2Ki 24-25 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XXIV Nebuchadnezzar brings Jehoiakim under subjection; who, after three years, rebels , 1. Bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, invade the land , 2-4. Jehoiakim dies, and Jehoiachin his son reigns in his stead , 5, 6. The Babylonians overcome the Egyptians , 7. Nebuchadnezzar takes Jehoiachin and his family, and all his treasures, and those of the temple, and all the chief people and artificers, and carries them to Babylon , 8-16; and makes Mattaniah, brother of Jehoiakim, king, who reigns wickedly, and rebels against the king of Babylon , 17-20. NOTES ON CHAP. XXIV Verse 1. Nebuchadnezzar ] This man, so famous in the writings of the prophets, was son of Nabopolassar . He was sent by his father against the rulers of several provinces that had revolted; and he took Carchemish, and all that belonged to the Egyptians, from the Euphrates to the Nile. Jehoiakim, who was tributary to Nechoh king of Egypt, he attacked and reduced; and obliged to become tributary to Babylon. At the end of three years he revolted; and then a mixed army, of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, was sent against him, who ravaged the country, and took three thousand and twenty-three prisoners, whom they brought to Babylon, .

‏ 2 Kings 24

CHAPTER XXIV

Nebuchadnezzar brings Jehoiakim under subjection; who, after

three years, rebels, 1.

Bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, invade the land, 2-4.

Jehoiakim dies, and Jehoiachin his son reigns in his stead,

5, 6.

The Babylonians overcome the Egyptians, 7.

Nebuchadnezzar takes Jehoiachin and his family, and all his treasures, and those of the temple, and all the chief people and artificers, and carries them to Babylon, 8-16;

and makes Mattaniah, brother of Jehoiakim, king, who reigns wickedly, and rebels against the king of Babylon, 17-20.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXIV

Verse 1. Nebuchadnezzar] This man, so famous in the writings of the prophets, was son of Nabopolassar. He was sent by his father against the rulers of several provinces that had revolted; and he took Carchemish, and all that belonged to the Egyptians, from the Euphrates to the Nile. Jehoiakim, who was tributary to Nechoh king of Egypt, he attacked and reduced; and obliged to become tributary to Babylon. At the end of three years he revolted; and then a mixed army, of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, was sent against him, who ravaged the country, and took three thousand and twenty-three prisoners, whom they brought to Babylon, Jer 52:28.

Verse 2. According to the word of the Lord] See what Huldah predicted, 2Ki 22:16, and see chap. 14, 15, and 16 of Jeremiah.

Verse 6. Jehoiachin his son] As this man reigned only three months and was a mere vassal to the Babylonians, his reign is scarcely to be reckoned; and therefore Jeremiah says of Jehoiakim, He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David, Jer 36:30, for at that time it belonged to the king of Babylon, and Jehoiachin was a mere viceroy or governor. Jehoiachin is called Jechonias in Mt 1:11.

Verse 7. The king of Egypt came not again] He was so crushed by the Babylonians that he was obliged to confine himself within the limits of his own states, and could no more attempt any conquests. The text tells us how much he had lost by the Babylonians. See on 2Ki 24:1.

Verse 8. Jehoiachin was eighteen years old] He is called Jeconiah, 1Ch 3:16, and Coniah, Jer 22:24. In 2Ch 36:9, be is said to be only eight years of age, but this must be a mistake; for we find that, having reigned only three months, he was carried captive to Babylon, and there he had wives; and it is very improbable that a child between eight and nine years of age could have wives; and of such a tender age, it can scarcely be said that, as a king, he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. The place in Chronicles must be corrupted.

That he was a grievous offender against God, we learn from Jer 22:24, which the reader may consult; and in the man's punishment, see his crimes.

Verse 12. Jehoiachin-went out] He saw that it was useless to attempt to defend himself any longer; and he therefore surrendered himself, hoping to obtain better terms.

Verse 13. He carried out thence all the treasures] It has been remarked that Nebuchadnezzar spoiled the temple three times.-1. He took away the greater part of those treasures when he took Jerusalem under Jehoiakim: and the vessels that he took then he placed in the temple of his god, Da 1:2. And these were the vessels which Belshazzar profaned, Da 5:2; and which Cyrus restored to Ezra, when he went up to Jerusalem, Ezr 1:2. It was at this time that he took Daniel and his companions. 2. He took the remaining part of those vessels, and broke them or cut them in pieces, when he came the second tine against Jerusalem under Jeconiah; as is mentioned here, 2Ki 24:13. 3. He pillaged the temple, took away all the brass, the brazen pillars, brazen vessels, and vessels of gold and silver, which he found there when he besieged Jerusalem under Zedekiah, 2Ki 25:13-17.

Verse 14. He carried away all Jerusalem] That is, all the chief men, the nobles, and artificers. Among these there were of mighty men seven thousand; of craftsmen and smiths, one thousand.

Verse 17. Made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead] He was the son of Josiah, and brother to Jehoiakim.

Changed his name to Zedekiah.] See Clarke on 2Ki 23:34.

Verse 19. He did-evil] How astonishing is this! not one of them takes warning by the judgments of God, which fell on their sinful predecessors.

Verse 20. Zedekiah rebelled] This was in the eighth year of his reign: and he is strongly reproved for having violated the oath he took to the king of Babylon: see 2Ch 36:13. This was the filling up of the measure of iniquity; and now the wrath of God descends upon this devoted king, city, and people, to the uttermost. See the catastrophe in the next chapter.

‏ 2 Kings 25

CHAPTER XXV

Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem; it is taken, after having been sorely reduced by famine, &c.; and Zedekiah, endeavouring to make his escape, is made prisoner, his sons slain before his eyes; then, his eyes being put out, he is put in chains and carried to Babylon, 1-7.

Nebuzar-adan burns the temple, breaks down the walls of Jerusalem, and carries away the people captives, leaving only a few to till the ground, 8-12.

He takes away all the brass, and all the vessels of the temple,

13-17.

Several of the chief men and nobles found in the city, he brings to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, who puts them all to death,

18-21.

Nebuchadnezzar makes Gedaliah governor over the poor people that were left, against whom Ishmael rises, and slays him, and others with him; on which the people in general, fearing the resentment of the Chaldeans, flee to Egypt, 22-26.

Evil-merodach, king of Babylon, releases Jehoiachin out of prison, treats him kindly, and makes him his friend, 27-30.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXV

Verse 1. In the ninth year of his reign] Zedekiah, having revolted against the Chaldeans, Nebuchadnezzar, wearied with his treachery, and the bad faith of the Jews, determined the total subversion of the Jewish state. Having assembled a numerous army, he entered Judea on the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah; this, according to the computation of Archbishop Usher, was on Thursday, January 30, A.M. 3414, which was a sabbatical year: whereon the men of Jerusalem hearing that the Chaldean army was approaching, proclaimed liberty to their servants; see Jer 34:8-10, according to the law, Ex 21:2; De 15:1, 2, 12: for Nebuchadnezzar, marching with his army against Zedekiah, having wasted all the country, and taken their strong holds, except Lachish, Azekah, and Jerusalem, came against the latter with all his forces. See Jer 34:1-7. On the very day, as the same author computes, the siege and utter destruction of Jerusalem were revealed to Ezekiel the prophet, then in Chaldea, under the type of a seething pot; and his wife died in the evening, and he was charged not to mourn for her, because of the extraordinary calamity that had fallen upon the land. See Eze 24:1, 2, &c.

Jeremiah, having predicted the same calamities, Jer 34:1-7, was by the command of Zedekiah shut up in prison, Jer 32:1-16.

Pharaoh Hophra, or Vaphris, hearing how Zedekiah was pressed, and fearing for the safety of his own dominions should the Chaldeans succeed against Jerusalem, determined to succour Zedekiah. Finding this, the Chaldeans raised the siege of Jerusalem, and went to meet the Egyptian army, which they defeated and put to flight. Joseph. Antiq., lib. 10, cap. 10. In the interim the Jews, thinking their danger was passed, reclaimed their servants, and put them again under the yoke; Jer 34:8, &c.

Verse 2. - 4. And the city was besieged, &c.] Nebuchadnezzar, having routed the Egyptian army, returned to Jerusalem, and besieged it so closely that, being reduced by famine, and a breach made in the wall, the Chaldeans entered it on the ninth day of the fourth month, (Wednesday, July 27,) Zedekiah and many others endeavouring to make their escape by night.

Verse 3. See Clarke on 2Ki 25:2.

Verse 4. See Clarke on 2Ki 25:2.

Verse 5. The army of the Chaldeans pursued] Zedekiah was taken, and brought captive to Riblah in Syria, where Nebuchadnezzar then lay, who ordered his sons to be slain before his face, and then put out his eyes; and having loaded him with chains, sent him to Babylon, (see Jer 39:4, 7; 52:7, 11,) thus fulfilling the prophetic declarations, that his eyes should see the eyes of the king of Babylon, Jer 32:4; 34:3; but Babylon he should not see, though he was to die there; Eze 12:13.

Verse 8. In the fifth month] On the seventh day of the fifth month, (answering to Wednesday, Aug. 24,) Nebuzar-adan made his entry into the city; and having spent two days in making provision, on the tenth day of the same month, (Saturday, Aug. 27,) he set fire to the temple and the king's palace, and the houses of the nobility, and burnt them to the ground; Jer 52:13, compared with Jer 39:8. Thus the temple was destroyed in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the nineteenth of Nebuchadnezzar, the first of the XLVIIIth Olympiad, in the one hundred and sixtieth current year of the era of Nabonassar, four hundred and twenty-four years three months and eight days from the time in which Solomon laid its foundation stone.

Verse 10. Brake down the walls] In the same fifth month, Jer 1:3, the walls of Jerusalem being razed to the ground, all that were left in the city, and all that had fled over formerly to Nebuchadnezzar, and all the common people of the city, with all the king's treasures, those of the nobles, and the whole furniture of the temple, did Nebuzar-adan carry off to Babylon. See Jer 39:8, 9; 52:14, 23. And thus was Judah carried away out of her own land, four hundred and sixty-eight years after David began to reign over it; from the division of the ten tribes three hundred and eighty-eight years; and from the destruction of the kingdom of Israel, one hundred and thirty-four years; A.M. 3416, and before Christ five hundred and ninety. And thus ends what is called the fifth age of the world. See USHER'S Annals.

Verse 18. Seraiah the chief priest-Zephaniah] The person who is here called the second priest was what the Jews call sagan, a sort of deputy, who performed the functions of the high priest when he was prevented by any infirmity from attending the temple service. See on 2Ki 23:4.

Verse 19. And five men of them that were in the king's presence] These were principal counsellors, and confidential officers.

In Jer 52:25, it is said he took seven men who were near the king's person, and the same number is found in the Arabic in this place; and the Chaldee has no less than fifty men; but in Jeremiah this, as well as all the rest of the versions, reads seven. Probably they were no more than five at first, or, perhaps Jeremiah reckoned with the five the officer that was set over the men of war, and the principal scribe of the host mentioned here, as two with the five; and thus made seven in the whole.

Verse 21. The king of Babylon smote them] He had, no doubt, found that these had counselled Zedekiah to revolt.

Verse 22. Made Gedaliah-ruler.] This was no regal dignity; he was only a sort of hind or overseer, appointed to regulate the husbandmen.

Verse 23. To Mizpah] This is said to have been situated on the east side of the river Jordan, and most contiguous to Babylon, and therefore the most proper for the residence of Gedaliah, because nearest to the place from which he was to receive his instructions. But there were several places of this name, and we do not exactly know where this was situated.

Verse 24. Gedaliah sware to them] He pledged himself in the most solemn manner to encourage and protect them.

Verse 25. Smote Gedaliah] This was at an entertainment which Gedaliah had made for them; see Jer 41:1, &c. He was not content with this murder, but slew fourscore more, who were coming with offerings to the temple, and took several as prisoners, among whom were some of the king's daughters; and set off to go to the Ammonites: but Johanan, the son of Careah, hearing of these outrages, raised a number of men, and pursued Ishmael upon which Ishmael's prisoners immediately turned and joined Johanan; so that he, and eight of his accomplices, with difficulty escaped to the Ammonites. See Jer 41:1, &c. Baalis, king of the Ammonites, had sent Ishmael to murder Gedaliah; and of this he was informed by Johanan, who offered to prevent it, by taking away the life of this murderer. But Gedaliah could not believe that he harboured such foul designs, and therefore took no precaution to save his life. See Jer 40:13-16.

Verse 27. And it came to pass] Nebuchadnezzar was just now dead; and Evil-merodach, his son, succeeded to the kingdom in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin: and on the seven and twentieth day [Jeremiah says five and twentieth] of the twelfth month of that year, (Tuesday, April 15, A.M. 3442,) he brought the long captivated Jewish king out of prison; treated him kindly; and ever after, during his life, reckoned him among the king's friends. This is particularly related in the four last verses of the book of Jeremiah.

Verse 30. A continual allowance given him of the king] He lived in a regal style, and had his court even in the city of Babylon, being supplied with every requisite by the munificence and friendship of the king. In about two years after this, Evil-merodach was slain in a conspiracy; and it is supposed that Jehoiachin, then about fifty-eight years of age, fell with his friend and protector. Thus terminates the catastrophe of the Jewish kings, people, and state; the consequence of unheard-of rebellions and provocations against the Majesty of heaven.

MASORETIC NOTES ON THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOKS OF KINGS

WE have already seen that the Hebrews consider these two books as one:-

The NUMBER of verses in both is one thousand five hundred and thirty-four.

MASORETIC SECTIONS, thirty-five.

MIDDLE VERSE, 1Ki 21:6. And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me, &c.