2 Kings 25

ANd it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem To chastise Zedekiah for his Rebellion and Pe... jury, 2 Chron. 36. 13., and pitched against it, and they built forts against it round about Partly to keep all supplies of men or provisions from entring into the City: And partly, that from thence they might shoot D... rts, or Arrows, or Stones into the City. See Ier. 52. 4. Ezek. 4. 2. and 17. 17..

And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

And on the ninth day of the fourth month Which word is easily understood, by comparing this and the first verse, and Ier. 39. 2. and 52. 6. where it is expressed. the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land i. e. For the common sort of people, who flock'd thither from all parts, upon the approach of the Babylonian Army; but only for the great Men and Soldiers. See of the grievousness of this... lamine, Lam. 4. 10. and Ezek. 5. 10, 12..

¶ And the city was broken up By the Chaldeans, who broke and entred the gate, Ier. 39. 3., and all the men of war fled Which word is fitly supplied out of the parallel place, Ier. 39. 4. or out of the following verb, went away. by night, by the way of the gate, between two walls Between the outward and inward wall of the City, by a private way, having the advantage of the darkness of the night, and possibly of some Vault under the ground., which is by the kings garden, (now the Caldees were against the city round about) and the king This word also is necessarily to be understood; partly, by its singular, which agrees not with the men of war; and partly out of the next verse, where it is expressed. went the way toward the plain Of Iericho, as it follows..

And the army of the Caldees pursued after the King, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.

So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon, to Riblah Of which see above, v. 23, 33. and below v. 21. where Nebuchadnezzar staid, that he might both supply the hefiegers with more men, and Military provisions, as their occasions required; and have an eye to Chaldea, to prevent or suppress any commotions which might happen there in the time of his absence., and they gave judgment upon him The Kings Officers appointed thereunto, examined his cause, and passed the following sentence against him..

And they flew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon Thus two Prophecies were fulfilled, which seemed contrary one to the other, that he should go to Babylon, Ier. 32. 5. and 34. 3. and that he should never see Babylon: Which seeming-contradiction, because Zedekiah the false Prophet could not reconcile, he concluded both were false, and that Ieremy was a false Prophet; and it seems Zedekiah the King might stumble at this difficulty..

¶ And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month Quest. How does this agree with Ier. 52. 12. where he is said to come thither on the tenth day? Ans. Either he came to Ierusalem on the seventh day, and burnt the Temple on the tenth day: Or this sacred Writer speaks of the day of his departure from Riblah towards Ierusalem, and Ieremiah speaks of his coming to Ierusalem, which was about three days journey from Riblah., (which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) came Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:

And he burnt the house of the LORD Which had now stood about 450 years., and the kings house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great mans house burnt he with fire.

And all the army of the Caldees that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.

Now the rest of the people that were left in the city Whom neither the Sword nor Famine had destroyed, who were 832 persons, Ier. 52. 29. being members and traders of that City: For it is likely that there were very many more of the Country-people who were fled thither, who were left with others of their Brethren to manure the Land, as it here follows., and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude To wit, of the Inhabitants of the Country., did Nebuzar adan the captain of the guard carry away.

But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vine-dressers and husbandmen.

And the pillars of brass The carriage whereof to Babylon was foretold, Ier. 27. 21, 22. that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Caldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

And the pots, and the shovels Of these and the following words, see on Exod. 27. and 1 King. 6. and 7., and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministred, took they away.

And the fire-pans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.

The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the brass of all these vessels was without weight.

The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits: and the wreathen-work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.

¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest The High-Priest, Grandson of that Hilkiah, of whom ch. 22. 4. and Father of Iehozadack, who, as it seems, was taken with his Father; and when his Father was slain, v. 21. he was carried away to Babylon, as it is noted, 1 Chron. 6. 13, 14., and Zephaniah the second priest Who was the High-Priests deputy, when he was hindred from the execution of his Office, see on Numb. 3. 32. 2 Sam. 8. 17. 2 King. 23. 4., and the three keepers of the door.

And out of the city he took an officer, that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the kings presence i. e. Of them who constantly attended upon the Kings Person, see 1 King. 10. 8. Esth. 1. 14. Obj. These were seven, Ier. 52. 25. Ans. Either five were first taken, and two after them: Or two of the seven were of an inferior rank, who therefore are here omitted., which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which must ered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land Who had been most forward or active in the Rebellion. that were found in the city.

And Nebuzar adan captain of the guard, took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon, to Riblah.

And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.

¶ And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan A righteous and good man, and a friend to the Prophet Ieremiah, Ier. 26. 24., ruler.

And when all the captains of the armies Which escaped away when Zedekiah was taken. See above, v. 4, 5., they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governour, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they, and their men.

And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men Assured them by his promise and oath, that they doing what he required, should be kept from the evils which they feared. This he might safely swear, because he had not only the King of Babylon's promise and interest too, but also God's promise for their Indempnity, delivered by Ieremiah., and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Caldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal And therefore moved with envy to see so mean a Person advanced into their place. See this History more fully described Ier. 41., came, and ten men To wit, Ten Captains or Officers, and under each of them many Soldiers, otherwise the attempt was ridiculous. with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Caldees that were with him at Mizpah.

And all the people both small and great, and the captains of the armies arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Caldees.

¶ And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day Or, on the 25 day, as it is Ier. 52. 31. for then the Decree was made, which was executed upon the 27 day. of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison.

And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon It seems though the power of these Kings was taken away, yet some honour and respect was given to them, even in the place of their captivity, and to Iehojachin more than to any of the rest..

And changed his prison-garments: and he did eat bread continually before him i. e. In his presence, and at his Table, the following allowance being given to him for the maintenance of his Family and Royal Dignity. Compare 2 Sam. 9. 10. all the days of his life.

And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.