mh_parser/vol_split/12 - 2Kings/Chapter 25.xml

<div2 id="iiKi.xxvi" n="xxvi" next="iCh" prev="iiKi.xxv" progress="72.72%" title="Chapter XXV">
<h2 id="iiKi.xxvi-p0.1">S E C O N D   K I N G S</h2>
<h3 id="iiKi.xxvi-p0.2">CHAP. XXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiKi.xxvi-p1">Ever since David's time Jerusalem had been a
celebrated place, beautiful for situation and the joy of the whole
earth: while the book of psalms lasts that name will sound great.
In the New Testament we read much of it, when it was, as here,
ripening again for its ruin. In the close of the Bible we read of a
new Jerusalem. Every thing therefore that concerns Jerusalem is
worthy our regard. In this chapter we have, I. The utter
destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, the city besieged and
taken (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.1-2Kgs.25.4" parsed="|2Kgs|25|1|25|4" passage="2Ki 25:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>), the
houses burnt (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.8-2Kgs.25.9" parsed="|2Kgs|25|8|25|9" passage="2Ki 25:8,9">ver. 8, 9</scripRef>),
and wall broken down (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.10" parsed="|2Kgs|25|10|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:10">ver.
10</scripRef>), and the inhabitants carried away into captivity,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.11-2Kgs.25.12" parsed="|2Kgs|25|11|25|12" passage="2Ki 25:11,12">ver. 11, 12</scripRef>. The glory
of Jerusalem was, 1. That it was the royal city, where were set
"the thrones of the house of David;" but that glory has now
departed, for the prince is made a most miserable prisoner, the
seed royal is destroyed (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.5-2Kgs.25.7" parsed="|2Kgs|25|5|25|7" passage="2Ki 25:5-7">ver.
5-7</scripRef>), and the principal officers are put to death,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.18-2Kgs.25.21" parsed="|2Kgs|25|18|25|21" passage="2Ki 25:18-21">ver. 18-21</scripRef>. 2. That it
was the holy city, where was the testimony of Israel; but that
glory has departed, for Solomon's temple is burnt to the ground
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.9" parsed="|2Kgs|25|9|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:9">ver. 9</scripRef>) and the sacred
vessels that remained are carried away to Babylon, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.13-2Kgs.25.17" parsed="|2Kgs|25|13|25|17" passage="2Ki 25:13-17">ver. 13-17</scripRef>. Thus has Jerusalem
become as a widow, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Lam.1.1" parsed="|Lam|1|1|0|0" passage="La 1:1">Lam. i. 1</scripRef>.
Ichabod—Where is the glory? II. The distraction and dispersion of
the remnant that was left in Judah under Gedaliah, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.22-2Kgs.25.26" parsed="|2Kgs|25|22|25|26" passage="2Ki 25:22-26">ver. 22-26</scripRef>. III. The countenance
which, after thirty-seven years' imprisonment, was given to
Jehoiachin the captive king of Judah, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.27-2Kgs.25.30" parsed="|2Kgs|25|27|25|30" passage="2Ki 25:27-30">ver. 27-30</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiKi.xxvi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25" parsed="|2Kgs|25|0|0|0" passage="2Ki 25" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiKi.xxvi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.1-2Kgs.25.7" parsed="|2Kgs|25|1|25|7" passage="2Ki 25:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.25.1-2Kgs.25.7">
<h4 id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.14">Jerusalem Besieged. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxvi-p1.15">b. c.</span> 590.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xxvi-p2">1 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his
reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth <i>day</i> of the month,
<i>that</i> Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his
host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built
forts against it round about.   2 And the city was besieged
unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.   3 And on the ninth
<i>day</i> of the <i>fourth</i> month the famine prevailed in the
city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.   4
And the city was broken up, and all the men of war <i>fled</i> by
night by the way of the gate between two walls, which <i>is</i> by
the king's garden: (now the Chaldees <i>were</i> against the city
round about:) and <i>the king</i> went the way toward the plain.
  5 And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and
overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were
scattered from him.   6 So they took the king, and brought him
up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon
him.   7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes,
and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of
brass, and carried him to Babylon.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxvi-p3">We left king Zedekiah in rebellion against
the king of Babylon (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.20" parsed="|2Kgs|24|20|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:20"><i>ch.</i> xxiv.
20</scripRef>), contriving and endeavouring to shake off his yoke,
when he was no way able to do it, nor took the right method by
making God his friend first. Now here we have an account of the
fatal consequences of that attempt.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxvi-p4">I. The king of Babylon's army laid siege to
Jerusalem, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.1" parsed="|2Kgs|25|1|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>.
What should hinder them when the country was already in their
possession? <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.2" parsed="|2Kgs|24|2|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:2"><i>ch.</i> xxiv.
2</scripRef>. They <i>built forts against the city round about,</i>
whence, by such arts of war as they then had, they battered it,
sent into it instruments of death, and kept out of it the necessary
supports of life. Formerly Jerusalem had been compassed with the
favour of God as with a shield, but now their defence had departed
from them and their enemies surrounded them on every side. Those
that by sin have provoked God to leave them will find that
<i>innumerable evils will compass them about.</i> Two years this
siege lasted; at first the army retired, for fear of the king of
Egypt (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.37.11" parsed="|Jer|37|11|0|0" passage="Jer 37:11">Jer. xxxvii. 11</scripRef>),
but, finding him not so powerful as they thought, they soon
returned, with a resolution not to quit the city till they had made
themselves masters of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxvi-p5">II. During this siege the famine prevailed
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.3" parsed="|2Kgs|25|3|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), so that for
a long time they <i>ate their bread by weight and with care,</i>
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.4.16" parsed="|Ezek|4|16|0|0" passage="Eze 4:16">Ezek. iv. 16</scripRef>. Thus they
were punished for their gluttony and excess, their <i>fulness of
bread</i> and <i>feeding themselves without fear.</i> At length
<i>there was no bread for the people of the land,</i> that is, the
common people, the soldiers, whereby they were weakened and
rendered unfit for service. Now they ate their own children for
want of food. See this foretold by one prophet (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.5.10" parsed="|Ezek|5|10|0|0" passage="Eze 5:10">Ezek. v. 10</scripRef>) and bewailed by another,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Lam.4.3-Lam.4.12" parsed="|Lam|4|3|4|12" passage="La 4:3-12">Lam. iv. 3</scripRef>, &amp;c.
Jeremiah earnestly persuaded the king to surrender (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.38.17" parsed="|Jer|38|17|0|0" passage="Jer 38:17">Jer. xxxviii. 17</scripRef>), but his heart was
hardened to his destruction.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxvi-p6">III. At length the city was taken by storm:
it was <i>broken up,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.4" parsed="|2Kgs|25|4|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. The besiegers made a breach in the wall, at which
they forced their way into it. The besieged, unable any longer to
defend it, endeavoured to quit it, and make the best of their way;
and many, no doubt, were put to the sword, the victorious army
being much exasperated by their obstinacy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxvi-p7">IV. The king, his family, and all his great
men, made their escape in the night, by some secret passages which
the besiegers either had not discovered or did not keep their eye
upon, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.4" parsed="|2Kgs|25|4|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. But
those as much deceive themselves who think to escape God's
judgments as those who think to brave them; the feet of him that
flees from them will as surely fail as the hands of him that fights
against them. When God judges he will overcome. Intelligence was
given to the Chaldeans of the king's flight, and which way he had
gone, so that they soon overtook him, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.5" parsed="|2Kgs|25|5|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. His guards were scattered from
him, every man shifting for his own safety. Had he put himself
under God's protection, that would not have failed him now. He
presently fell into the enemies' hands, and here we are told what
they did with him. 1. He was brought to the king of Babylon, and
tried by a council of war for rebelling against him who set him up,
and to whom he had sworn fidelity. God and man had a quarrel with
him for this; see <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.17.16-Ezek.17.21" parsed="|Ezek|17|16|17|21" passage="Eze 17:16-21">Ezek. xvii.
16</scripRef>, &amp;c. The king of Babylon now lay at Riblah (which
lay between Judea and Babylon), that he might be ready to give
orders both to his court at home and his army abroad. 2. His
<i>sons were slain before his eyes,</i> though children, that this
doleful spectacle, the last his eyes were to behold, might leave an
impression of grief and horror upon his spirit as long as he lived.
In slaying his sons, they showed their indignation at his
falsehood, and in effect declared that neither he nor any of his
were fit to be trusted, and therefore that they were not fit to
live. 3. His eyes were put out, by which he was deprived of that
common comfort of human life which is given even to <i>those that
are in misery, and to the bitter in soul,</i> the light of the sun,
by which he was also disabled for any service. He dreaded being
mocked, and therefore would not be persuaded to yield (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.37.19" parsed="|Jer|37|19|0|0" passage="Jer 37:19">Jer. xxxviii. 19</scripRef>), but that which he
feared came upon him with a witness, and no doubt added much to his
misery; for, as those that are deaf suspect that every body talks
of them, so those that are blind suspect that every body laughs at
them. By this two prophecies that seemed to contradict one another
were both fulfilled. Jeremiah prophesied that Zedekiah should be
brought to Babylon, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.32.5 Bible:Jer.34.3" parsed="|Jer|32|5|0|0;|Jer|34|3|0|0" passage="Jer 32:5,34:3">Jer. xxxii.
5; xxxiv. 3</scripRef>. Ezekiel prophesied that he should not see
Babylon, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.12.13" parsed="|Ezek|12|13|0|0" passage="Eze 12:13">Ezek. xii. 13</scripRef>. He
was brought thither, but, his eyes being put out, he did not see
it. Thus he ended his days, before he ended his life. 4. He was
<i>bound in fetters of brass</i> and so <i>carried to Babylon.</i>
He that was blind needed not be bound (his blindness fettered him),
but, for his greater disgrace, they led him bound; only, whereas
common malefactors are laid in irons (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.105.18 Bible:Ps.107.10" parsed="|Ps|105|18|0|0;|Ps|107|10|0|0" passage="Ps 105:18,107:10">Ps. cv. 18; cvii. 10</scripRef>), he, being a
prince, was bound with fetters of brass; but that the metal was
somewhat nobler and lighter was little comfort, while still he was
in fetters. Let it not seem strange if those that have been held in
the cords of iniquity come to be thus <i>held in the cords of
affliction,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:Job.36.8" parsed="|Job|36|8|0|0" passage="Job 36:8">Job xxxvi.
8</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xxvi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.8-2Kgs.25.21" parsed="|2Kgs|25|8|25|21" passage="2Ki 25:8-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.25.8-2Kgs.25.21">
<h4 id="iiKi.xxvi-p7.10">The Temple Destroyed. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxvi-p7.11">b. c.</span> 588.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xxvi-p8">8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh
<i>day</i> of the month, which <i>is</i> the nineteenth year of
king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of
the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:  
9 And he burnt the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxvi-p8.1">Lord</span>, and the king's house, and all the houses
of Jerusalem, and every great <i>man's</i> house burnt he with
fire.   10 And all the army of the Chaldees, that <i>were
with</i> the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of
Jerusalem round about.   11 Now the rest of the people <i>that
were</i> left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the
king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan
the captain of the guard carry away.   12 But the captain of
the guard left of the poor of the land <i>to be</i> vinedressers
and husbandmen.   13 And the pillars of brass that <i>were</i>
in the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxvi-p8.2">Lord</span>, and the
bases, and the brasen sea that <i>was</i> in the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxvi-p8.3">Lord</span>, did the Chaldees break in pieces,
and carried the brass of them to Babylon.   14 And the pots,
and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the
vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.  
15 And the firepans, and the bowls, <i>and</i> such things as
<i>were</i> of gold, <i>in</i> gold, and of silver, <i>in</i>
silver, the captain of the guard took away.   16 The two
pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the
house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxvi-p8.4">Lord</span>; the brass of all
these vessels was without weight.   17 The height of the one
pillar <i>was</i> eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it
<i>was</i> brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and
the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about,
all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with
wreathen work.   18 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah
the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three
keepers of the door:   19 And out of the city he took an
officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that
were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the
principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the
land, and threescore men of the people of the land <i>that were</i>
found in the city:   20 And Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard
took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:
  21 And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at
Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of
their land.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxvi-p9">Though we have reason to think that the
army of the Chaldeans were much enraged against the city for
holding out with so much stubbornness, yet they did not therefore
put all to fire and sword as soon as they had taken the city (which
is too commonly done in such cases), but about a month after
(compare <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.8 Bible:2Kgs.25.3" parsed="|2Kgs|25|8|0|0;|2Kgs|25|3|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:8,2Ki 25:3"><i>v.</i> 8 with
<i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>) Nebuzar-adan was sent with orders to
complete the destruction of Jerusalem. This space God gave them to
repent, after all the foregoing days of his patience, but in vain;
their hearts (for aught that appears) were still hardened, and
therefore execution is awarded to the utmost. 1. The city and
temple are burnt, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.9" parsed="|2Kgs|25|9|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>. It does not appear that the king of Babylon designed
to send any colonies to people Jerusalem and therefore he ordered
it to be laid in ashes, as a nest of rebels. At the burning of the
king's house and <i>the houses of the great men</i> one cannot so
much wonder (the inhabitants had, by their sins, made them
combustible), but that the <i>house of the Lord</i> should perish
in these flames, that that holy and beautiful house should be burnt
with fire (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.64.11" parsed="|Isa|64|11|0|0" passage="Isa 64:11">Isa. lxiv. 11</scripRef>),
is very strange. That house which David prepared for, and which
Solomon built at such a vast expense—that house which had the eye
and heart of God perpetually upon it (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.3" parsed="|1Kgs|9|3|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:3">1
Kings ix. 3</scripRef>)—might not that have been snatched as a
brand out of this burning? No, it must not be fire-proof against
God's judgments. This stately structure must be turned into ashes,
and it is probable the ark in it, for the enemies, having heard how
dearly the Philistines paid for the abusing of it, durst not seize
that, nor did any of its friends take care to preserve it, for then
we should have heard of it again in the second temple. One of the
apocryphal writers does indeed tell us that the prophet Jeremiah
got it out of the temple, and conveyed it to a cave in Mount Nebo
on the other side Jordan, and hid it there (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:2Macc.2.4-2Macc.2.5" parsed="|2Macc|2|4|2|5" passage="2 Macc. ii. 4, 5">2 Macc. ii. 4, 5</scripRef>), but
that could not be, for Jeremiah was a close prisoner at that time.
By the burning of the temple God would show how little cares for
the external pomp of his worship when the life and power of
religion are neglected. The people trusted to the temple, as if
that would protect them in their sins (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.7.4" parsed="|Jer|7|4|0|0" passage="Jer 7:4">Jer. vii. 4</scripRef>), but God, by this, let them know
that when they had profaned it they would find it but a refuge of
lies. This temple had stood about 420, some say 430 years. The
people having forfeited the promises made concerning it, those
promises must be understood of the gospel-temple, which is God's
rest for ever. It is observable that the second temple was burnt by
the Romans the same month, and the same day of the month, that the
first temple was burnt by the Chaldeans, which, Josephus says, was
the tenth of August. 2. The walls of Jerusalem are demolished
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.10" parsed="|2Kgs|25|10|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), as if the
victorious army would be revenged on them for having kept them out
so long, or at least prevent the like opposition another time. Sin
unwalls a people and takes away their defence. These walls were
never repaired till Nehemiah's time. 3. The residue of the people
are carried away captive to Babylon, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.11" parsed="|2Kgs|25|11|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. Most of the inhabitants had
perished by sword or famine, or had made their escape when the king
did (for it is said, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.9" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.5" parsed="|2Kgs|25|5|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>, <i>His army was scattered from him</i>), so that
there were very few left, who with the deserters, making in all but
832 persons (as appears, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.10" osisRef="Bible:Jer.52.29" parsed="|Jer|52|29|0|0" passage="Jer 52:29">Jer. lii.
29</scripRef>), were carried away into captivity; only <i>the poor
of the land were left behind</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.11" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.12" parsed="|2Kgs|25|12|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), to till the ground and dress
the vineyards for the Chaldeans. Sometimes poverty is a protection;
for those that have nothing have nothing to lose. When the rich
Jews, who had been oppressive to the poor, were made strangers,
nay, prisoners, in an enemy's country, the poor whom they had
despised and oppressed had liberty and peace in their own country.
Thus Providence sometimes remarkably humbles the proud and favours
those of low degree. 4. The brazen vessels, and other appurtenances
of the temple, are carried away, those of silver and gold being
most of them gone before. Those two famous columns of brass,
<i>Jachin</i> and <i>Boaz,</i> which signified the strength and
stability of the house of God, were broken to pieces and the brass
of them was carried to Babylon, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.12" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.13" parsed="|2Kgs|25|13|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. When the things signified were
sinned away what should the signs stand there for? Ahaz had
profanely <i>cut off the borders of the bases,</i> and put <i>the
brazen sea upon a pavement of stones</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.13" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.16.17" parsed="|2Kgs|16|17|0|0" passage="2Ki 16:17">2 Kings xvi. 17</scripRef>); justly therefore are the
brass themselves, and the brazen sea, delivered into the enemy's
hand. It is just with God to take away his ordinances from those
that profane and abuse them, that curtail and depress them. Some
things remained of gold and silver (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.14" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.15" parsed="|2Kgs|25|15|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>) which were now carried off;
but most of this plunder was brass, such a vast quantity of it that
it is said to be <i>without weight,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.15" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.16" parsed="|2Kgs|25|16|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. The carrying away of <i>the
vessels wherewith they ministered</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.16" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.14" parsed="|2Kgs|25|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>) put an end to the
ministration. It was a righteous thing with God to deprive those of
the benefit of his worship who had slighted it so long and
preferred false worships before it. Those that would have many
altars shall now have none. 5. Several of the great men are slain
in cold blood—Seraiah the chief priest (who was the father of Ezra
as appears, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.17" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.1" parsed="|Ezra|7|1|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:1">Ezra vii. 1</scripRef>),
the second priest (who, when there was occasion, officiated for
him), and three door-keepers of the temple (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.18" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.18" parsed="|2Kgs|25|18|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), the general of the army, five
privy-counsellors (afterwards they made them up seven, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.19" osisRef="Bible:Jer.52.25" parsed="|Jer|52|25|0|0" passage="Jer 52:25">Jer. lii. 25</scripRef>), the secretary of war,
or pay-master of the army, and sixty country gentlemen who had
concealed themselves in the city. These, being persons of some
rank, were brought to the king of Babylon (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.20" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.19-2Kgs.25.20" parsed="|2Kgs|25|19|25|20" passage="2Ki 25:19,20"><i>v.</i> 19, 20</scripRef>), who ordered them to be
all put to death (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.21" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.21" parsed="|2Kgs|25|21|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>), when, in reason, they might have hoped that surely
the bitterness of death was past. These the king of Babylon's
revenge looked upon as most active in opposing him; but divine
justice, we may suppose, looked upon them as ringleaders in that
idolatry and impiety which were punished by these desolations. This
completed the calamity: <i>So Judah was carried away out of their
land,</i> about 860 years after they were put in possession of it
by Joshua. Now the scripture was fulfilled, <i>The Lord shall bring
thee, and the king which thou shalt set over thee, into a nation
which thou hast not known,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.22" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.36" parsed="|Deut|28|36|0|0" passage="De 28:36">Deut.
xxviii. 36</scripRef>. Sin kept their fathers forty years out of
Canaan, and now turned <i>them</i> out. The Lord is known by those
judgments which he executes, and makes good that word which he has
spoken, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.23" osisRef="Bible:Amos.3.2" parsed="|Amos|3|2|0|0" passage="Am 3:2">Amos iii. 2</scripRef>. <i>You
only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I
will punish you for all your iniquities.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xxvi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.22-2Kgs.25.30" parsed="|2Kgs|25|22|25|30" passage="2Ki 25:22-30" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.25.22-2Kgs.25.30">
<h4 id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.25">Dispersion of the Remnant of
Judah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxvi-p9.26">b. c.</span> 552.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xxvi-p10">22 And <i>as for</i> the people that remained in
the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left,
even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of
Shaphan, ruler.   23 And when all the captains of the armies,
they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made
Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael
the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah
the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a
Maachathite, they and their men.   24 And Gedaliah sware to
them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the
servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of
Babylon; and it shall be well with you.   25 But it came to
pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the
son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and
smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that
were with him at Mizpah.   26 And all the people, both small
and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to
Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.   27 And it came
to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of
Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and
twentieth <i>day</i> of the month, <i>that</i> Evil-merodach king
of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head
of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;   28 And he spake
kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings
that <i>were</i> with him in Babylon;   29 And changed his
prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all
the days of his life.   30 And his allowance <i>was</i> a
continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every
day, all the days of his life.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxvi-p11">In these verses we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxvi-p12">I. The dispersion of the remaining people.
The city of Jerusalem was quite laid waste. Some people there were
in the land of Judah (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.22" parsed="|2Kgs|25|22|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>) that had weathered the storm, and (which was no
small favour at this time, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.45.5" parsed="|Jer|45|5|0|0" passage="Jer 45:5">Jer. xlv.
5</scripRef>) had <i>their lives given them for a prey.</i> Now
see, 1. What a good posture they were put into. The king of Babylon
appointed Gedaliah, one of themselves, to be their governor and
protector under him, a very good man, and one that would make the
best of the bad, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.22" parsed="|2Kgs|25|22|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>. His father Ahikam was one that countenanced and
protected Jeremiah when the princes had vowed his death, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.26.24" parsed="|Jer|26|24|0|0" passage="Jer 26:24">Jer. xxvi. 24</scripRef>. It is probable that
this Gedaliah, by the advice of Jeremiah, had gone over the
Chaldeans, and had conducted himself so well that the king of
Babylon entrusted him with the government. He resided not at
Jerusalem, but at Mizpah, in the land of Benjamin, a place famous
in Samuel's time. Thither those came who had fled from Zedekiah
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.4" parsed="|2Kgs|25|4|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>) and put
themselves under his protection (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.23" parsed="|2Kgs|25|23|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), which he assured them of if
they would be patient and peaceable under the government of the
king of Babylon, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.24" parsed="|2Kgs|25|24|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. Gedaliah, though he had not the pomp and power of a
sovereign prince, yet might have been a greater blessing to them
than many of their kings had been, especially having such a
privy-council as Jeremiah, who was now with them, and interested
himself in their affairs, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.5-Jer.40.6" parsed="|Jer|40|5|40|6" passage="Jer 40:5,6">Jer. xl.
5, 6</scripRef>. 2. What a fatal breach was made upon them, soon
afterwards, by the death of Gedaliah, within two months after he
entered upon his government. The utter extirpation of the Jews, for
the present, was determined, and therefore it was in vain for them
to think of taking root again: the whole land must be plucked up,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.9" osisRef="Bible:Jer.45.4" parsed="|Jer|45|4|0|0" passage="Jer 45:4">Jer. xlv. 4</scripRef>. Yet this
hopeful settlement is dashed to pieces, not by the Chaldeans, but
by some of themselves. The things of their peace were so hidden
from their eyes that they knew not when they were well off, nor
would believe when they were told. (1.) They had a good governor of
their own, and him they slew, out of spite to the Chaldeans,
because he was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.10" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.25" parsed="|2Kgs|25|25|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. Ishmael, who was of the royal
family, envying Gedaliah's advancement and the happy settlement of
the people under him, though he could not propose to set up
himself, resolved to ruin him, and basely slew him and all his
friends, both Jews and Chaldeans. Nebuchadnezzar would not, could
not, have been a more mischievous enemy to their peace than this
degenerate branch of the house of David was. (2.) They were as yet
in their own good land, but they forsook it, and went to Egypt, for
fear of the Chaldeans, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.11" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.26" parsed="|2Kgs|25|26|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:26"><i>v.</i>
26</scripRef>. The Chaldeans had reason enough to be offended at
the murder of Gedaliah; but if those that remained had humbly
remonstrated, alleging that it was only the act of Ishmael and his
party, we may suppose that those who were innocent of it, nay, who
suffered greatly by it, would not have been punished for it: but,
under pretence of this apprehension, contrary to the counsel of
Jeremiah, they all went to Egypt, where, it is probable, they mixed
with the Egyptians by degrees, and were never heard of more as
Israelites. Thus was there a full end made of them by their own
folly and disobedience, and Egypt had the last of them, that the
last verse of that chapter of threatenings might be fulfilled,
after all the rest, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.12" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.68" parsed="|Deut|28|68|0|0" passage="De 28:68">Deut. xxviii.
68</scripRef>, <i>The Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again.</i>
These events are more largely related by the prophet Jeremiah,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p12.13" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.1-Jer.45.5" parsed="|Jer|40|1|45|5" passage="Jer 40:1-45:5"><i>ch.</i> xl. to <i>ch.</i>
xlv.</scripRef> <i>Quaeque ipse miserrima vidit, et quorum pars
magna fuit—Which scenes he was doomed to behold, and in which he
bore a melancholy part.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxvi-p13">II. The reviving of the captive prince. Of
Zedekiah we hear no more after he was carried blind to Babylon; it
is probable that he did not live long, but that when he died he was
buried with some marks of honour, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.34.5" parsed="|Jer|34|5|0|0" passage="Jer 34:5">Jer.
xxxiv. 5</scripRef>. Of Jehoiachin, or Jeconiah, who surrendered
himself (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.12" parsed="|2Kgs|24|12|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:12"><i>ch.</i> xxiv.
12</scripRef>), we are here told that as soon as Evil-merodach came
to the crown, upon the death of his father Nebuchadnezzar, he
released him out of prison (where he had lain thirty-seven years,
and was now fifty-five years old), <i>spoke kindly to him,</i> paid
more respect to him than to any other of the kings his father had
left in captivity (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.28" parsed="|2Kgs|25|28|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>), gave him princely clothing instead of his
prison-garments, maintained him in his own palace (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.29" parsed="|2Kgs|25|29|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>), and allowed him a
pension for himself and his family in some measure corresponding to
his rank, <i>a daily rate for every day as long as he lived.</i>
Consider this, 1. As a very happy change of Jehoiachin's condition.
To have honour and liberty after he had been so long in confinement
and disgrace, the plenty and pleasure of a court after he had been
so long accustomed to the straits and miseries of a prison, was
like the return of the morning after a very dark and tedious night.
Let none say that they shall never see good again because they have
long seen little but evil; the most miserable know not what blessed
turn Providence may yet give to their affairs, nor what comforts
they are reserved for, <i>according to the days wherein they have
been afflicted,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxvi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.15" parsed="|Ps|110|15|0|0" passage="Ps 110:15">Ps. cx.
15</scripRef>. However the death of afflicted saints is to them
such a change as this was to Jehoiachin: it will release them out
of their prison, shake off the body, that prison-garment, and open
the way to their advancement; it will send them to the throne, to
the table, of the King of kings, the glorious liberty of God's
children. 2. As a very generous act of Evil-merodach's. He thought
his father made the yoke of his captives too heavy, and therefore,
with the tenderness of a man and the honour of a prince, made it
lighter. It should seem all the kings he had in his power were
favoured, but Jehoiachin above them all, some think for the sake of
the antiquity of his family and the honour of his renowned
ancestors, David and Solomon. None of the kings of the nations, it
is likely, had descended from so long a race of kings in a direct
lineal succession, and by a male line, as the king of Judah. The
Jews say that this Evil-merodach had been himself imprisoned by his
own father, when he returned from his madness, for some
mismanagement at that time, and that in prison he contracted a
friendship with Jehoiachin, in consequence of which, as soon as he
had it in his power, he showed him this kindness as a sufferer, as
a fellow-sufferer. Some suggest that Evil-merodach had learned from
Daniel and his fellows the principles of the true religion, and was
well affected to them, and upon that account favoured Jehoiachin.
3. As a kind dispensation of Providence, for the encouragement of
the Jews in captivity, and the support of their faith and hope
concerning their enlargement in due time. This happened just about
the midnight of their captivity. Thirty-six of the seventy years
were now past, and almost as many were yet behind, and now to see
their king thus advanced would be a comfortable earnest to them of
their own release in due time, in the set time. <i>Unto the upright
there</i> thus <i>ariseth light in the darkness,</i> to encourage
them to hope, even in the <i>cloudy and dark day,</i> that at
<i>evening time it shall be light;</i> when therefore we are
perplexed, let us not be in despair.</p>
</div></div2>