Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Jeremiah 39

• PROOF of God’s Word Number Three and Four

The Fall of Jerusalem

Jeremiah 39:¹ 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.

Jeremiah 39:² In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the city was penetrated (the city wall was breached).

Jeremiah 39:³ Then all the princes of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer (meaning “prince of fire”, Nergal is an idol diety, perhaps Mars), Samgar-Nebo (“sword of Nebo”, Nebo is an idol diety, the planet Mercury), Sarsechim (“prince of the eunuchs”) Rabsaris (a Chief Officer; see v. 13), Nergal-Sarezer Rabmag (A title, probably Troop Commander; see v. 13), with the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.

THIRD PROOF OF GOD’S WORD: During the days of King Hezekiah, Isaiah prophesied that Babylon would conquer Jerusalem.
FOURTH PROOF OF GOD’S WORD: Subsequently, the explanation of Daniel and his friends becoming eunuchs.

Isaiah 39:6-7
‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”

Because of Isaiah 39:6-7 It is believed Daniel and his friends were eunuchs. See the book of Daniel for more information.

The descendants of Hezekiah to Zedekiah are as follows: (The prophecy was given 716-687 BC and fulfilled in 586 BC, a difference of ~100 to 130 years).

Jeremiah 39:⁴ So it was, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, that they fled and went out of the city by night, by way of the king’s garden, by the gate between the two walls. And he went out by way of the plain (Or Arabah; the Jordan Valley).

Jeremiah 39:⁵ But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.

FIFTH PROOF OF GOD’S WORD:

Ezekiel’s prophecy and Jeremiah’s prophecy conflicted! The inhabitants of Jerusalem were confused between the false prophets, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and the leaders.

Ezekiel’s prophecy: King Zedikiah will NOT see Babylon.

And in the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them.”’ Say, ‘I am a sign to you. As I have done, so shall it be done to them; they shall be carried away into captivity.’ And the prince who is among them shall bear his belongings on his shoulder at twilight and go out. They shall dig through the wall to carry them out through it. He shall cover his face, so that he cannot see the ground with his eyes. I will also spread My net over him, and he shall be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there” (Ezekiel 12:8-13).

Jeremiah’s prophecy: King Zedekiah WILL see the king of Babylon face to face and eye to eye.

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house. For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it; and Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape from the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face, and see him eye to eye; then he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall be until I visit him,” says the LORD; “though you fight with the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed”’?” (Jeremiah 32:1-5).

Can BOTH be true? Is God’s Word reliable?

 Jeremiah 39:⁶ Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes in Riblah; the king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah.

Jeremiah 39:⁷ Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters (chains) to carry him off to Babylon.

Jeremiah 39:⁸ And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with fire, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 39:⁹ Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive to Babylon the remnant of the people who remained in the city and those who defected to him, with the rest of the people who remained.

Jeremiah 39:¹⁰ But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah the poor people, who had nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time (Lit. on that day).

Jeremiah Goes Free

Jeremiah 39:¹¹ Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,

Jeremiah 39:¹² “Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you.”

Jeremiah 39:¹³ So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief officers;

Jeremiah 39:¹⁴ then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.

• Note: In Jeremiah 36 (Quantum Study Bible’s: Who’s Who): A Gemariah is listed as the son of Shaphan. (Is there a connection?)

• According to a Babylonian edict, Jeremiah went to Mizpah in Benjamin with Gedaliah, who had been made governor of Judea. (Jeremiah 40:5-6) Gedaliah was assassinated, historically replaced with Johanan, who fled to Egypt with Jeremiah, Baruch, and King Zedikiah’s daughters.

• In II Maccabees 2:4ff Jeremiah is credited with hiding the Ark, incense altar, and tabernacle on the mountain of Moses.

Jeremiah 39:¹⁵ Meanwhile the word of the Lord (yᵊhōvâ) had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

Jeremiah 39:¹⁶ “Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts (yᵊhōvâ ṣāḇā’), the God (‘ĕlōhîm) of Israel: “Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you.

Jeremiah 39:¹⁷ But I will deliver you in that day,” says the Lord (yᵊhōvâ) “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid.

Jeremiah 39:¹⁸ For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord (yᵊhōvâ).’ ”

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{1 of 4} Jeremiah 39 – “Seven Proofs of God and Scripture” [Nebuchadnezzar’s Line]
{2 of 4} Jeremiah 39 – “Seven Proofs of God and Scripture” [Historical Narrative]
{3 of 4} Jeremiah 39 – “Seven Proofs of God and Scripture” [Prophesies for Babylon]
{4 of 4} Jeremiah 39 – “Seven Proofs of God and Scripture” [Names and Archeology]