Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim] This king was raised to the throne of Judea in the place of his brother Jehoahaz, by Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt, 2 Kings xxiii. 34-36, and continued tributary to him during the first three years of his reign; but in the fourth, which was the first of Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. xxv. 1, Nebuchadnezzar completely defeated the Egyptian army near the Euphrates, Jer. xlvi. 2; and this victory put the neighbouring countries of Syria, among which Judea was the chief, under the Chaldean government. Thus Jehoiakim, who had first been tributary to Egypt, became now the vassal of the king of Babylon, 2 Kings xxiv. 1.
At the end of three years Jehoiakim rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, who, then occupied with other wars, did not proceed against Jerusalem till three years after, which was the eleventh and last of Jehoiakim, 2 Kings xxiii. 36.
There are some difficulties in the chronology of this place. Calmet takes rather a different view of these transactions. He connects the history thus: Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, finding that one of his lords whom he had made governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia had revolted from him, and formed an alliance with the king of Egypt, sent Neubuchadnezzar his son, whom he invested with the authority of king, to reduce those provinces, as was customary among the easterns when the heir presumptive was sent on any important expedition or embassy. This young prince, having quelled the insurrection in those parts, marched against Jerusalem about the end of the third or beginning of the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. He soon took the city, and put Jehoiakim in chains with the design of carrying him to Babylon; but, changing his mind, he permitted him to resume the reins of government under certain oppressive conditions. At this year, which was A.M. 3398, the seventy years of the Babylonish captivity commence. Nabopolassar dying in the interim, Nebuchadnezzar was obliged to return speedily to Babylon, leaving his generals to conduct the Jewish captives to Babylon, among whom were Daniel and his companions.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Here is a description of the several portions of the land belonging to each tribe. In gospel times, behold all things are become new. Much i wrapped up in emblems and numbers. This method God has used to stat mysterious truths in his word, not to be more clearly revealed till the proper time and season. But into the church of Christ, both in it state of warfare and triumph, there is free access by faith, from ever side. Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven for all believers Whoever will, may come, and take of the water of life, of the tree of life, freely. The Lord is there, in his church, to be nigh unto them in all they call upon him for. This is true of every real Christian whatever soul has in it a living principle of grace, it may truly be said, The Lord is there. May we be found citizens of this holy city and act agreeably to that character; and have the benefit of the Lord' presence with us, in life, in death, and for evermore _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew בשׁנת8141 שׁלושׁ7969 למלכות4438 יהויקים3079 מלך4428 יהודה3063 בא935 נבוכדנאצר5019 מלך4428 בבל894 ירושׁלם3389 ויצר6696 עליה׃5921
