2 Kings 25:19

five men of them that were in the king's presence R.V. that saw the king's face. For the expression, cf. Esther 1:14. The officer over the men of war, and the five persons admitted to closest intimacy with the king, together with the scribe, represented the remaining conspicuous persons in the city: Seraiah and the others were prominent among the servants of the temple.

principal scribe of the host R.V. the scribe, the captain of the host. This was the chief military secretary, Secretary at War. Some would render -the scribe of the captain of the host," and suggest that his superior officer had been already taken away, or had fled.

threescore men of the people of the land These, though undefined, had made themselves obnoxious in some way or other; else they would not have been taken and put to death among the distinguished people named before them.