XXIV. (1) IN HIS DAYS. — In his fifth or sixth year. In Jehoiakim’s fourth year Nebuchadnezzar defeated Necho at Carchemish (Jeremiah 46:2), and was suddenly called home by the news of the death of Nabopolassar his father, whom he succeeded on the throne of Babylon in the same year (Jeremiah 25:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SENT AGAINST HIM BANDS OF THE CHALDEES. — Jehoiakim’s revolt was no doubt instigated by Egypt. Whilst Nebuchadnezzar himself was engaged elsewhere in his great empire, predatory bands of Chaldeans, and of the neighbouring peoples the hereditary enemies of Judah, who had submitted to Neb... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY AT THE COMMANDMENT. — Literally, _Only_ (_i.e._, upon no other ground than) _upon the mouth_ (_i.e._, at the command of; 2 Kings 23:35) _of Jehovah did it happen in Judah_. The LXX. and Syriac read _wrath instead of mouth_, which Ewald prefers (so 2 Kings 24:20). OUT OF HIS SIGHT. — _From be... [ Continue Reading ]
THE INNOCENT BLOOD. — Heb., _blood of the innocent_; an expression like _hand of the right, i.e._, the right hand; or, _day of the sixth, i.e._, the sixth day. Thenius thinks the murder of some prominent personage, such as Isaiah, may be intended, and wishes to distinguish between the statement of t... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE REST OF THE ACTS OF JEHOIAKIM... — Assuming with Hitzig that the passage Habakkuk 2:9 refers to him, we gather that he severely oppressed his people by his exactions of forced labour upon the defences of Jerusalem. Thenius concludes from the words, “that he may set his nest on high,” &c., th... [ Continue Reading ]
SO JEHOIAKIM SLEPT WITH HIS FATHERS. — The usual notice of the king’s burial is omitted, and the omission is significant, considered in the light of Jeremiah’s prophecy: “Thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; they shall not lament for him... He shall be buried wit... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING OF EGYPT CAME NOT AGAIN ANY MORE... — The verse indicates the posture of political affairs at the time when Jehoiachin succeeded his father. Necho had been deprived by Nebuchadnezzar of all his conquests, and so crippled that he durst not venture again beyond his own borders. Thus Judah... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF JEHOIACHIN. BEGINNING OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY (2 Kings 24:8). (8) JEHOIACHIN. — “Jah will confirm.” Four or five different forms of this name occur in the documents. Ezekiel 1:2 gives the contraction _Joiachin_. In Jeremiah we find a popular transposition of the two elements, thus:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DID THAT WHICH WAS EVIL... — Ezekiel 19:5 refers to him, according to Keil and Ewald; but Thenius asks how, in his position, and during his brief reign of ninety (?) days, a considerable number of which must probably be allowed for the siege, he could possibly do what is there described. Hitz... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THAT TIME. — In the spring of the year (2 Chronicles 36:10). Thenius infers from Jeremiah 13:19 (“the cities of the south land are shut up”), that Nebuchadnezzar drew a _cordon_ across that part of the country, to cut off any succours from Egypt. THE SERVANTS — _i.e._, generals. (Comp. 2 Kings 1... [ Continue Reading ]
DID BESIEGE. — _Were besieging_. The king arrived after the siege had begun. CAME AGAINST. — _Came unto. _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHOIAEHIN THE KING OF JUDAH WENT OUT ... — Despairing of the defence, he threw himself upon the clemency of Nebuchadnezzar. The queen-mother (Jeremiah 22:2) and all his grandees and courtiers accompanied the king, who probably hoped to be allowed to keep his throne as a vassal of Babylon. TOOK... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CARRIED OUT THENCE... — It is apt said, but implied, that Nebuchadnezzar entered the city. He _may_ have done so at the time of his invasion under Jehoiakim (2 Kings 24:1). On that occasion he had carried off some of the sacred vessels (2 Chronicles 36:7; Daniel 1:2; Daniel 5:2; comp. Ezra 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL JERUSALEM. — Limited by what follows, and meaning the most important part of the population. THE PRINCES — i.e., the nobles, _e.g.,_ the grandees of the court, some of the priests (Ezekiel 1:1), and the heads of the clans. THE MIGHTY MEN OF VALOUR. — This is probably right. Thenius and Bähr pr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CARRIED AWAY. — The form of the verb is different from that in 2 Kings 24:14. We might render: “_Yea,_ he carried away;” for 2 Kings 24:15 simply give the _particulars_ of what was stated generally in 2 Kings 24:14. In the present verse the “princes” are defined. HE CARRIED AWAY JEHOIACHIN T... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE MEN OF MIGHT. — “The mighty men of valour” of 2 Kings 24:14. (The words depend on the verb, “he carried away,” in 2 Kings 24:14.) As there were 7,000 of these, and 1,000 “craftsmen and smiths,” and the total number of the exiles was 10,000, there were 2,000 belonging to the aristocratic... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTANIAH HIS FATHER’S BROTHER. — He was the third son of Josiah (comp. Jeremiah 1:3; Jeremiah 37:1), and full brother of Jehoahaz-Shallum (2 Kings 23:31). Jehoiachin was childless at the time (comp. 2 Kings 24:12; 2 Kings 24:15 with 2 Kings 25:7 and Jeremiah 22:30). In the exile he had offspring ... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGN OF ZEDEKIAH, THE LAST KING OF JUDAH (2 Kings 24:17 to 2 Kings 25:7; comp. 2 Chronicles 36:11 _seq.;_ Jeremiah 52). This section and the parallel in Jeremiah appear to have been derived from the same historical work. The text of Jeremiah is generally, though not always, the best. (19) AND H... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THROUGH... IN JERUSALEM. — Literally, _for upon the anger of Jehovah it befel Jerusalem._ That which fell upon Jerusalem and Judah like a ruinous disaster was _the evil doing of Zedekiah,_ mentioned in 2 Kings 24:19. That such a prince as Zedekiah was raised to the throne was itself a token of D... [ Continue Reading ]