Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 39

Verses 1-18

This chapter records the fall of Jerusalem. After a long siege lasting from the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign until the fourth month of the eleventh year, at last "a breach was made in the city," and the princes of Babylon entered. Zedekiah, with the men of war surrounding him, immediately fled, but he was arrested and brought before Nebuchadnezzar. His sons were slain before his eyes, and then his eyes were put out. This was followed by the sack of the city. The king of Babylon charged his captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, to afford protection to Jeremiah. This was done by committing him to the care of Gedaliah, who was appointed to be governor of the subjected and broken people.

Very interesting is the last paragraph of the chapter which tells of how, before the fall of the city, Jeremiah was charged by Jehovah to visit Ebed-melech, through whose instrumentality he had been delivered from the dungeon, and promise him protection in the day of calamity. It is a revelation of the fact that when the judgment of God is abroad as vengeance it never proceeds without discrimination, and that those who put their trust in Him are thought upon graciously and delivered.