Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary 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. xxxiv. 8-10, according to the law, Exodus xxi. 2; Deut. xv. 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. xxxiv. 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 Ezek. xxiv. 1, 2, &c.
Jeremiah, having predicted the same calamities, Jer. xxxiv. 1-7, was by the command of Zedekiah shut up in prison, Jeremiah xxxii. 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. xxxiv. 8, &c.
John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1-7. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign , etc.] Of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. From hence to the end of ( 2 Kings 25:7), the account exactly agrees with ( Jeremiah 52:4-11).
Ver. 1-7. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign , etc.] Of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. From hence to the end of ( 2 Kings 25:7), the account exactly agrees with ( Jeremiah 52:4-11).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Jerusalem was so fortified, that it could not be taken till famin rendered the besieged unable to resist. In the prophecy an Lamentations of Jeremiah, we find more of this event; here it suffice to say, that the impiety and misery of the besieged were very great. A length the city was taken by storm. The king, his family, and his grea men escaped in the night, by secret passages. But those deceiv themselves who think to escape God's judgments, as much as those wh think to brave them. By what befell Zedekiah, two prophecies, whic seemed to contradict each other, were both fulfilled. Jeremia prophesied that Zedekiah should be brought to Babylon, Jer 32:5; 34:3 Ezekiel, that he should not see Babylon, Eze 12:13. He was brough thither, but his eyes being put out, he did not see it.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 בשׁנת8141 התשׁיעית8671 למלכו4427 בחדשׁ2320 העשׂירי6224 בעשׂור6218 לחדשׁ2320 בא935 נבכדנאצר5019 מלך4428 בבל894 הוא1931 וכל3605 חילו2428 על5921 ירושׁלם3389 ויחן2583 עליה5921 ויבנו1129 עליה5921 דיק1785 סביב׃5439
