The narrative runs parallel with 2 Kings (marginal reference) as far as 2 Chronicles 36:13. The writer then emits the events following, and substitutes a sketch in which the moral and didactic element preponderates over the historical.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIS TEMPLE - Compare “the house of his god” Daniel 1:2. Nebuchadnezzars inscriptions show him to have been the special votary of Merodach, the Babylonian Mars. His temple, which the Greeks called the temple of Behus, was one of the most magnificent buildings in Babylon. Its ruins still remain in... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS ABOMINATIONS WHICH HE DID - See Jeremiah 7:9, Jeremiah 7:30; Jeremiah 19:3; Jeremiah 25:1 etc.; Jehoiakim appears to have restored all the idolatries which Josiah his father had swept away.... [ Continue Reading ]
EIGHT YEARS OLD - Rather, eighteen (see the marginal reference). Jehoiachin had several wives and (apparently) at least one child Jeremiah 22:28, when, three months later, he was carried captive to Babylon.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE YEAR WAS EXPIRED - literally, as in the margin, i. e. at the return of the season for military expeditions. The expedition against Jehoiakim took place probably late in the autumn of one year, that against Jehoiachin early in the spring of the next. Strictly speaking, Zedekiah was uncle to... [ Continue Reading ]
On Zedekiah’s character, see 2 Kings 24:19 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
The oath of allegiance was taken when he was first installed in his kingdom. On Zedekiah’s sin in breaking his oath, see Ezekiel 17:18; Ezekiel 21:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
POLLUTED THE HOUSE OF THE LORD - Toward the close of Zedekiah’s reign idolatrous rites of several different kinds were intruded into the sacred precincts of the temple (compare Ezekiel 8:10).... [ Continue Reading ]
MISUSED HIS PROPHETS - Rather, “scoffed at his prophets.” The allusion is to verbal mockery, not to persecution.... [ Continue Reading ]
The fearful slaughter took place at the capture of the city, in the courts of the temple itself (Ezekiel 9:6; compare Lamentations 2:7, Lamentations 2:20).... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVANTS - Or, “slaves.” They were probably employed by Nebuchadnezzar in the forced labor which his great works necessitated. HIS SONS - The word probably includes all Nebuchadnezzars successors in the independent sovereignty of Babylon.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the marginal references. The 70 years of desolation prophesied by Jeremiah, commenced in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 25:1, Jeremiah 25:12; compare Daniel 1:1), or 605 B.C.; and should therefore have terminated, if they were fully complete, in 536 B.C. As, however, the historical date... [ Continue Reading ]
This and the next verse are repeated at the commencement of the book of Ezra Ezra 1:1, which was, it is probable, originally a continuation of Chronicles, Chronicles and Ezra together forming one work. See the introduction to Chronicles.... [ Continue Reading ]