Jeremiah

Jeremiah 39:1-4

Within the prophecies of Jeremiah much has been said and anticipated regarding the coming judgment; the fall of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians.  This was believed by some and thought ridiculous by others.  Jeremiah gives the first-hand account of it.  This closely parallels 2 Kings 25:1-12 and Ezekiel 24:1; the ninth year of Zedekiah puts this siege in 587B.C.  It was a year and a half later the wall was broken through. 

The names of verse 3 are a confusing collection of possible names and/or positions.  The Hebrew scribes had difficulty with the Babylonian names and titles.  Matching these exactly to historical names is difficult.  These officials came to the gate and took their seat as a show of authority, of conquering the city.  When Zedekiah saw this, he knew the game was up and he fled the city.

Jeremiah 39:5-7

The Babylonians caught up with Zedekiah east of Jerusalem in the plains of Jericho.  The king and officials were taken to Riblah in Syria.  This was Nebuchadnezzar's headquarters.  It was here he pronounced sentence on him.  The officials were all put to death and the king's sons were executed before him.  This was the last thing he saw as his eyes were put out.  He was then shackled and taken away to captivity in Babylon.

We can only wonder what was going through his mind when this was happening.  The word of the Lord had come true, every word.  He had to have felt some regret for not hearing, not listening and not heeding the warnings. 

Jeremiah 39:8-14

The policy of the siege was to burn the city, destroy the homes and palace while carrying the people of the city into captivity.  The government of Judah was destroyed and the Babylonians set up a new government of their own making.  They allowed the poor to remain in the land and let them take control of vineyards and fields.  This won the favor of the poor. 

Nebuchadnezzar had apparently heard of Jeremiah from those who had surrendered to the Babylonians at his urging.  Jeremiah was taken from the courtyard where he had been captive.  The king gave orders that Jeremiah not be harmed and, in fact, that he was to be cared for.  He was turned over the appointed officials and safety returned to the land. 

Jeremiah 39:15-18

While Jeremiah had still been in the courtyard, the word of the Lord gave him a message.  He was to tell Ebed-Melek that the destruction was at hand but that the Lord would protect him because of his devotion and faithfulness to Yahweh and Jeremiah.

©2018 Doug Ford