Jer 52:6-7 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter is a historical addition to the book of Jeremiah. It tells 1. about the fall of Jerusalem, 2. what the Babylonians did to the temple and its tools, 3. how Nebuchadnezzar treats Zedekiah, Jehoiachin and other officials, and 4. the number of Jews taken into exile. The purpose of the chapter is to show how Jeremiah’s prophecies were fulfilled, in contrast to those of the false prophets ( ). The chapter is almost identical to the history in 2 Kings 24 ( ). This chapter describes the fall of Jerusalem. God emphasizes the importance of the fall by including a fourfold description of it in His Word ( ; ; ). The fall takes place during the reign of Zedekiah, who reigned in Jerusalem for eleven years ( ). His reign is of the same evil character as that of his brother Jehoiakim ( ) who also reigned eleven years ( ). He too does what is evil in the sight of the LORD. The LORD can no longer bear it and must reject Jerusalem and Judah from His presence ( ; ). To all his evil deeds Zedekiah adds that he rebels against the king of Babylon. He has already been to Babylon once and promised to obey Nebuchadnezzar. However, he broke that promise ( ). Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar has gone up against Jerusalem with all his army and is besieging the city ( ). The date of his arrival at the city is accurately recorded ( ). The arrival of Nebuchadnezzar is the beginning of the end of the city. He besieges the city for nineteen months, closing it hermetically ( ). No one can get in or out. After the nineteen-month long siege, the city falls, on a day again named with date ( ). The city is starving. There is no strength left to fight. Then the city is broken into ( ). The resistance is broken. The men can no longer fight, but they can still flee. Among the refugees is King Zedekiah. In the darkness of the night they run away. The escape route is accurately described. They go out of the city through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. The direction of escape is the Arabah. The refugees, however, are quickly overtaken ( ). Zedekiah is seized when he is in the plains of Jericho. His army does not protect him. It is separated from him and scattered and thus made even more powerless than it already is. Zedekiah is taken to the king of Babylon, who is in Riblah and passes sentence on him ( ). It is a horrible judgment. First Nebuchadnezzar slaughters the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes ( ). He also slaughters all the princes of Judah in Riblah. With the slaughter of his sons on his mind, Zedekiah’s eyes are blinded ( ). Thus, the man who is blind to the LORD is also literally blind. As if that were not enough to subdue this wicked and untrustworthy man, Zedekiah is also bound with two bronze chains. In this way he is taken to Babylon. There he is put in prison where he remains until the day of his death.

‏ Jeremiah 52:6-7

Introduction

This chapter is a historical addition to the book of Jeremiah. It tells

1. about the fall of Jerusalem,

2. what the Babylonians did to the temple and its tools,

3. how Nebuchadnezzar treats Zedekiah, Jehoiachin and other officials, and

4. the number of Jews taken into exile.

The purpose of the chapter is to show how Jeremiah’s prophecies were fulfilled, in contrast to those of the false prophets (Jer 27:16-22 ; Jer 28:1-17). The chapter is almost identical to the history in 2 Kings 24 (2Kgs 24:18-20 ; 2Kgs 25:1-30).

The Fall of Jerusalem

This chapter describes the fall of Jerusalem. God emphasizes the importance of the fall by including a fourfold description of it in His Word (Jer 39:1-14 ; Jer 52:1-11; 2Kgs 24:18-20 ; 2Kgs 25:1-30; 2Chr 36:11-21). The fall takes place during the reign of Zedekiah, who reigned in Jerusalem for eleven years (Jer 52:1). His reign is of the same evil character as that of his brother Jehoiakim (Jer 52:2) who also reigned eleven years (2Kgs 23:36). He too does what is evil in the sight of the LORD.

The LORD can no longer bear it and must reject Jerusalem and Judah from His presence (Jer 52:3; 2Kgs 24:18-20). To all his evil deeds Zedekiah adds that he rebels against the king of Babylon. He has already been to Babylon once and promised to obey Nebuchadnezzar. However, he broke that promise (Eze 17:12-15). Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar has gone up against Jerusalem with all his army and is besieging the city (Jer 52:4).

The date of his arrival at the city is accurately recorded (Eze 24:1-2). The arrival of Nebuchadnezzar is the beginning of the end of the city. He besieges the city for nineteen months, closing it hermetically (Jer 52:5). No one can get in or out.

After the nineteen-month long siege, the city falls, on a day again named with date (Jer 52:6). The city is starving. There is no strength left to fight. Then the city is broken into (Jer 52:7). The resistance is broken. The men can no longer fight, but they can still flee. Among the refugees is King Zedekiah. In the darkness of the night they run away. The escape route is accurately described. They go out of the city through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. The direction of escape is the Arabah.

The refugees, however, are quickly overtaken (Jer 52:8). Zedekiah is seized when he is in the plains of Jericho. His army does not protect him. It is separated from him and scattered and thus made even more powerless than it already is. Zedekiah is taken to the king of Babylon, who is in Riblah and passes sentence on him (Jer 52:9). It is a horrible judgment.

First Nebuchadnezzar slaughters the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes (Jer 52:10). He also slaughters all the princes of Judah in Riblah. With the slaughter of his sons on his mind, Zedekiah’s eyes are blinded (Jer 52:11). Thus, the man who is blind to the LORD is also literally blind. As if that were not enough to subdue this wicked and untrustworthy man, Zedekiah is also bound with two bronze chains. In this way he is taken to Babylon. There he is put in prison where he remains until the day of his death.