Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 52

Verses 1-16

Jer 52:1-16

Jeremiah 52:1-16

A HISTORICAL RECORD OF JEREMIAH’S PROPHECIES FULFILLED

This chapter is usually styled "Historical Appendix"; but its obvious application to the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecies suggests the title we have given it.

Although many writers speak of this chapter’s being a copy of 2 Kings 24:18 - 2 Kings 25:30, this is true only of certain verses in this chapter. The chapter does apparently quote from 2 Kings, "but with a very significant omission (regarding events leading to the assassination of Gedaliah as given in 2 Kings 25:22-26), and a very significant addition in vv. 28-30 where is found material given nowhere else in the Bible."

The appearance here of unique material, along with some variations from the account in 2 Kings, including a variant spelling of the name of Nebuchadnezzar, led Keil to the conclusion that both of the accounts in 2 Kings and in this last chapter of Jeremiah, "Have a common origin in which the fall of the Kingdom of Judah was more fully described than in the historical books of the canon."

To this writer, it appears that the principal reason for including this chapter from a source independent of Jeremiah was for the specific purpose of demonstrating historically the fulfillment of his marvelous prophecies. It has also been suggested that another reason could reside in the note of hope injected into the final verses regarding the restoration of Jehoiachin to his royal status under the house-arrest of Judah’s last king, but as an honored guest at the table of the king of Babylon. The captives might have received that dramatic change in the status of their former king as a good omen related to the end of their captivity and their return to Judah.

There are five things treated in this chapter: (1) Jerusalem falls, and Zedekiah is captured (Jeremiah 52:1-16); (2) the Temple is despoiled (Jeremiah 52:17-23); (3) Zedekiah’s advisors were executed (Jeremiah 52:24-27); (4) the three deportations of the Jews are related (Jeremiah 52:28-30); and (5) the record of Jehoiachin’s kind treatment by the new king of Babylon (Jeremiah 52:31-34).

Jeremiah 52:1-16

THE FALL OF JERUSALEM AND THE CAPTURE OF IT AND ZEDEKIAH

Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For through the anger of Jehovah did it come to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it round about. So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. In the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden; (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about;) and they went toward the Arabah. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him. Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; and he gave judgment upon him. And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah. And he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death. Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, who stood before the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem: and he burned the house of Jehovah, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burned he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the poorest of the people, and the residue of the people that were left in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.

Through the anger of Jehovah it came to pass...

(Jeremiah 52:3). Some have complained that this makes it appear that the anger of Jehovah caused Judah’s rebellion; whereas, on the other hand, it was the result of it. Such complaints fail to notice the meaning of through the anger of Jehovah, which does not mean because of his anger, but is a reference to the fact that through (during) the anger of Jehovah, as revealed by the prophet Jeremiah, and in spite of his repeated warnings against it, they went right on stubbornly in their rebellion.

Practically all of this passage, although somewhat abbreviated, is found in Jeremiah 39:1-9. See comments there. The instructions of Nebuchadnezzar for Jeremiah’s safety (Jeremiah 39:11 f) are omitted here.

In prison till the day of his death...

(Jeremiah 52:11 b). This note regarding Zedekiah’s imprisonment till death is found nowhere else in the Bible.

The nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar...

(Jeremiah 52:12). This same occasion is called the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar in Jeremiah 52:29. One mode or reckoning counted the year of accession to the throne, and the other did not. There is no contradiction.

AN HISTORICAL APPENDIX

Jeremiah 52:1-34

Chapter 51 closes with an editorial note: “Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.” Whoever was responsible for appending chapter 52 to the book must have added these words so as to carefully distinguish between his own contribution and that of the great prophet. Just who the author of Jeremiah 52 was nobody knows. Some have tried to argue that Jeremiah himself was the author even though the note at the end of chapter 51 seems to clearly imply the contrary. The argument for the Jeremian authorship of the chapter is basically this: Jeremiah 52 was taken from the Book of Kings and appended to the book of the prophet. Since Jeremiah is said in Jewish tradition to have been the author of Kings he must also be the author of Jeremiah 52. But this argument assumes that the Jewish tradition which attributes the Book of Kings to Jeremiah is reliable. It further assumes that Jeremiah 52 was in fact borrowed from Kings. Finally the argument for the Jeremian authorship of this chapter ignores the plain implication of the editorial comment at the end of chapter 51. The most likely candidate for the authorship of Jeremiah 52 is Baruch the faithful secretary of Jeremiah. He, no doubt, was the one responsible for putting the Book of Jeremiah together and he it was in all probability who added chapter 52.

But why would Baruch add this historical appendix to the Book of Jeremiah? After all, the prophet himself is not mentioned a single time in the chapter, and most of the material can be found in the Book of Kings and, in an abridged form, in Jeremiah 39. Baruch probably had a two-fold purpose in this appendix. First, this chapter describes in detail the fall of Jerusalem, the event which vindicated the prophetic ministry of Jeremiah. What a fitting conclusion, to allow the facts of history to bear witness to the truth of the prophetic word. Second, Baruch wished to call attention to the release of Jehoiachin (Jeremiah 52:31-34) which gave promise that after the midnight tragedy of judgment a brighter day was beginning to dawn—a day which Jeremiah had foreseen and described in such grand style. Jeremiah 52, then, proclaims that God’s word of judgment has been fulfilled; His word of promise must surely follow.

THE FALL OF JERUSALEM Jeremiah 52:1-23

The Reign of Zedekiah Jeremiah 52:1-11

Zedekiah was but twenty-one years old when he came to the throne of his country as the vassal of a foreign king (Jeremiah 52:1). Religiously he followed the same course that his brother Jehoiakim had followed in that “he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord” (Jeremiah 52:2). Abundant evidence exists within the Book of Jeremiah to substantiate this general charge against Zedekiah (cf. Jeremiah 37:2-3; Jeremiah 38:5; Jeremiah 38:24 etc.). A prophet of God with divine counsel was available to him, yet Zedekiah refused to submit to the program of God. Jeremiah advised submission to Babylon; Zedekiah plotted rebellion. Throughout his reign Zedekiah refused to give heed to the word of God. Because the political leaders and populace of Jerusalem repudiated the will of God, the Lord was angry with His people and saw to it that they were cast out of His presence (Jeremiah 52:3 a).

Yielding to the advice and pressure of his youthful advisers, Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 52:3 b). Jeremiah 27 tells of his attempted conspiracy with neighboring nations. Zedekiah’s disastrous policy was apparently built on the false premise that the Lord would intervene and save Jerusalem as He had previously done in the reign of Hezekiah (cf. Jeremiah 21:2). How presumptuous for men to expect God to work miracles when they are not willing to submit themselves to His will! Nebuchadnezzar was not long in bringing his forces to punish the rebellious vassal. The tenth day of the tenth month became a date of infamy in the history of Judah (Jeremiah 52:4). For almost seventy years the Jews took note of that sad occasion by fasting (cf. Zechariah 8:19). Jerusalem withstood the Chaldean siege for eighteen months (Jeremiah 52:5). The sacred writer has shown amazing reserve^[425] as he describes those last agonizing weeks: “the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land” (Jeremiah 52:6). The pathetic plight of the people is recorded in more detail in the Book of Lamentations (Lamentations 1:19-20; Lamentations 2:11-12; Lamentations 2:20; Lamentations 4:9-10).

In the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year (July 587 B.C.) the Chaldeans were successful in making a breach in the walls of the city. This day too for years was commemorated by a fast (see Zechariah 8:19). Zedekiah and the remnants of his army attempted to flee by night, thus unwittingly fulfilling the prophecy of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 12:12). The king and his men fled in the direction of the Arabah, the lowland region through which the river Jordan flows (Jeremiah 52:7). Perhaps they were attempting to escape across the Jordan to some friendly neighboring nation. When the Chaldeans caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho the bodyguard of the king deserted him; it was every man for himself (Jeremiah 52:8).

The Chaldeans dealt ruthlessly with Zedekiah. After his capture near Jericho, Zedekiah was taken some two hundred miles north to Riblah where he was brought face to face with the Great King to whom he had sworn allegiance eleven years earlier. There Nebuchadnezzar pronounced judgment upon his faithless vassal (Jeremiah 52:9). At the time a vassal treaty between two kings was ratified the vassal would pronounce horrible maledictions upon himself should he be unfaithful to his treaty obligations. It may well be that Nebuchadnezzar now read those maledictions to Zedekiah. If that be the case then Zedekiah pronounced judgment upon himself. Be that as it may the judgment upon king Zedekiah is one of the saddest recorded in the Bible. First he witnessed the execution of his own sons and also some of the princes of the land (Jeremiah 52:10). That turned out to be the last sight he saw, for Nebuchadnezzar had his eyes put out. Finally, he lost his freedom; he was carried to Babylon where he remained in prison until the day of his death (Jeremiah 52:11). Bitter are the consequences for that soul who neglects the will of the Almighty!

The Destruction of Jerusalem Jeremiah 52:12-16

The account of the destruction of Jerusalem, already summarized in Jeremiah 39:8-10, is almost identical with 2 Kings 25:8-17. After the city of Jerusalem fell to the Chaldeans the soldiers awaited further instructions concerning the fate of the city. A month after the successful breaching of the walls, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard arrived from Riblah with the orders of Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 52:12). On the title of Nebuzaradan see note on Jeremiah 39:9. The English text of Kings and Jeremiah seems to present a contradiction as to the date that Nebuzaradan arrived at Jerusalem. According to the former account he arrived on the seventh day of the month while in the present narrative it is the tenth day of the month (cf. 2 Kings 25:8). The simpliest solution is that Nebuzaradan arrived at Jerusalem on the seventh day and for some unexplained reason did not enter Jerusalem until the tenth day of the month. In the Hebrew the word Jerusalem has no preposition attached to it in 2 Kings 25:8 but has the preposition beth in Jeremiah 62:12. Nebuzaradan’s orders were to destroy Jerusalem and prepare its inhabitants for deportation to Babylon. The entire city including the Temple area was put to the torch (Jeremiah 52:13) and the walls were razed (Jeremiah 52:14). Both Psalms (Psalms 74:6-7) and Lamentations (Jeremiah 2:7-9) provide vivid poetic descriptions of this destruction. Those who had deserted to the Chaldeans during the siege, and the rest of the “multitude” (i.e., the country people)^[428] were prepared for the long trip to Babylon (Jeremiah 52:15). Some prefer to translate the Hebrew word as “artisans.” In the light of the parallel passage 2 Kings 25:11 “multitude” is the best translation. Only the very poorest people were left in the land to serve as “vinedressers” and “husbandmen” (Jeremiah 52:16).

Verses 17-23

Jer 52:17-23

Jeremiah 52:17-23

THE TEMPLE WAS LOOTED AND TOTALLY DESTROYED

And the pillars of brass that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Jehovah, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon. The pots also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away. And the cups, and the firepans, and the basins, and the pots, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the bowls--that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver,-- the captain of the guard took away. The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made for the house of Jehovah--the brass of all these vessels was without weight. And as for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a line of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow. And a capital of brass was upon it; and the height of the one capital was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the capital round about, all of brass: and the second pillar also had like unto these, and pomegranates. And there were ninety and six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were a hundred upon the network round about.

That which was of gold, in gold. of silver, in silver

(Jeremiah 52:19). This means that all the vessels made of silver or gold were melted down and carried away as precious metal.

The brass. was without weight .....

(Jeremiah 52:20). It was simply too heavy, and there was too much of it to be weighed. There were no scales in that day adequate for such a task as weighing many tons of brass.

The significance of this paragraph is seen in the light of Jeremiah’s words in Jeremiah 27:16-22. In that passage, Jeremiah specifically named many of the things mentioned here, stating that they would all indeed be carried to Babylon. Practically everything in this chapter has the utility of listing the events that fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecies to the letter.

"Ornaments of the brazen pillars (Jeremiah 52:23) are listed nowhere else in the Old Testament."

The Plunder of the Temple Jeremiah 52:17-23

The description of the fate of the Temple furniture is much fuller here than in the parallel passage in 2 Kings 25:13-17. In order to facilitate transportation, the larger items of Temple furniture—the brazen pillars, the bases and the sea—were broken up (Jeremiah 52:17). The two eighteen cubit bronze pillars stood immediately in front of the Temple proper. When they were set in place back in the days of Solomon they were given names. One was called Jachin (“He shall establish”); the other Boaz (“In it is strength”). See 1 Kings 7:13-22. Just what purpose these pillars served is still debated. The “bases” were the supports of the ten portable lavers at which animals about to be offered as burnt-offerings were washed (1 Kings 7:27-37), The “brazen sea” was a huge laver at which the priests washed their hands and feet before offering sacrifice (1 Kings 7:23-26).

The smaller Temple vessels of brass, gold and silver were transported to Babylon where they became trophies of victory in the temples of the gods. In Jeremiah 52:18 the objects of brass are enumerated. The “pots” and the “shovels” were used in the Temple for carrying away the ashes after sacrifice. The “basins” were probably used in the sprinkling of the sacrificial blood (cf. Exodus 27:3; Exodus 38:3; Numbers 4:14). The “spoons” were incense-cups (cf. Numbers 7:14). The word translated “snuffers” is of uncertain meaning. In Jeremiah 52:19 the vessels of gold and silver are enumerated. The pots, basins and spoons (incense cups) are mentioned a second time in this verse simply because such utensils were made of gold and silver as well as brass. Of the new items mentioned in Jeremiah 52:19 the function of the “cup” is unknown. The “firepan” was used for transporting hot coals. Ten candlesticks or lampstands illuminated the interior of the Temple (1 Kings 7:49). The “bowls” of Jeremiah 52:19 were connected with the table of showbread and were probably used for libations (Exodus 25:29; Exodus 37:16; Numbers 4:7). Now a problem arises with regard to the golden vessels. According to 2 Kings 24:13 “all the vessels of gold” were carried off to Babylon in 597 B.C. How then can it be said that the golden vessels were carried away by Nebuzaradan some ten years later? It is possible, of course, that the golden vessels were replaced after the deportation of 597 B.C. More likely, however, only the most valuable vessels were removed in 597 B.C. The golden vessels of less value were left in the Temple along with the silver utensils to await the plunder of 587 B.C.

The total amount of the brass carried away by the Chaldeans was so great that it seemed to merit the special emphasis given to it in Jeremiah 52:20. The mention of the “twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases” presents a two-fold difficulty for the Bible student. In the Book of Kings the bases were under the lavers, while the bulls supported the molten sea (1 Kings 7:25; 1 Kings 7:43). Furthermore, it is stated in 2 Kings 16:17 that Ahaz had already taken away the twelve bulls and sent them as tribute to Assyria more than a century earlier (2 Kings 16:17). The second difficulty is easier to cope with than the first. It is entirely possible and even likely that the twelve bulls had been replaced since the days of wicked king Ahaz, perhaps during the reforms of king Hezekiah. As for the first difficulty it is perhaps best to follow the reading of the Septuagint which reads: “the twelve bulls which were under the sea.” In other words, one Hebrew word may have dropped out of the standard Hebrew text during the course of its transmission.

Jeremiah 52:21-23 are in the nature of a supplement to the foregoing description of the loot taken by the Chaldean soldiers. The focus here is on the two pillars of brass already mentioned in Jeremiah 52:17. Each pillar was eighteen cubits (twenty-seven feet) high with a circumference of twelve cubits (eighteen feet). The pillars were hollow with the metal being about four inches (“fingers”) thick (Jeremiah 52:21). These pillars were crowned with capitals of brass which were an additional five cubits high (Jeremiah 52:22). A lattice work (“network”) surrounded the capital upon which were surmounted one hundred ornamental pomegranates, twenty-four on each side and one at each corner (Jeremiah 52:23). The account in 1 Kings 7:20 states that each pillar had two hundred pomegranates arranged in two rows. Either the account here ignores one of the rows of the pomegranates or else one row had been removed before this time.

Verses 24-27

Jer 52:24-27

Jeremiah 52:24-27

ZEDEKIAH’S ADVISORS EXECUTED

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold: and out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war; and seven men of them that saw the king’s face, that were found in the city; and the scribe of the captain of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the midst of the city. And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah. And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.

This paragraph deals with the execution of the priests, that is, the false priests who had pressured Zedekiah into rebellion against Babylon, threatening death to Jeremiah who opposed their views. Those wicked priests dominate this list. The high priest, his deputy, and the three keepers of the threshold in the temple were included.

The other important officers mentioned here were presumed to have been responsible either for urging or approving the king’s rebellious behavior.

The people of the land...

(Jeremiah 52:25). By the fact of their being in the midst of the city, probably in some of those great houses’ they burned, suggests that these were the wealthy aristocrats who had sided with the king in his rebellion. If that was not the case, these were executed merely as reprisals against Jerusalem.

The king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death...

(Jeremiah 52:27). This indicates that the men mentioned here were first beaten without mercy, and then executed. Such was Babylonian justice.

EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE FALL OF JERUSALEM Jeremiah 52:24-34

The Execution of the Princes Jeremiah 52:24-27

Jeremiah 52:10 alludes to the execution of the princes of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah; Jeremiah 52:24-27 expands upon that allusion by naming the princes who were slain. The passage is almost identical with 2 Kings 25:18-21. Nebuzaradan selected those who were highest in authority and therefore most responsible for the prolonged resistance of Jerusalem. At the head of these officials is Seraiah “the chief of priests,” who is not elsewhere mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah. Seraiah comes from a noble line of priests. He was the grandson of the great priest Hilkiah who is famous for his participation in the reforms of king Josiah; he was grandfather of Joshua who was high priest when the Temple was rebuilt after the Exile (cf. 1 Chronicles 6:13-15; Haggai 1:1). Ezra the scribe also descended from this Seraiah (Ezra 7:1). After Seraiah, the priest Zephaniah is mentioned. He is probably the same Zephaniah who is mentioned several other times in the Book of Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 21:1; Jeremiah 29:25; Jeremiah 29:29; Jeremiah 37:3). Zephaniah is called “the second priest” and it is not entirely clear whether this is an office or an order. According to 2 Kings 23:4 there were several second priests. Three “keepers of the threshold” were also among those executed at Riblah. These must have been high-ranking clergy who supervised the four thousand Levites (1 Chronicles 23:5) whose duty it was to prevent any disturbance or desecration of the Temple (cf. 2 Kings 12:10; 2 Kings 22:4; 2 Kings 23:4; Jeremiah 35:4).

In the second category of those executed are certain officials of state. The first such official is not named but is designated as “the officer that was set over the men of war.” Some commentators have suggested that this gentleman was the general who commanded the city garrison; others propose that he was a civilian official equivalent to minister of defense or the like. “Seven men who saw the king’s face” i.e., who were part of the king’s personal entourage were also among the executed. The account in the Book of Kings gives the figure here as five instead of seven. Perhaps two additional court officers were executed shortly after that day on which Zedekiah saw his princes slain and then had his own eyes put out. Kings would be counting only those slain in the initial execution while Jeremiah 52 is giving totals, “The scribe of the captain of the host” is next listed among the officials who were slain. His job it was to “muster the people of the land.” A “scribe” in the Old Testament is not merely one who knows how to write or a stenographer. “Scribe” is a title given to the highest officers of state. Cf. 2 Samuel 8:7; 2 Samuel 20:25 : 2 Kings 12:11; 1 Chronicles 18:16; 1 Chronicles 27:32 This particular “scribe” was likely the head of the war department of Judah. In 2 Chronicles 26:11 it is expressly stated that Uzziah’s army went out “by the hand of Jeiel the scribe” i.e. Jeiel was the civilian official who organized and dispatched the host.

In addition to the priests and civilian officials, some sixty of the “people of the land” were also executed by Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 52:25). Frequently in the Old Testament the phrase “people of the land” has the meaning of landed gentry. However, since earlier in this verse “the people of the land” are the general populace who were mustered for military service, the expression likely has that same meaning here, In other words, sixty men were singled out from the, ranks of the conscripted soldiers for execution as a warning to the rest of the troops. The group that was destined for death was taken to Riblah to stand trial before Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 52:26). The king of Babylon “smote” them (perhaps had then flogged) and put them to death (Jeremiah 52:27).

Verses 28-30

Jer 52:28-30

Jeremiah 52:28-30

THREE DEPORTATIONS OF JEWS TO BABYLON

This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and twenty; in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty and two persons; in the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty and five persons: all the persons were four thousand and six hundred.

Green dated the three deportations mentioned here as having happened in 597 B.C., 587 B.C., and 582 B.C. Cawley and Millard dated them in "597 B.C., 586 B.C., and in 581 B.C."

The astounding thing about these numbers is that some 40,000 or more returned to Judah after the seventy year exile ended; and according to Josephus they left many times that number in Babylon. Were all those Jews, some seventy years later, descended from the relatively small number recorded here? Cawley and Millard, as well as other scholars, suppose that, "Only men who were heads of families" were counted in this enumeration.

Besides that, many of the Jews scattered throughout Palestine by the military action would have, after the war, found their way to Babylon, where they could again be united with their people. Remember that Jerusalem had been effectively wiped out as a suitable place to live. There can hardly be any doubt that, "The total number of the exiles was far higher" than the totals given here.

There is also another explanation of the low numbers of exiles mentioned here, an explanation sanctioned both by Keil and by Dummelow. It concerns the term "seventh" year of Nebuchadrezzar. Robinson and Dummelow both believed that this word is "seventeenth," not "seventh," requiring the understanding that those deportations on the seventeenth and eighteenth years in succession actually refer to the single deportation dated in 587/586 B.C. For technical reasons for this understanding of "seventh," see comments of those scholars. Of course, Hyatt and other liberal scholars would like to keep the number at "seventh" because it poses a "contradiction" with "the ten thousand" deportees mentioned in 2 Kings 24:14

It never fails to amaze us that radical critics will receive any kind of an "emendation" that favors their purpose; they nevertheless refuse to receive any "emendation" that would relieve an apparent contradiction. Feinberg commented on this.

In view of these things, we favor the emendation that would totally relieve all of the apparent contradictions relative to the number of Jewish exiles. The only objection to this change is that it would speak of a deportation a year before Jerusalem fell; but that is very likely to have happened to all of those people who heeded Jeremiah and defected tothe Babylonian forces prior to the fall of the city. In any case, Keil has very ably defended this emendation. He explained the necessity for changing "seventh" to seventeenth, saying, "It settles all the difficulties and enables us to account for the small number sent to Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem."

Details About the Deportations Jeremiah 52:28-30

Jeremiah 52:28-30 have no parallel in the Book of Kings and the statistics given here are found nowhere else in Scripture. These verses speak of three deportations of Jews to Babylon during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. When one attempts to integrate the information contained in these verses with the data from the Book of Kings two problems arise one of which is chronological and the other, numerical. The two problems are really interrelated and difficult to treat separately.

1. The chronological problem

The basic chronological question is, How many times did Nebuchadnezzar deport Jewish captives to Babylon? Two facts are very clear. The first deportation took place in 605–604 B.C., the third year of the reign of king Jehoiakim (Daniel 1:1). This deportation in which Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon is not mentioned either in Kings or in Jeremiah 52. The last deportation took place in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar (582 B.C.), five years after the fall of Jerusalem. In this deportation, which is mentioned only in Jeremiah 52:30, 745 people were involved. Josephus states that in his twenty-third year Nebuchadnezzar deported Jews from Egypt, and the suggestion is made that in so doing he avenged the death of his governor Gedaliah. Now while the first and last deportations are fixed and acknowledged by all believing scholars, a real problem exists as to the deportations between 605 and 582 B.C. How many intervening deportations were there? When did they take place? No general agreement exists on these questions. The heart of the controversy is the interpretation of Jeremiah 52:28-29.

Jeremiah 52 speaks of deportations in the seventh and eighteenth years of Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 52:28-29) while earlier in this same chapter (Jeremiah 52:12), in 2 Kings 24:12; 2 Kings 25:8 the eighth and nineteenth years are given as the dates for the deportations. The question over which Bible believing scholars are in disagreement is whether these passages in Kings and Jeremiah speak of four, three or only two deportations.

The view that only two deportations are mentioned in these verses is based on what is known about dating methods in the ancient Near East. Two different systems were used in antiquity for dating the reign of kings. One system—the so-called accession year system—begins numbering the years of a king’s reign on New Years day. The months which elapse between the day of the new king actually begins to reign and New Years day is called the accession year. The other system of dating starts numbering the years of a king’s reign from the day he ascended the throne. Under this system, year one would be the which elapsed (even if it were only a matter of months or weeks) between the day the king assumed control and New Years day. In other words, the accession year of the one system would be year one of the other system. If one assumes that in Jeremiah 52:28-29 the writer is using the accession year method of dating and in II Kings the writer is using the non-accession year method then the seventh and eighteenth year of Jeremiah 52 would be equivalent to the eighth and nineteenth years of II Kings. According to this view the second deportation occurred in 597 B.C. and the third in 587 B.C. As appealing as this explanation may be, a serious problem exists for those who advocate it. If 2 Kings and Jeremiah 52:28-29 refer to the same deportations, how can one explain the divergent figures given in the two accounts of those who were taken captive?

A second approach to the chronological problem avoids the difficulty of the divergent numbers. Some have proposed that the deportations of Jeremiah 52:28-30 are included here because they have nowhere else been mentioned. According to this view Nebuchadnezzar deported Jewish captives to Babylon in his seventh year (598 B.C.), his eighth year (597 B.C.), his eighteenth year (588 B.C.), and his nineteenth year (587 B.C.). This explanation has the difficulty of trying to fit a Chaldean campaign and deportation into the known events of 598 B.C. The Babylonian Chronicle which gives a year by year account of the activities of Nebuchadnezzar makes no mention of a campaign in Syria-Palestine in 598 B.C. The Scriptures do not so much as hint that Jehoiakim was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar in the last year of his reign. Finally, it would be most strange that Jeremiah in his sermons would make no mention of a deportation involving 3,023 of his countrymen.

A third approach to the chronological problem must be mentioned because it has the support of some very able believing scholars. Keil and Streane suggest that originally Jeremiah 52:28 read “seventeenth” instead of “seventh” year. This would mean that one Hebrew word—the word for ten—has dropped out of the text. The seventeenth year of Nebuchadnezzar would fall during the early part of the siege of Jerusalem. This deportation, so the theory goes on, consisted of those from the rural regions. In the next year, the eighteenth year, Jerusalem fell and another deportation took place (Jeremiah 52:29). According to this view, five deportations are recorded in Scripture: one in 605–604 B.C., one in 597 B.C., one in 588 B.C., one in 587 and one in 582 B.C. The possibility that the word “ten” has dropped out of the text cannot be denied. This is exactly what happened in II Chronicle Jeremiah 36:9 (cf. 2 Kings 24:8) and it may have happened here. But it is always a dangerous practice to play around with the text of Scripture. No manuscript evidence exists for the reading “seventeenth” year in Jeremiah 52:28.

Of the three approaches to Jeremiah 52:28-29 the first, it seems to this writer, is superior. But this raises the second major problem, the numerical one.

2. The numerical Problem

The deportation account in II Kings states more than 10,000 people were hauled off to Babylon in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:11-16); Jeremiah 52 states that 3,023 persons were carried away captive in the seventh year of that king (Jeremiah 52:28). If these two passages are referring to the same deportation how can the difference in the number of captives be explained? Several different proposals have been made by believing scholars.

1. The lower figure of 3,023 may be the males; the higher figure in Kings the total of all people deported.

2. The higher number represents the total taken captive in Jerusalem; the lower figure those who actually survived the long, rigorous journey.

3. The figure in Jeremiah 52:28 is a partial or supplemental figure to that mentioned in II Kings.

It is then possible at least three different ways to reconcile Jeremiah 52:28 and 2 Kings 24:11-16. However the figures are harmonized, the believing scholar must press for the accuracy of both Kings and Jeremiah 52 in regard to those taken captive in 597 B.C. The Babylonians, like the Assyrians, kept a tally of their captives and some such numerical record probably underlies the figures here in Jeremiah.

As regards the number taken captive in 587 B.C. when Jerusalem was captured a problem of a different kind exists. While no specific figures are given in Kings, one gets the impression that a rather sizeable portion of the population was carried away captive to Babylon in that year. Yet Jeremiah 52:29 numbers the deportees as 832. Even if this number represents only males of fighting age it still remains a rather pitifully small figure. Some explain the 832 as being persons outside the city of Jerusalem who were taken away to Babylon during the eighteen month siege. According to this view the 832 would be in addition to the vast throngs taken to Babylon after the city actually fell. John Bright explains the 832 as being only those from the urban population of Jerusalem. He suggests that the figure may have been taken from a Babylonian list giving the number of prisoners actually delivered i.e., those who survived the march.

A final numerical problem remains: How is the rather small total figure of 4,600 in Jeremiah 52:30 to be reconciled with the much larger number who returned with Zerubbabel in 537–36 B.C.? Three things must be kept in mind. (1) The figure in Jeremiah 52:30 does not include the deportation of 605–604 B.C. (2) It is not impossible that a constant emigration of Jews to Babylon took place in the later reign of Nebuchadnezzar. (3) A lapse of about two generations exists between the deportations and return thus allowing for the multiplication of the captives while in Babylon.

Verses 31-34

Jer 52:31-34

Jeremiah 52:31-34

JEHOIACHIN WAS TREATED KINDLY

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the [first] year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison; and he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, and changed his prison garments. And [Jehoiachin] did eat bread before him continually all the days of his life: and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him by the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

Lifted up the head of Jehoiachin...

(Jeremiah 52:31). This strange expression has a double meaning; but here it had the more favorable of the two. It will be remembered that Pharaoh lifted up the head of the butler (Genesis 40:13) and also lifted up the head of the baker (Genesis 40:19); but it meant that he promoted the butler and hanged the baker! The same words are frequently used with different meanings in the Bible.

There is a glimpse here of the life-style of Babylonian kings. The kings which they had conquered were actually seated on thrones in the Babylonian king’s dining room, no doubt as part of the flattering display of his power; but Jehoiachin did not enjoy that status for 37 years! This passage speaks of his release from prison, of his restoration to royal status, and of his receiving a throne even above those of other monarchs conquered by Babylon. When did all this happen? Dummelow gave this year as 561 B.C.

This historical appendix cites literally dozens of fulfillments of Jeremiah’s prophecies; but the prophecy that more than all others appealed to the Jewish mind, namely the end of their exile and their restoration to Judah had not taken place yet; but, to the person who added this chapter, it might have seemed to be a good omen heralding the fulfillment of that prophecy also that the new king of Babylon so favorably changed the status of Jehoiachin, the last king of the House of David. This shows that this chapter was added at some considerable time after the prophet Jeremiah must be presumed to have died. It does not mean that any other portion of Jeremiah may be late-dated.

What is the message of this chapter? John Bright in the Anchor Bible stated it this way, "The Divine Word both has been fulfilled -- and will be fulfilled!" Amen!

The Release of Jehoiachin Jeremiah 52:31-34

The account of the release of Jehoiachin occurs with only slight variations in 2 Kings 25:27-30. King Jehoiachin, along with members of his family and court, had been carried away to Babylon in 597 B.C. Until the end of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Judah was kept in prison. Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded on the throne by his son Amel-Marduk (“man of Marduk”) who was called by the Jews Evil-Merodach (“stupid one of Marduk”). He was able to hold the throne of Babylon for only two years (561–579 B.C.) before being assassinated. Within the first year of his reign Amel-Marduk “lifted up the head of Jehoiachin” i.e., restored him to royal favor and ordered him released from prison (Jeremiah 52:31). It may be that Daniel and the other highly esteemed Jews at the Babylonian court used their influence to secure the release of the imprisoned king. This might also account for the favor bestowed upon Jehoiachin when his throne was placed above the thrones of the other captive kings in Babylon (Jeremiah 52:32). The phrase “above the thrones” does not mean that Jehoiachin’s throne surpassed the others in height, but rather that he was privileged to sit nearer to the king of Babylon at the royal table. Thus after thirty-seven years Jehoiachin was permitted to put off his prison garments and eat at the royal table (Jeremiah 52:33). As long as he lived Jehoiachin received a daily allowance of all that he needed for himself and his family besides the food which he enjoyed at the royal table (Jeremiah 52:34). Contemporary economic documents discovered in Nebuchadnezzar’s palace contain lists of the daily rations of food given to the royal prisoners and hostages from various lands. Jehoiachin and his five sons are mentioned in these texts. Nebuchadnezzar provided for the king of Judah and his family ten measures of oil daily. In comparison to the quantity of rations given to other prisoners Jehoiachin and his sons faired very well indeed.

One footnote needs to be added to the discussion of Jehoiachin’s release. When the date given here for the release of Jehoiachin is compared with the date given in the Book of Kings a difficulty arises. Both accounts have the king released in the thirty-seventh year of his captivity during the twelfth month but the two accounts differ as to the day of the release. Kings states that Jehoiachin gained his freedom on the twenty-seventh day of the month; Jeremiah 52, the twenty-fifth day. Not being in possession of all the details concerning the matter it is most difficult to reconcile these two statements. Perhaps the one account speaks of the day when the official decree was issued which laid the legal foundation for the release; the other account would then refer to the actual day that king Jehoiachin left the prison.

The Fall of Jerusalem - Jeremiah 52:1-34

Open It

1. When property of yours is stolen, how do you feel when you discover the loss?

2. What, in your mind, constitute the national treasures of your country?

Explore It

3. How did God view Zedekiah, king of Judah? (Jeremiah 52:1-3)

4. Why did Nebuchadnezzar lay siege to the city of Jerusalem? (Jeremiah 52:3-5)

5. What was the condition of Jerusalem after almost two years? (Jeremiah 52:6)

6. What did Judah’s army do when the Babylonians broke through the city wall? (Jeremiah 52:7-9)

7. What was Zedekiah’s punishment for rebelling against Babylon? (Jeremiah 52:9-11)

8. What happened to the buildings of Jerusalem and the rest of the population? (Jeremiah 52:12-15)

9. What did the captain of the guard want those left behind to do? (Jeremiah 52:16)

10. What were some of the valuable articles that the Babylonians took out of the temple? (Jeremiah 52:17-19)

11. What were the notable features of the lavish worship objects that the Babylonians destroyed? (Jeremiah 52:20-23)

12. What became of the leaders who remained in the city of Jerusalem after the siege? (Jeremiah 52:24-27)

13. How many Jews in all were removed from Jerusalem by the Babylonians? (Jeremiah 52:28-30)

14. What happened to the first king of Judah, who obeyed God and surrendered to the Babylonians? (Jeremiah 52:31-34)

Get It

15. How does the book of Jeremiah make it clear that even the last of the kings of Judah and his subjects suffered for their own sins?

16. What made Zedekiah’s punishment much worse than that of the first king of Judah, Jehoiachin, who had surrendered to Babylon?

17. How did Jehoiachin, living in Babylon, receive his reward for obeying God’s unusual directive to surrender to the enemy?

18. What was the wisdom of leaving behind some of the poorest people in a conquered land?

19. In your opinion, why was the looting of the temple significant enough to record in detail?

20. What was the material and human condition of the city of Jerusalem by the end of this story?

Apply It

21. What biblical lesson in disobedience can you make into your personal object lesson to inspire you to obey God?

22. What acquaintance of yours going through a difficult time could you encourage with the truth that God will judge the wicked?

Questions On Jeremiah Chapter Fifty-Two

By Brent Kercheville

1 What was the character of Zedekiah (Jeremiah 52:1-3)?

2 Give a description of God’s judgment against his people in Jerusalem.

3 What happened to Zedekiah (Jeremiah 52:9-11)?

4 What happened to the temple of the Lord (Jeremiah 52:12-23)?

5 What happened to the people in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 52:24-30)?

6 Why is this ending to Jeremiah recorded (Jeremiah 52:31-34)? What is the message?

TRANSFORMATION:

How does this relationship change your relationship with God?

What did you learn about him?

What will you do differently in your life?