Jeremiah Chapter 39

Jun 5

Jeremiah 39

The Fall of Jerusalem

Jeremiah 39:1-3, Jerusalem Falls to the Babylonians

Jeremiah 39:1-3, “In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.”

Jeremiah 39 records the fulfillment of the warnings Jeremiah had preached for years. Jerusalem falls. The city of David, the place of the temple, the royal house, the walls, and the nation’s visible security are broken by Babylon because Judah refused the word of the LORD.

The siege began in the ninth year of Zedekiah, in the tenth month, and the city was broken in the eleventh year, in the fourth month, on the ninth day. This means the siege was long, brutal, and devastating. A siege did not merely threaten soldiers. It slowly crushed the entire population. Food disappeared. Disease spread. Children starved. Fear consumed the city.

Lamentations describes the horror of Jerusalem’s suffering.

Lamentations 4:4-5, “The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.”

Lamentations 4:9-10, “They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

The city was broken up. That means Babylon breached Jerusalem’s defenses. The false prophets had promised safety, but they were wrong. Egypt had not saved them. Zedekiah’s resistance had not saved them. The temple’s presence had not saved them. Jeremiah’s word from the LORD stood true.

The princes of Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate. In the ancient world, the gate was a place of authority, judgment, and public rule. Their sitting there showed that Babylon now controlled Jerusalem. The rulers of a foreign empire sat in the city where David’s sons once ruled.

This was the visible vindication of the LORD’s word through Jeremiah. Everything God said would happen came to pass.

Jeremiah 39:4-5, The Capture of King Zedekiah

Jeremiah 39:4-5, “And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain. But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.”

When Zedekiah sees that the city is breached, he flees by night with the men of war. He leaves the city by the way of the king’s garden and the gate between the two walls. The king who refused to surrender in obedience now flees in fear.

This is tragic because Jeremiah had offered him a path of mercy in the previous chapter.

Jeremiah 38:17-18, “Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and thou shalt live, and thine house: But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.”

Zedekiah would not surrender when God commanded him to surrender. So now he flees when it is too late. Obedience would have preserved life and spared the city from burning. Disobedience brings terror, pursuit, and judgment.

The Chaldean army overtakes him in the plains of Jericho. He was near the Jordan, close to possible escape, but he could not outrun the word of God. Babylon captured him, but behind Babylon was the judgment of the LORD.

Ezekiel had also prophesied this event.

Ezekiel 12:13, “My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.”

Zedekiah is brought to Nebuchadrezzar at Riblah, where judgment is pronounced upon him. The king who would not submit to the word of the LORD must now stand before the king of Babylon.

Jeremiah 39:6-10, The Fate of Zedekiah, Jerusalem, and Judah

Jeremiah 39:6-10, “Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah. Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon. And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.”

The judgment on Zedekiah is horrific. The king of Babylon kills Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes. Then he kills the nobles of Judah. Zedekiah sees the death of his royal line and the collapse of his court. Then his eyes are put out. The last thing he sees is the slaughter of his sons.

This fulfills the word Jeremiah gave him.

Jeremiah 38:23, “So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.”

It also fulfills Ezekiel’s strange prophecy that Zedekiah would be brought to Babylon but would not see it.

The Chaldeans then burn the king’s house and the houses of the people. They break down the walls of Jerusalem. The royal house is destroyed. The people’s houses are destroyed. The city’s defenses are destroyed. The visible structures of national life collapse under judgment.

This had been announced repeatedly.

Jeremiah 21:10, “For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.”

Jeremiah 34:22, “Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.”

Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carries away the remnant to Babylon. Those who remained in the city, those who had defected, and the rest of the people are taken into exile. The nation is emptied.

Yet the poor of the people, those who had nothing, are left in the land and given vineyards and fields. This is another reversal. The powerful who resisted God are killed or exiled. The poor who had nothing receive land. Judgment humbles the proud and lifts the lowly in ways no man could have arranged.

The fall of Jerusalem proves that God’s word is not empty. The disaster from the north came. The foreign nation came. The siege came. The famine came. The city was breached. Enemy rulers sat in the gates. The king was captured. Jerusalem was burned. The people were exiled. Every major warning came to pass.

Jeremiah 39:11-14, Jeremiah Protected by the Babylonians

Jeremiah 39:11-14, “Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee. So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes; Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.”

In the middle of national catastrophe, God cares for His servant. Nebuchadrezzar gives specific orders concerning Jeremiah. He is to be taken, looked after, and protected. No harm is to be done to him. He is to be treated according to his own request.

This is remarkable. Jeremiah had been beaten, imprisoned, hated, and nearly murdered by his own rulers. Yet when Babylon takes the city, the pagan conqueror gives orders to protect him. The LORD can use even foreign rulers to preserve His servants.

Jeremiah is taken from the court of the prison and committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. This family had shown favor to Jeremiah before.

Jeremiah 26:24, “Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.”

Now Jeremiah is carried home and dwells among the people. He has survived the siege, the prison, the pit, the princes, Zedekiah’s weakness, and Jerusalem’s fall. God preserved him through it all.

This does not mean Jeremiah’s life was easy. It means God’s purpose for him could not be stopped. A faithful servant may suffer deeply, but he is not forgotten by the LORD.

Jeremiah 39:15-18, God’s Assuring Promise to Ebedmelech

Jeremiah 39:15-18, “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.”

The chapter ends with a special word to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, the man who rescued Jeremiah from the pit in Jeremiah 38. He was a foreigner, a servant in the king’s house, and likely a man without great power in Judah’s system. Yet God saw him.

God tells him plainly that His words against the city will be fulfilled. The judgment will come “for evil, and not for good.” Ebedmelech will see the fall of Jerusalem. His kindness to Jeremiah does not cancel the national judgment. But God makes a personal promise of deliverance.

“I will deliver thee in that day.” God says he will not be given into the hand of the men he fears. He will not fall by the sword. His life will be for a prey unto him. This is the same kind of phrase used earlier for those who surrendered and survived. He may not escape with wealth, status, or ease, but he will escape with his life.

The reason is stated clearly, “because thou hast put thy trust in me.” Ebedmelech’s rescue of Jeremiah was not merely humanitarian instinct. It flowed from trust in the LORD. His faith produced courage, compassion, and action.

This is a beautiful testimony of grace in the middle of judgment. A Gentile Ethiopian who trusted the LORD is remembered and delivered. He opposed the princes when they acted wickedly. He risked himself to save the prophet. God did not forget him.

Ebedmelech stands in contrast to Zedekiah. Zedekiah had the throne, covenant privilege, access to Jeremiah, repeated warnings, and opportunities to obey, but he feared men and refused the LORD. Ebedmelech had far less outward privilege, but he trusted God and acted courageously. The king is judged. The servant is delivered.

Doctrinal and Practical Notes

Jeremiah 39 teaches that God’s word is always fulfilled. The fall of Jerusalem happened exactly as Jeremiah had preached.

Jeremiah 39 teaches that delayed judgment is not failed judgment. Jeremiah had warned for years, and when the appointed time came, the city fell.

Jeremiah 39 teaches that false hope cannot save. Egypt did not save Jerusalem, false prophets did not save Jerusalem, and Zedekiah’s night escape did not save him.

Jeremiah 39 teaches that fear of man can lead to ruin. Zedekiah feared surrender, feared mockery, feared his princes, and ended in blindness and chains.

Jeremiah 39 teaches that disobedience harms others. Zedekiah’s refusal brought death to his sons, his nobles, his city, and his people.

Jeremiah 39 teaches that God can preserve His servants through the very judgment He brings. Jeremiah survived the fall and was protected by the Babylonians.

Jeremiah 39 teaches that God remembers hidden faithfulness. Ebedmelech’s courageous rescue of Jeremiah was not forgotten.

Jeremiah 39 teaches that salvation is by trust in the LORD. God delivered Ebedmelech because he put his trust in Him.

Jeremiah 39 teaches that covenant privilege without obedience does not save. Zedekiah was king of Judah, but he was judged. Ebedmelech was an Ethiopian servant, but he was delivered.

Jeremiah 39 teaches that God’s mercy can shine brightly even in judgment. Jerusalem burns, but Jeremiah is preserved and Ebedmelech is promised deliverance.

Summary

Jeremiah 39 records the fall of Jerusalem. In the ninth year of Zedekiah, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon besieged the city. In Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was broken up. Babylonian princes entered and sat in the middle gate, showing their authority over conquered Jerusalem.

When Zedekiah and the men of war saw them, they fled by night through the king’s garden and the gate between the two walls. They went toward the plain, but the Chaldean army pursued and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They brought him to Nebuchadrezzar at Riblah, where judgment was pronounced.

The king of Babylon killed Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes and killed the nobles of Judah. Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with chains, and carried him to Babylon. The Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people and broke down Jerusalem’s walls. Nebuzaradan carried away the remnant captive to Babylon, along with those who had defected, but left the poorest people in the land and gave them vineyards and fields.

The chapter then shows God’s care for Jeremiah. Nebuchadrezzar commanded Nebuzaradan to take Jeremiah, look after him, do him no harm, and treat him according to his own request. Jeremiah was taken from the court of the prison and committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, so that he could dwell among the people.

Finally, God gives a promise to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, who had rescued Jeremiah from the pit. The LORD says He will bring His words against Jerusalem for evil and not for good, and they will be performed. But Ebedmelech will be delivered. He will not be given into the hand of the men he fears. He will not fall by the sword. His life will be for a prey because he put his trust in the LORD.

Clayton Taylor https://taylorbiblestudy.com