Jeremiah 39 Study Notes

39:1-2 The siege of Jerusalem began in January of 588 BC and lasted until July of 587 BC, except for a brief interlude in the summer of 588 BC (52:4-6).

39:3 The names and titles of the Babylonians are not entirely clear. Nergal-sharezer was the Samgar, which is either a Babylonian title or a district in Babylon named “Simmagir.” Nebusarsechim may be the same as “Nebushazban” (v. 13). Both are called the chief of staff. A second person named Nergal-sharezer was a chief soothsayer, another obscure Babylonian title. This one was Nebuchadnezzar’s son-in-law who later became king of Babylon (560-556 BC). One more name appears in vv. 9-10,13 as part of the Babylonian entourage—Nebuzaradan, the commander or captain of the guards. The Middle Gate at which the officials of the king of Babylon . . . sat was probably between the upper and lower portions of Jerusalem. This is where the Babylonian officials set up the occupational court and government.

39:4-5 The king’s garden and the gate between the two walls are otherwise unknown. King Zedekiah fled to the Arabah, referring to the Jordan Valley, where Jericho was located about twenty miles east of Jerusalem. After he was captured he was taken to Nebuchadnezzar’s headquarters at Riblah in the land of Hamath, about sixty-five miles north of Damascus.

39:6-8 So important and tragic was the fall of Jerusalem that it is recorded in Scripture four times: chaps. 39; 52; 2Kg 25; and 2Ch 36. Zedekiah saw the slaughter of his sons and his nobles (Jr 39:6) just before his eyes were put out by Nebuchadnezzar. Then he was carted off to Babylon in bronze chains. His palace was burned, along with the houses of the people, and the walls of Jerusalem were torn down.

39:9-10 The Babylonians deported the people of Judah to Babylon. This was the final deportation, coming eleven years after King Jehoiachin was taken away in 598 BC. The poor people who owned nothing were given vineyards and fields. The word for “fields” has an uncertain meaning and could be translated “wells” or “watering places.”

39:11-14 Jeremiah was turned over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the Babylonians had just appointed governor of Judah. The Babylonians must have heard from the defectors and other sources that Jeremiah had advised that Judah’s king should submit to the siege. Ironically, the prophet received better treatment from the enemy than he had received from his own people. Some have declared there is a contradiction between the events described in vv. 11-14 and those in 40:1-6, but the two accounts supplement each other. Jeremiah was released from prison into Gedaliah’s care (39:14). Jeremiah mingled with the captives as they were getting ready to be sent off to Babylon (v. 14). Unrecognized at first, Jeremiah was placed in chains and readied for deportation to Babylon (40:1). At Ramah, Jeremiah was recognized and released (40:4).

39:15-18 Ebed-melech is commended for his courageous act of rescuing Jeremiah from the muddy cistern (see notes at 38:7-9; 38:10). There would be no reprisals against him. Ebed-melech was blessed because he trusted in the Lord. He was one of the few who heard Jeremiah’s message and believed.