Jer 39:5-6, 52:9-11 | JFB | e4.org | 5. Riblah —north of Palestine (see ). Hamath is identified by commentators with Antioch, in Syria, on the Orontes, called Epiphania, from Antiochus Epiphanes. gave judgment upon him —literally, "spake judgments with him," that is, brought him to trial as a common criminal, not as a king. He had violated his oath ( ).

‏ Jeremiah 39:5-6

5. Riblah—north of Palestine (see Jer 1:14; Nu 34:11). Hamath is identified by commentators with Antioch, in Syria, on the Orontes, called Epiphania, from Antiochus Epiphanes.

gave judgment upon him—literally, "spake judgments with him," that is, brought him to trial as a common criminal, not as a king. He had violated his oath (Eze 17:13-19; 2Ch 36:13).

6. slew . . . sons . . . before his eyes—previous to his eyes being "put out" (Jer 39:7); literally, "dug out." The Assyrian sculptures depict the delight with which the kings struck out, often with their own hands, the eyes of captive princes. This passage reconciles Jer 32:4, "his eyes shall behold his eyes"; with Eze 12:13, "he shall not see Babylon, though he shall die there."

slew all . . . nobles— (Jer 27:20).

‏ Jeremiah 52:9-11

9. gave judgment upon him—as guilty of rebellion and perjury (Jer 52:3; compare Eze 23:24).

11. Eze 12:13: "I will bring him to Babylon . . . yet shall he not see it."

prison—literally, "the house of visitations," or "punishments," that is, where there was penal work enforced on the prisoners, such as grinding. Hence the Septuagint renders it "the house of the mill." So Samson, after his eyes were put out, "ground" in the Philistine prison-house (Jud 16:21).