By Eugene Garner

JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 39

THE FALL OF JERUSALEM

    Jerusalem's hour has come! Stubborn, rebellious and self-willed, she has rejected the counsel of God, to walk in the way of her own choosing. But, she did not know HOW to direct her own steps! For 18 months the city has held out against a siege by the Babylonians, but she cannot do so indefinitely. Weakened and decimated, because her supplies are totally exhausted, Jerusalem finally surrendered - NOT because she ultimately CHOSE TO DO GOD'S WILL, but because she could not stay the hand of His JUDGMENT!

    In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. 2 And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. 3 And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.

    1. Further detail concerning the capitulation of Babylon may be found in Jeremiah 52:4-16 and 2 Kings 25:1-12.

    2. The siege, of 18 months duration (January 588 B.C. - July 587 B.C.), had so decimated the city that many resorted to cannibalism, (Lam. 4:10).

    3. For over 10 years Zedekiah, and all Judah, had rejected the counsel of Jeremiah to turn from their iniquities and submit to the judgment that God was sending upon them; but they had rejected his counsel and despised him for his fidelity.

    4. Now, however, they see the walls of Jerusalem broken down, and the chief officials of the army of Babylon assembled at the middle gate.

    4 And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain. 5 But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him. 6 Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah. 7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon. 8 And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.

    1. Horrified by the prospect of impending captivity (in spite of the faithful assurance given by Jeremiah, the man of God), Zedekiah attempted to flee - with what remained of the army of Judah.
      a. At night they attempted to escape - leaving by way of the king's garden, and passing between the two walls.
      b. They headed toward Jericho and the Jordan valley, (vs. 4; comp. Ezek. 12:12-13).
    2. Pursued by the Babylonian army, Zedekiah was captured in the plains of Jericho and brought to the headquarters of Nebuchadnezzar, at Riblah, of Hamath, in the Orontes Valley, (vs. 5; 2 Kings 23:33; 25:6, 20).
    3. The meeting was a tragic one for Zedekiah; he was forced to witness the slaying of his own sons and the remaining nobles of Judah (vs. 6; 34:19-21; 52:10; comp. Deut. 28:34; 2 Kings 25:7); then he was blinded and taken to Babylon in chains (vs. 7; 52:11), where he remained a prisoner until the day of his death.
    4. It appears that the Babylonians methodically destroyed the royal palace and the dwellings of the people - while breaking down the walls of the city (vs. 8); it is possible that this took place at the same time the temple was destroyed - a month after the actual capture of the city, (52:12-13).

    9 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained. 10 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

    1. Nebuzaradan, commander of the Imperial guard, took with him to Babylon: the captives of Jerusalem, those who had already deserted the city and gone over to him, and all the skilled craftsmen that remained in the land, (vs. 9; 52:29).
    2. Since there would be no advantage in leaving the land totally deserted, he left behind a peasant population to be vinedressers and farmers, (vs. 10; 52:16).

    11 Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, 12 Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee. 13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes; 14 Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.

    1. From this passage it seems evident that Nebuchadnezzar was aware of Jeremiah's consistent counsel to the kings of Judah against opposing Babylon.
    2. Thus, he gave a specific charge to Nebuzaradan concerning the man of God, (vs. 11-12).
      a. He was not to be harmed, (vs. 11; comp. 1:8; 15:20-21; Psa. 105:15-16; Prov. 21:1; I Pet.3:13).
      b. Rather, the captain of the guard was to treat him well and permit him full liberty to choose his own future course, (vs. 12).
    3. A number of Nebuchadnezzar's chief officers were sent to set Jeremiah free and deliver him to the protective custody of Gedaliah, who was made governor over the remnant that was left in the land.
    4. With Gedaliah, Jeremiah lived for a while at Mizpah; there they were joined by a number of Judeans who had deserted to the Babylonians - these being granted asylum to settle here, with the understanding that they would not revolt.

    15 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. 17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

    1. Some time before the fall of Jerusalem the Lord gave to Jeremiah a word of assurance for Ebed-melech - the servant who had rescued him from the miry pit, (vs. 15-16).
    2. Though the city will fall, Ebed-melech need not fear; his life will be spared because he has trusted in the Lord - a very unique thing in his day! (vs. 17-18; comp. 17:7-8; Psa. 34:22).