Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryJeremiah 39

In the ninth year. The final siege against Jerusalem began approximately Jan. 15, 588 B.C. (see on 2 Kings 25:1 for the basis of this date).

The city was broken up. After besieging Jerusalem for 30 months, the Babylonians broke through its defenses on “the ninth day” of “the fourth month.” This date can be approximated on the same basis as that in v. 1, as July 18, 586 B.C. For a more detailed account of the siege and capture of Jerusalem see Jer. 52; 2 Kings 25.

And all the princes. Instead of there being six princes, as implied here, there were probably only three, or even two, if the name Nergalsharezer, mentioned twice, represented only one individual. Jerusalem and Environs in the Time of Jeremiah

Many archaeologists believe the city walls if Jerusalem included only the eastern hills in Jeremiah’s day, but recent discoveries suggest an expansion into the Western Hill as indicated. Colored regions and lines (representing walls) show possible extent and are suggestive only.

Nergalsharezer, the Babylonian form of which is Nergal–sharri–uṣur, meaning, “Nergal protect the king,” is mentioned in a court almanac of Nebuchadnezzar as “Prince of Sin–magir.” Sin-magir was a city and province of Babylonia, lying north of Babylon. This name appears in a shorter form in the passage under discussion here, although the

Nichol, F. D. (1978). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary : The Holy Bible with exegetical and expository comment. Commentary Reference Series (Je 37:4). Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association. Nichol, F. D. (1978). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary : The Holy Bible with exegetical and expository comment. Commentary Reference Series (Ge 1:1). Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association.

Masoretes, who added the vowels to the consonantal text (see Vol. I, pp. 25, 26), did not understand it. They mistakenly made Nergalsharezer’s title part of the next word “Nebo,” thus creating the proper name Samgar-nebo. Actually the text should read “All the princes of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergalsharezer of Sin- magir, Nebo-sarsechim, the rab-saris, Nergalsharezer, the rab-mag with all the rest of the officers of the king.” Whether the title rab-mag is a variant of Sin-magir or a separate Babylonian title is not known. Hence, it is uncertain whether two individuals by the name of Nergalsharezer were in Jerusalem or only one. Nergalsharezer is otherwise known as Nebuchadnezzar’s son-in-law, Nergal-shar-usur, or Neriglissar, second successor on the throne, being king of Babylon from 560 to 556 B.C. (see Vol. III, pp. 46, 47). Nebo-sarsechim is an unknown name. On the title rab-saris see on Dan. 1:3.

Then they fled. See ch. 52:7. The “king’s garden” was probably near “the pool of Siloah” (see on Neh. 3:15), and from this the king went through the gate between the two walls. It is generally believed, on archeological evidence, that this gate was somewhere near the southeastern corner of the city wall. They fled eastward toward the plain, or Arabah, the distinctive name of the Jordan valley (see on 2 Sam. 2:29).

Ellen G. White

Overtook Zedekiah. It was apparently the king’s intention to cross the Jordan River near Jericho, and find safety in the open country of Gilead or with a would-be ally such as Moab or Ammon (see ch. 27:3). Riblah. This city to the north, “in the land of Hamath,” was a traffic center on the Orontes River, and so provided a natural headquarters for Nebuchadnezzar in his invasion of Palestine.

Slew the sons. The severe punishment dealt out by the Chaldean conqueror (vs. 6, 7) was due to the fact that he placed Zedekiah on the throne as his supposedly loyal vassal, and yet the king of Judah treacherously rebelled against him (2 Kings 24:17–20), and violated the most solemn oaths taken in the name of Jehovah (see PK 447).

He put out Zedekiah’s eyes. Thus two apparently mutually exclusive prophecies were fulfilled: (1) that Zedekiah would see Nebuchadnezzar and be taken to Babylon (ch. 32:4, 5), and (2) that he would die in Babylon but not see it (Eze. 12:13).

Burned the king’s house. For a more detailed account of this devastation see Jer. 52:12–14; cf. 2 Kings 25:8–10.

Carried away captive. To prevent rebellion Nebuchadnezzar followed the same deportation policy as did the Assyrians before him (2 Kings 15:29; 17:6).

Left of the poor. This was undoubtedly done to prevent a political vacuum in the land. The gifts of land to the poor would ensure their allegiance to the Babylonians, and perhaps also, through the cultivation of the land, the Babylonians might even expect some tribute.

Gave charge concerning Jeremiah. It is plain that Nebuchadnezzar learned of Jeremiah’s unwavering counsel of submission to Babylon either through deserters or spies, or from Zedekiah himself, and so as soon as he found out that Jeremiah had been “bound in chains among all that were carried away captive” (ch. 40:1), he ordered the prophet released.

Nebuzar-adan … sent. Presumably from Ramah (see on v. 14; ch. 40:1). Nebuzar-adan is known from Babylonian records. His Babylonian name, Nabu–zer– iddinam, means “Nabu gives offspring.” His Hebrew title, Rab–ṭabbachim, correctly

translated “captain of the guard,” literally means “chief of the butchers.” However, the term was used in a wider sense to designate the chief of the bodyguard of the king. In the Babylonian records Nebuzar-adan is listed several decades later with the title “chief cook,” which, idiomatically, had the wider meaning of “chancellor.” Nebushasban, Rab-saris. Rather, “Nebushazban the rabsaris” (see on v. 3). His Babylonian name, Nabu–shezibanni means, “Nabu, save me.” On Nergalsharezer see on v. 3.

Court of the prison. See ch. 38:28. This statement may be harmonized with ch. 40:1 by assuming that Jeremiah was taken out of the prison and was carried along as a captive with the other captives for the few miles from Jerusalem to Ramah (see on ch. 31:15), at which place the Babylonian captain gave him the good news of his release. The account of ch. 39:14 merely omits the intervening events between Jeremiah’s release from prison and his joining Gedaliah, which events are related in detail in ch. 40:1–6. Committed him. At his own choice (see ch. 40:5). Gedaliah. See on ch. 26:24. True to his family’s attitude, “the son of Ahikam” now advances as Jeremiah’s friend and protector.

While he was shut up. Verses 15–18 are a parenthetical account of God’s promise to Ebed-melech because of his kindness to Jeremiah.

Ebed-melech. See on ch. 38:7.

I will deliver thee. Because of his loyalty toward Jeremiah, God promises the Ethiopian that his life will be spared from “the hand of” the princes of Judah, who were angered by his action regarding the prophet (ch. 38:7–13), and that he will “not fall by the sword” (ch. 39:18) of the Babylonians, since Jeremiah will undoubtedly intercede for him.

For a prey. An idiom meaning that his life would be spared. At a time when countless thousands lost their lives a man could ask no greater reward than this.