Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 25

ANd it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem , and pitched against it, and they built forts against it round about .

To chastise Zedekiah for his Rebellion and Pe[illegible: 1+ letters]jury, 2 Chron. 36. 13.

Partly to keep all supplies of men or provisions from entring into the City: And partly, that from thence they might shoot D[illegible: 1+ letters]rts, or Arrows, or Stones into the City. See Ier. 52. 4. Ezek. 4. 2. and 17. 17.

Marginal references: 2 Chr. 36. 17. Jer. 34. and 3[illegible: 1+ letters]. 1. Ezel[illegible: 1+ letters]. 24. 1.

3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land .

Which word is easily understood, by comparing this and the first verse, and Ier. 39. 2. and 52. 6. where it is expressed.

i. e. For the common sort of people, who flock'd thither from all parts, upon the approach of the Babylonian Army; but only for the great Men and Soldiers. See of the grievousness of this [illegible: 1+ letters]lamine, Lam. 4. 10. and Ezek. 5. 10, 12.

Marginal references: Jer. 52. 6.

4 ¶ And the city was broken up , and all the men of war fled by night, by the way of the gate, between two walls , which is by the kings garden, (now the Caldees were against the city round about) and the king went the way toward the plain .

By the Chaldeans, who broke and entred the gate, Ier. 39. 3.

Which word is fitly supplied out of the parallel place, Ier. 39. 4. or out of the following verb, went away.

Between the outward and inward wall of the City, by a private way, having the advantage of the darkness of the night, and possibly of some Vault under the ground.

This word also is necessarily to be understood; partly, by its singular, which agrees not with the men of war; and partly out of the next verse, where it is expressed.

Of Iericho, as it follows.

6 So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon, to Riblah , and they gave judgment upon him .

Of which see above, v. 23, 33. and below v. 21. where Nebuchadnezzar staid, that he might both supply the hefiegers with more men, and Military provisions, as their occasions required; and have an eye to Chaldea, to prevent or suppress any commotions which might happen there in the time of his absence.

The Kings Officers appointed thereunto, examined his cause, and passed the following sentence against him.

Marginal references: Heb. spake judgment with him.

7 And they flew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon .

Thus two Prophecies were fulfilled, which seemed contrary one to the other, that he should go to Babylon, Ier. 32. 5. and 34. 3. and that he should never see Babylon: Which seeming-contradiction, because Zedekiah the false Prophet could not reconcile, he concluded both were false, and that Ieremy was a false Prophet; and it seems Zedekiah the King might stumble at this difficulty.

Marginal references: Heb. made bl[illegible: 1+ letters]d.

8 ¶ And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month , (which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) came Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:

Quest. How doth this agree with Ier. 52. 12. where he is said to come thither on the tenth day? Ans. Either he came to Ierusalem on the seventh day, and burnt the Temple on the tenth day: Or this sacred Writer speaks of the day of his departure from Riblah towards Ierusalem, and Ieremiah speaks of his coming to Ierusalem, which was about three days journey from Riblah.

Marginal references: See Chap. 24. 12. and Ver. 24.; Or, chief Marshal.

9 And he burnt the house of the LORD , and the kings house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great mans house burnt he with fire.

Which had now stood about 450 years.

11 Now the rest of the people that were left in the city , and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude , did Nebuzar▪adan the captain of the guard carry away.

Whom neither the Sword nor Famine had destroyed, who were 832 persons, Ier. 52. 29. being members and traders of that City: For it is likely that there were very many more of the Country-people who were fled thither, who were left with others of their Brethren to manure the Land, as it here follows.

To wit, of the Inhabitants of the Country.

Marginal references: Heb. fallen away.

13 And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Caldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

The carriage whereof to Babylon was foretold, Ier. 27. 21, 22.

Marginal references: Chap. 20. 17. Jer▪ 27. 19, 22.; 1 Kin. 7. 15.; 1 Kin. 7. 27.; 1 Kin. 7. 23.

14 And the pots, and the shovels , and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministred, took they away.

Of these and the following words, see on Exod. 27. and 1 King. 6. and 7.

Marginal references: Exod. 27. 3. 1 Kin. 7. [illegible: 1+ letters]0.

18 ¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest , and Zephaniah the second priest , and the three keepers of the door.

The High-Priest, Grandson of that Hilkiah, of whom ch. 22. 4. and Father of Iehozadack, who, as it seems, was taken with his Father; and when his Father was slain, v. 21. he was carried away to Babylon, as it is noted, 1 Chron. 6. 13, 14.

Who was the High-Priests deputy, when he was hindred from the execution of his Office, see on Numb. 3. 32. 2 Sam. 8. 17. 2 King. 23. 4.

Marginal references: Jer. 29. 25.; Heb. threshold.

19 And out of the city he took an officer, that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the kings presence , which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which must ered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city.

i. e. Of them who constantly attended upon the Kings Person, see 1 King. 10. 8. Esth. 1. 14. Obj. These were seven, Ier. 52. 25. Ans. Either five were first taken, and two after them: Or two of the seven were of an inferior rank, who therefore are here omitted.

Who had been most forward or active in the Rebellion.

Marginal references: Or, eunuch.; Heb. saw the kings face.; Or, scribe of▪ the captain of the host.

22 ¶ And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan , ruler.

A righteous and good man, and a friend to the Prophet Ieremiah, Ier. 26. 24.

Marginal references: Jer. 40. 5, 9.

23 And when all the captains of the armies , they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governour, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they, and their men.

Which escaped away when Zedekiah was taken. See above, v. 4, 5.

Marginal references: Jer. 40. [illegible: 1+ letters].

24 And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men , and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Caldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

Assured them by his promise and oath, that they doing what he required, should be kept from the evils which they feared. This he might safely swear, because he had not onely the King of Babylon's promise and interest too, but also God's promise for their Indempnity, delivered by Ieremiah.

25 But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal , came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Caldees that were with him at Mizpah.

And therefore moved with envy to see so mean a Person advanced into their place. See this History more fully described Ier. 41.

To wit, Ten Captains or Officers, and under each of them many Soldiers, otherwise the attempt was ridiculous.

Marginal references: Heb. of the kingdom.; Jer. [illegible: 1+ letters]1. 2▪

27 ¶ And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison.

Or, on the 25 day, as it is Ier. 52. 31. for then the Decree was made, which was executed upon the 27 day.

28 And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon .

It seems though the power of these Kings was taken away, yet some honour and respect was given to them, even in the place of their captivity, and to Iehojachin more than to any of the rest.

Marginal references: Heb. good things with him.

29 And changed his prison-garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

i. e. In his presence, and at his Table, the following allowance being given to him for the maintenance of his Family and Royal Dignity. Compare 2 Sam. 9. 10.