Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 51:59

59 ¶ The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah, the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah , when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon , in the fourth year of his reign , and this Seraiah was a quiet prince .

Of this Seraiah we read no more than we have in this verse▪ though Chapter 36.26. there be mention made of another Seraiah.

We no where read of any journey Zedekiah made into Babylon till he was carried a Prisoner thither, it is therefore probable that with should be translated from as the same particle is in other places, Genesis 4.1. and 44.4. it being not usual with great Princes to make visits one to another at such distances, though the Iewes tell us a story of some such thing.

The expressing of this Circumstance of time, lets us know that this Prophesie was many years before Babylon was destroyed, for it was seven years before Ierusalem was taken; so as it must be above sixty years before it was fulfilled in the first degree.

The Hebrew word admits of various Interpretations, some think that [illegible: 1 word] was a place over which Seraiah had some Authority under Zedekiah, the same with Manahah, 1 Chronicles 8.6. Others think it was a name of Office, and signified Lord Chamberlain, but the best Interpreters see no reason to vary from our Translation, the sense of which is that he was a man of a moderate quiet temper, that perswaded to peace.

Marginal references: Or, on the behalf of.; Or, Prince of Menucha or chief chamberlain.