Jeremiah 52
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
WRITTEN BY SOME OTHER THAN JEREMIAH (PROBABLY EZRA) AS AN HISTORICAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE PREVIOUS PROPHECIES (Jer. 52:1-34) through . . . anger of . . . Lord . . . Zedekiah rebelled--His "anger" against Jerusalem, determining Him to "cast out" His people "from His presence" heretofore manifested there, led Him to permit Zedekiah to rebel (Kg2 23:26-27; compare Exo 9:12; Exo 10:1; Rom 9:18). That rebellion, being in violation of his oath "by God," was sure to bring down God's vengeance (Ch2 36:13; Eze 17:15-16, Eze 17:18).
Open source ↗Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign,.... Whose name was Mattaniah; and who was set on the throne by the king of Babylon, in the room of his brother's son Jehoiachin, Kg2 24:17; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; so that he was thirty two years of age when he was taken and carried captive into Babylon: and his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah; see Kg2 24:18.
Open source ↗Fate of King Zedekiah at the taking of Jerusalem; cf. Kg2 24:18; Kg2 25:7, and Jer 39:1-7. The statements regarding Zedekiah's ascension and his government, Jer 52:1-3, agree word for word with Kg2 24:18-20, even to the variation השׁליכו, Jer 52:3, for השׁליכו (Kings). The length of the siege of Jerusalem, Jer 52:4-7, and the flight, capture, and condemnation of King Zedekiah and the princes of Judah, Jer 52:7-11, not only agrees with Kg2 25:1-7, but also with Jer 39:1-7, where it is merely the forcible entrance into the city by the Chaldeans that receives special detail; see on Jer 39:3. The variation ויּחנוּ, Jer 52:4, instead of ויּחן (Kg2 25:1), does not affect the sense. As to the account given of the flight, capture, and condemnation of the king, both Jer 39 and 2 Kings omit the notices given in Jer 52:10, "and also all the princes of Judah he caused to be slain (i.e., executed) at Riblah," and in Jer 52:11, "and he put him in the prison-house till the day of his death." בּית־הפּקדּות has been rendered οἰκία μυλῶνος by the lxx; on this fact Hitzig bases the opinion that the Hebrew words signify "the house of punishment," or "the house of correction," in which Zedekiah was obliged to turn the mill like other culprits, and as Samson was once obliged to do (Jdg 16:21). But this meaning of the words cannot be substantiated. פּקדּה means "oversight, mustering, or visitation (Heimsuchung), or vengeance," e.g., Isa 10:3, but not punishment (Strafe), and the plural, "watches" (Eze 9:1) and "custody," Ezek. 54:11; hence the expression used here signifies "the house of custody," or "the house of the watches." The translation of the lxx can decide nothing against this, because their interpretation is based upon traditions which are themselves unfounded. Regarding this, Ew…
Open source ↗This narrative begins no higher than the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, though there were two captivities before, one in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the other in the first of Jeconiah; but probably it was drawn up by some of those that were carried away with Zedekiah, as a reproach to themselves for imagining that they should not go into captivity after their brethren, with which hopes they had long flattered themselves. We have here, 1. God's just displeasure against Judah and Jerusalem for their sin, Jer 52:3. His anger was against them to such a degree that he determined to cast them out from his presence, his favourable gracious presence, as a father, when he is extremely angry with an undutiful son, bids him get out of his presence, he expelled them from that good land that had such tokens of his presence in providential bounty and that holy city and temple that had such tokens of his presence in covenant-grace and love. Note, Those that are banished from God's ordinances have reason to complain that they are in some degree cast out of his presence; yet none are cast out from God's gracious presence but those that by sin have first thrown themselves out of it. This fruit of sin we should therefore deprecate above any thing, as David (Psa 51:11), Cast me not away from thy presence. 2. Zedekiah's bad conduct and management, to which God left him, in displeasure against the people, and for which God punished him, in displeasure against him. Zedekiah had arrived at years of discretion when he came to the throne; he was twenty-one years old (Jer 52:1); he was none of the worst of the kings (we never read of his idolatries), yet his character is that he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, for he did not do the good he should have done. But that evil deed of his whic…
Open source ↗52:1-34 This chapter repeats the narrative of 2 Kgs 24:18–25:30, which recounts the final month of Jerusalem’s existence, with a few added details and changes. The repetition of this passage emphasizes Jeremiah’s integrity as a true prophet of Almighty God. Everything Jeremiah had predicted about the destruction of the holy city and the end of the kingdom of Judah came true. Likewise, everything that he predicted about the Exile, the sufferings of the exiled survivors in Babylon, and their return from exile, came true.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
צִדְקִיָּה (Tsidqîyâh, H6667) — Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… מָלַךְ (mâlak, H4427) — to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence… עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… חֲמוּטַל (Chămûwṭal, H2537) — Chamutal or Chamital, an Israelitess בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… יִרְמְיָה (Yirmᵉyâh, H3414) — Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites לִבְנָה (Libnâh, H3841) — Libnah, a place in the Desert and one in Palestine
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יְהוֹיָקִים (Yᵉhôwyâqîym, H3079) — Jehojakim, a Jewish king
Open source ↗עַל (ʻal, H5921) — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect)… אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… שָׁלַךְ (shâlak, H7993) — to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… צִדְקִיָּה (Tsidqîyâh, H6667) — Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites מָרַד (mârad, H4775) — to rebel מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king בָּבֶל (Bâbel, H894) — Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire
Open source ↗תְּשִׁיעִי (tᵉshîyʻîy, H8671) — ninth שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) מָלַךְ (mâlak, H4427) — to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence… עֲשִׂירִי (ʻăsîyrîy, H6224) — tenth; by abbreviation, tenth month or (feminine) part חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month עָשׂוֹר (ʻâsôwr, H6218) — ten; by abbreviated form ten strings, and so a decachord נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר (Nᵉbûwkadneʼtstsar, H5019) — Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king בָּבֶל (Bâbel, H894) — Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue,… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively)
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… מָצוֹר (mâtsôwr, H4692) — something hemming in, i.e. (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege,… עַשְׁתֵּי (ʻashtêy, H6249) — eleven or (ordinal) eleventh עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king צִדְקִיָּה (Tsidqîyâh, H6667) — Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites
Open source ↗רְבִיעִי (rᵉbîyʻîy, H7243) — fourth; also (fractionally) a fourth חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month תֵּשַׁע (têshaʻ, H8672) — nine or (ordinal) ninth רָעָב (râʻâb, H7458) — hunger (more or less extensive) חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively… עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… בָּקַע (bâqaʻ, H1234) — to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) בָּרַח (bârach, H1272) — to bolt, i.e. figuratively, to flee suddenly יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate חוֹמָה (chôwmâh, H2346) — a wall of protection מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king גַּן (gan, H1588) — a garden (as fenced) כַּשְׂדִּי (Kasdîy, H3778) — a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also… סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without…
Open source ↗חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue,… כַּשְׂדִּי (Kasdîy, H3778) — a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also… רָדַף (râdaph, H7291) — to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by) אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king נָשַׂג (nâsag, H5381) — to reach (literally or figuratively) צִדְקִיָּה (Tsidqîyâh, H6667) — Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites עֲרָבָה (ʻărâbâh, H6160) — a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the… יְרִיחוֹ (Yᵉrîychôw, H3405) — Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine פּוּץ (pûwts, H6327) — to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)
Open source ↗תָּפַשׂ (tâphas, H8610) — to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay;… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… בָּבֶל (Bâbel, H894) — Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire רִבְלָה (Riblâh, H7247) — Riblah, a place in Syria אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) חֲמָת (Chămâth, H2574) — Chamath, a place in Syria דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a…
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king בָּבֶל (Bâbel, H894) — Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire שָׁחַט (shâchaṭ, H7819) — to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… צִדְקִיָּה (Tsidqîyâh, H6667) — Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… רִבְלָה (Riblâh, H7247) — Riblah, a place in Syria
Open source ↗עָוַר (ʻâvar, H5786) — to blind עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) צִדְקִיָּה (Tsidqîyâh, H6667) — Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king בָּבֶל (Bâbel, H894) — Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire אָסַר (ʼâçar, H631) — to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle נְחֹשֶׁת (nᵉchôsheth, H5178) — copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) פְּקֻדָּה (pᵉquddâh, H6486) — visitation (in many senses, chiefly official) יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);…
Open source ↗חֲמִישִׁי (chămîyshîy, H2549) — fifth; also a fifth חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month עָשׂוֹר (ʻâsôwr, H6218) — ten; by abbreviated form ten strings, and so a decachord תֵּשַׁע (têshaʻ, H8672) — nine or (ordinal) ninth עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר (Nᵉbûwkadneʼtstsar, H5019) — Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king בָּבֶל (Bâbel, H894) — Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן (Nᵉbûwzarʼădân, H5018) — Nebuzaradan, a Babylonian general רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) טַבָּח (ṭabbâch, H2876) — properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner);… עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
Open source ↗שָׂרַף (sâraph, H8313) — to be (causatively, set) on fire בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue,… כַּשְׂדִּי (Kasdîy, H3778) — a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also… רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) טַבָּח (ṭabbâch, H2876) — properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner);… נָתַץ (nâthats, H5422) — to tear down חוֹמָה (chôwmâh, H2346) — a wall of protection יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.
Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years.
So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled at the same time.
Libnah, Ether, Ashan,