Jeremiah 39:1-10--The Fall of Jerusalem

Jeremiah 39:1-10
English Standard Version

The Fall of Jerusalem
39 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city. 3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sar-ezer of Samgar, Nebu-sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, with all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon. 4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled, going out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls; and they went toward the Arabah. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath; and he passed sentence on him. 6 The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. 7 He put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon. 8 The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the house of the people, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained. 10 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

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The LORD has been telling the people for many years through Jeremiah and other prophets like Isaiah that this day was coming--Judah, and specifically Jerusalem, would fall and be given into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.  It did not fall in a single day though.  The city was besieged for eighteen months (4+24-10=18).  For a full year-and-a-half, the people had to decide whether to surrender or fight.  Those who chose to fight were killed.  Those who chose surrender survived.  If they all would have surrendered, including the king and his officials, the city would have been saved.

When the city defenses were defeated and the Nebuchadnezzar's officers breeched the city gate, the king and his officials and soldiers ran to try to save their own lives, but they were pursued by the Chaldean army, and they were overtaken and captured at Jericho.  The king of Judah was taken before the king of Babylon and he was tried and convicted.  Once the Babylonians took everything they found of value, they burned everything with fire.  Nothing was worth saving to them--not the palace or even the Temple.  It was all torn down and burned with fire.

Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, then took all the survivors who had surrendered who he felt had a chance of being of benefit to the Babylonians, but he left behind all the poor people who owned nothing.  He turned them into slave laborers for him to live in and work the land giving them fields and vineyards to work and tend.  This first group of exiles was probably when Daniel and his three friends were taken to Babylon.  That means the rest of the book of Jeremiah probably overlaps with the book of Daniel, but at some point the book of Jeremiah is finished and makes its way to Daniel in captivity (under the rule of the Medo-Persian Empire at the end of his life) and he is reading the words of this book looking for comfort during his captivity and answers to how long until the LORD would relent and let His people return to the Land (if ever).  While the people of Judah did not listen at this time, Jeremiah's prophecy was of great comfort to Daniel in the midst of his captivity and gave him hope that this captivity would only be temporary.  After 70 years, the people would be allowed to return, but Daniel wondered if they would be ready then.  Had they repented and were the underlying issues resolved?  The people were still sinners in need of repentance, grace, mercy, and redemption.