Then the city was broken up
Either its gates were broke open, some one or other of them; or a breach was made in the walls of it, through which the Chaldean army entered: and all the men of war fled;
the soldiers, with their officers, not being able to stand before the army of the king of Babylon: and went forth out of the city by night;
at which time, very probably, the attack was made, and the gates of the city forced open, or the walls broke down; Josephus F16 says it was taken in the middle of the night: by the way of the gate between the two walls, which [was] by the king's
garden; (See Gill on Jeremiah 39:4); now the Chaldeans [were] by the city round about;
as part of their army entered into it, the other part surrounded it; or, however, were placed at the gates and avenues all around, that none might escape: and they went by the way of the plain;
that is, the men of war or soldiers that fled, together with King Zedekiah, his family and princes; see ( Jeremiah 39:4 ) .