezzar? It is quite certain that Babylon was not a stronger power than either Egypt or Assyria when in their prime. There is no reason to believe that Nebuchadnezzar was a better general... read more
The fall and destruction of Jerusalem. With this account of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar should be compared the narrative of its later destruction by Titus (A.D. 70). History does not always repeat itself; but in this instance it does so with marvelous fidelity. The close investment of the city, the desperate resistance, the horrors of famine within, the incidents of the capture, the burning of the temple, the demolition of the walls, and the captivity of the people, present... read more
The last days of Jerusalem. The shameful story of Judah's disobedience and sin is now drawing to a close. Here we have an account of the capture of Jerusalem and its king by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon. Zedekiah, the king, was taken prisoner. His sons were first put to death before his eyes. Then his own eyes were put out. He was bound in fetters of brass, and carried sway to Babylon. Jerusalem itself, the city of David and Solomon, was a scene of desolation. Nebuzar-adan, captain of the... read more
THE LAST SIEGE OF JERUSALEM . THE JEWS LED INTO CAPTIVITY . HISTORY OF THE REMNANT LEFT BEHIND . RELEASE FROM PRISON OF JEHOIACHIN . read more
And on the ninth day of the fourth month. The text of Kings is hero incomplete, and has to be restored from Jeremiah 52:6 . Our translators have supplied the missing words. The famine prevailed in the city (see the comment on Jeremiah 52:2 ). As I have elsewhere observed, "The intensity of the suffering endured may be gathered from Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Josephus. The complexions of the men grew black with famine ( Lamentations 4:8 ; Lamentations 5:10 ); their skin was shrunk... read more
2 Kings 25:3. The famine prevailed in the city So that for a long time they ate their bread, as Ezekiel foretold they should do, (Ezekiel 4:16,) by weight and with care, and drunk their water by measure and with astonishment, perceiving the quantity of it lessening fast every day, and having no hope of a fresh supply. Thus they were punished for their gluttony and excess, their fulness of bread, and feeding themselves without fear. At length there was no bread for the people of the... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 25:1-7
We left king Zedekiah in rebellion against the king of Babylon (2 Kgs. 24:20), contriving and endeavouring to shake off his yoke, when he was no way able to do it, nor took the right method by making God his friend first. Now here we have an account of the fatal consequences of that attempt. I. The king of Babylon's army laid siege to Jerusalem, 2 Kgs. 25:1. What should hinder them when the country was already in their possession? 2 Kgs. 24:2. They built forts against the city round about,... read more