2 Kings 25:1

CHAPTER XXV

Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem; it is taken, after having

been sorely reduced by famine, c. and Zedekiah, endeavouring

to make his escape, is made prisoner, his sons slain before his

eyes; then, his eyes being put out, he is put in chains and

carried to Babylon, 1-7.

Nebuzar-adan burns the temple, breaks down the walls of

Jerusalem, and carries away the people captives, leaving only a

few to till the ground, 8-12.

He takes away all the brass, and all the vessels of the temple,

13-17.

Several of the chief men and nobles found in the city, he

brings to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, who puts them all to death,

18-21.

Nebuchadnezzar makes Gedaliah governor over the poor people that

were left, against whom Ishmael rises, and slays him, and

others with him; on which the people in general, fearing the

resentment of the Chaldeans, flee to Egypt, 22-26.

Evil-merodach, king of Babylon, releases Jehoiachin out of

prison, treats him kindly, and makes him his friend, 27-30.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXV

Verse 2 Kings 25:1. In the ninth year of his reign] Zedekiah, having revolted against the Chaldeans, Nebuchadnezzar, wearied with his treachery, and the bad faith of the Jews, determined the total subversion of the Jewish state. Having assembled a numerous army, he entered Judea on the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah; this, according to the computation of Archbishop Usher, was on Thursday, January 30, A.M. 3414, which was a sabbatical year: whereon the men of Jerusalem hearing that the Chaldean army was approaching, proclaimed liberty to their servants; see Jeremiah 34:8, according to the law, Exodus 21:2; Deuteronomy 15:1; Deuteronomy 15:12: for Nebuchadnezzar, marching with his army against Zedekiah, having wasted all the country, and taken their strong holds, except Lachish, Azekah, and Jerusalem, came against the latter with all his forces. See Jeremiah 34:1. On the very day, as the same author computes, the siege and utter destruction of Jerusalem were revealed to Ezekiel the prophet, then in Chaldea, under the type of a seething pot; and his wife died in the evening, and he was charged not to mourn for her, because of the extraordinary calamity that had fallen upon the land. See Ezekiel 24:1, c.

Jeremiah, having predicted the same calamities, Jeremiah 34:1, was by the command of Zedekiah shut up in prison, Jeremiah 32:1.

Pharaoh Hophra, or Vaphris, hearing how Zedekiah was pressed, and fearing for the safety of his own dominions should the Chaldeans succeed against Jerusalem, determined to succour Zedekiah. Finding this, the Chaldeans raised the siege of Jerusalem, and went to meet the Egyptian army, which they defeated and put to flight. Joseph. Antiq., lib. 10, cap. 10. In the interim the Jews, thinking their danger was passed, reclaimed their servants, and put them again under the yoke Jeremiah 34:8, c.