3

The captivity]

CHAP. LII.

[Omit in Family Reading.] ZEDEKIAH was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And bis mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2 And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3 For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

4 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchad3rezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about. 5 So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

6

And in the fourth mouth, 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. 7 Then the city was broken up, 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 by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.

8 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. 9 Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him.

10 And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah. 11 Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in

[of Zedekiah. chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

12 Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem, 13 And burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire: 14 And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about. 15 Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude. 16 But Ne buzar-adan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen. 17 Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans brake, and carried all the brass of them-to Babylon. 18 The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away. 19 Aud the basous, and the firepans, and the bowls, and the caldrons, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups; that which was of gold in gold, and that which was of silver in silver, took the captain of the guard away. 20 The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brasen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the LORD: the brass of all these vessels was, without weight. And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet

However this might be, the prophet took. this opportunity of sending to his brethren of the captivity, a book or roll containing a synopsis of all his prophecies against Babylon, for their comfort and encouragement. He also desired that, "after it had been read at Babylon, it should be sunk to rise no more, in the river Euphrates; thereby intimating the perpetual destruc

21

tion of that proud city. More than 2000 years have passed since Cyrus took possession of Babylon, from which time it began to decay, and has now, for a long period, been a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby." (Preb. Townsend's O. T. arranged vol. ii. p. 484, 5.)

CHAP. LII.-The concluding words of the preceding chapter inform us, that this was not written by Jeremiah. Indeed it contains litile more than a literal copy of part of the 24th, and the whole (or nearly so of the 25th chapter of the 2d book of Kings. The particular references will be marked in the Notes subjoined.

Ver. 1 to 3, are copied from 2 Kings xxiv. 18-20. Ver. 4 to the end, are almost a literal copy of

chap. xxv. throughout. For farther illustration, however, the reader may compare ver. 21-23 with 2 Chron. iii. 15, 16, and verses 28, 29 with 2 Kings xxiv. 12-14.

The object of collecting those passages into this chapter evidently was, to furnish the captives (who had not Bibles and Concordances to turn to, as we have) with a series of facts, necessary to the understanding of the preceding prophecies.

of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow. 22 And a chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the chapiters round about, all of brass. The second pillar also and the pomegranates were like unto these, 23 And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; and all the pomegranates upon the network were an hundred round about. 24 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zepha niah the second priest, and the three keep ers of the door: 25 He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war; and seven men of them that were near the king's person, which were found in the city; and the principal scribe 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. 26 So Nebuzar-adan

the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah. 27 And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death in Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive out of his own Jand. 28 This is the people whom Ne

[of Jehoiachia.

buchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and twenty: 29 In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty and two persons: 30 In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzar-adan 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 huu. dred.

31 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachia 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, 32 And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, 33 And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

34

CHAP. I.-This short book, which may properly be considered as an Appendix to Jeremiah's Prophecies, contains five distinct odes, of which the first four are in the acrostic form, each paragraph beginning with a different letter of the alphabet.

Ver. 1. Princes among the provinces-Blayney, "She that was sovereign among the provinces, is

become tributary." See 2 Kings viii. 1-14; x. 6—19. Ver. 2. She weepeth sore-Heb. Weeping she

weepeth."

Ver. 3. Because of great servitude-Heb. “ Fø affliction and for great servitude;" i.e. under het op pressors.In the straits-that is, narrow passe in which she could not avoid them.

afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer,

7 Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her; the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths, 8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.

9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully; she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction for the enemy hath magnified himself.

10 The adversary hath spread 'out his hand upon all her pleasant things; for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.

11 All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which

[for Jerusalem.

is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger,

13 From above hath he sent fire into my hones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck; he hath made my strength to fall; the LORD hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

15 The LORD hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men the LORD hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.

16 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a removed woman among them.

18 The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

19 I called for my lovers, but they

Ver. 5. Before the enemy-that is, in subjection to her enemy.

Ver. 7. When her people, &c.--Blayney renders this much clearer, by a different punctuation. After placing a semicolon at old; be reads, "When ber people fell into the hand, &c. the adversaries saw, and mocked at her discontinuance," or "destruction, 2 as Boothroyd renders it.

Ver. 9. She remembered not her last end-that is, she did not recollect the necessary consequences of her course of sin. The enemy hath magnifiedinstead of himself, Dr. Biayney supplies the word "afHiction," hath aggravated mine affliction. Ver. 11. To relieve the soul-Blayney, "To sustain life."'

Ver. 12. Is it nothing to you?-This is a beautiful apostrophe to the passing traveller.

Ver. 14. The yoke of my transgression.—See Deut.

xxviii. 48.

Ver. 15. In a wine-press - alluding to the great effusion of blood.

Ver. 16. Relieve my soul-Boothroyd, "Restore my life;" i. e. recover.

Ver. 17. As a removed woman. We suppose it will scarcely need an apology, that we have adopted the word removed instead of menstruous, in this verse. So our translators render the same word, Ezek. xxxvi. 17.

Ver. 19. Relieve their souls-Blayney, "Support

their life.

Ver. 20. As death-Blayney, "Pestilence." See chap. xiv. 12.

Ver. 21, The day that thou hast called-Blayney, "Pronounced;" i. e. predicted,

Prophecies]

fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD.

31 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.

32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.

33 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.

34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

35 A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.

36 A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.

37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.

38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.

39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever: neither shall

[against Babylon.

it be dwelt in from generation to generation.

40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

41 Behold a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

42 They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

43 The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.

44 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that wie stand before me?

45 Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that be hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.

46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations. (I)

(I) Ver. 21-46. Israel avenged for her sufferings, by the judgments inflicted upon Babylon.-Babylon, always distinguished

as the head quarters of Idolatry, even from the time of Nimrod, is here described as the land of "bitterness, "and rebellious against

Ver. 36. A sword is upon the liars-Heb. “Bars," i. e. supporters; meaning, probably, her diviners, or pretended prophets; Blayney," The impostors, They shall dote-Blayney, Be infatuated,"

Ver. 39. Therefore the wild beasts, &c.—Compare this and four following verses with Isa. xiii. 17-22 and Notes.

Ver. 44. Behold, &c.-Compare ch. xlix, 44–46,

Prophecies]

THU

CHAP. LI.

HUS saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;

2 And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.

3 Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.

4 Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her

streets.

5 For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.

6 Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.

7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

[against Babylon.

8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

9 We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.

10 The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.

11 Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up -the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.

12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.

13 O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.

14 The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillars; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.

:

to assist in their destruction. Awful indeed is it to contend with him, who com. mands all the armies both of earth and heaven; and yet this is the case with all obstinate and impenitent sinners.

To plant our colours on the walls of an enemy's fortress, is an act of heroism.

Ver. 13. Upon-Blayney, "By the side of " many waters; that is, engaged in foreign commerce. Compare Rev. xvii. 1, 15. — The measure of thy covetousness-that is, the full measure. Compare Matt. xxiii. 32.

Ver. 14. Caterpillar s-Blayney, "Locusts." See Exod. x. 14-16.-Lift up—Heb. "Utter." Morier mentions that, as soon as the locusts appeared in Persia, the gardeners and farmers used to set up a shout, if possible to prevent their settling.-Orient. Lit. No, 999.