Jeremiah 39

1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and all his host (and all his army), came to Jerusalem, and they besieged it.
2 Forsooth in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month (on the fifth day of the mouth), the city was opened;
3 and all the princes of the king of Babylon entered, and sat in the middle gate, Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, (another) Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all [the] other princes of the king of Babylon. (and all the leaders, or all the officers, of the king of Babylon entered, and sat at the Middle Gate, yea, Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, another Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the other officers of the king of Babylon.)
4 And when Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and all the men warriors had seen them, they fled, and went out by night from the city, by the way of the garden of the king, and by the gate that was betwixt (the) two walls; and they went out to the way of (the) desert.
5 Forsooth the host of Chaldees pursued them, and they took Zedekiah in the field of wilderness of Jericho; and they took him, and brought to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in Riblah, which is in the land of Hamath; and Nebuchadnezzar spake dooms to him. (And the Chaldean army pursued them, and they took hold of Zedekiah in the field of the Jericho wilderness; and they took him, and brought him to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, in Riblah, which is in the land of Hamath; and Nebuchadnezzar passed judgement upon him/and Nebuchadnezzar spoke out his sentence, or his fate.)
6 And the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah, before his eyes; and the king of Babylon (also) killed all the noble men of Judah.
7 Also he putted out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, that he should be led into Babylon. (And he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with fetters, so that he could be led to Babylon.)
8 And [the] Chaldees burnt with fire the house of the king (And the Chaldeans burned down the palace), and the house(s) of the common people, and destroyed the wall of Jerusalem.
9 And Nebuzaradan, the master of knights, translated into Babylon the residues of the people, that dwelled in the city, and the fleers-away, that had fled over to him, and the superfluous men of the common people, that were left. (And Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried away captive to Babylon the rest of the people, who lived in the city, and the fleers-away, who had fled over to him, and the rest of the common people, who were left there.)
10 And Nebuzaradan, the master of knights, left in the land of Judah, of the people of poor men, and gave to them vineries and cisterns in that day. (But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left some of the poor people in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and cisterns on that day.)
11 Forsooth Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had commanded of Jeremy to Nebuzaradan, master of the chivalry, and said, (And Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, gave custody of Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, and said,)
12 Take thou him, and set thine eyes on him, and do thou nothing of evil to him; but as he will, so do thou to him (but whatever he desireth, do thou for him).
13 Therefore Nebuzaradan, the prince of the chivalry (And so Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard), sent Nebushazban, and Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, and Rabmag, and all the principal men of the king of Babylon,
14 sent, and took Jeremy from the porch of the prison, and they betook him to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, that he should enter into the house, and dwell among the people. (yea, he sent them, and they took Jeremiah from the courtyard of the prison, and they delivered him to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, so that he could go to his house, and live among the people.)
15 Forsooth the word of the Lord was made to Jeremy, when he was closed in the porch of the prison, and said (And the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah, when he was enclosed in the courtyard of the prison, and said,)
16 Go thou, and say to Ebedmelech (the) Ethiopian, and speak thou, The Lord of hosts, God of Israel, saith these things, Lo! I shall bring my words on this city into evil, and not into good; and those shall be in thy sight in that day. (Go thou, and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, and say thou, The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith these things, Lo! I shall bring to pass my words upon this city, for evil, and not for good, and it shall happen before thine eyes on that day.)
17 And I shall deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord, and thou shalt not be betaken into the hands of [the] men, which thou dreadest; (And I shall rescue thee on that day, saith the Lord, and thou shalt not be delivered into the hands of the people, whom thou fearest;)
18 but I delivering shall deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall down by (the) sword; but thy soul shall be into health to thee (but thy soul shall be saved for thee), for thou haddest trust in me, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 39 Commentary

Chapter 39

The taking of Jerusalem. (1-10) Jeremiah used well. (11-14) Promises of safety to Ebed-melech. (15-18)

Verses 1-10 Jerusalem was so strong, that the inhabitants believed the enemy could never enter it. But sin provoked God to withdraw his protection, and then it was as weak as other cities. Zedekiah had his eyes put out; so he was condemned to darkness who had shut his eyes against the clear light of God's word. Those who will not believe God's words, will be convinced by the event. Observe the wonderful changes of Providence, how uncertain are earthly possessions; and see the just dealings of Providence: but whether the Lord makes men poor or rich, nothing will profit them while they cleave to their sins.

Verses 11-14 The servants of God alone are prepared for all events; and they are delivered and comforted, while the wicked suffer. They often meet with more kindness from the profane, than from hypocritical professors of godliness. The Lord will raise them up friends, do them good, and perform all his promises.

Verses 15-18 Here is a message to assure Ebed-melech of a recompence for his great kindness to Jeremiah. Because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord. God recompenses men's services according to their principles. Those who trust God in the way of duty, as this good man did, will find that their hope shall not fail in times of the greatest danger.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 39

This chapter gives an account of the taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, according to the several prophecies of Jeremiah concerning it. The time of taking it, and by whom, after a siege of eighteen months, Jer 39:1-3; several things relating to King Zedekiah; his flight; the taking of him; the bringing him to the king of Babylon, and his sentence on him; the execution of that sentence, slaying his sons and nobles, putting out his eyes, and carrying him in chains to Babylon, Jer 39:4-7; the destruction of the city is described, by burning the houses in it, breaking down its walls, carrying the people captive, all, except a few poor persons left in the land, Jer 39:8-10; the preservation of Jeremiah, according to the king of Babylon's orders by his princes; and the committing him to the care of Gedaliah, the governor of the poor Jews, Jer 39:11-14; and the chapter is concluded with a promise of the protection of Ebedmelech, made by the Lord before the taking of the city, while the prophet was in prison; and which, no doubt, had its accomplishment, Jer 39:15-18.

Jeremiah 39 Commentaries

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.