Jeremiah 39:8

39:1-10 Jerusalem was so strong, that the inhabitants believed the enemy could never enter it. But sin provoked God to withdraw his protection, and then it was as weak as other cities. Zedekiah had his eyes put out; so he was condemned to darkness who had shut his eyes against the clear light of God's word. Those who will not believe God's words, will be convinced by the event. Observe the wonderful changes of Providence, how uncertain are earthly possessions; and see the just dealings of Providence: but whether the Lord makes men poor or rich, nothing will profit them while they cleave to their sins.

And the Chaldeans burnt the king's house,.... His palace: this was a month after the city was taken, as appears from Jeremiah 52:12 ; and the houses of the people, with fire; the houses of the common people, as distinct from the king's house, and the houses of the great men, Jeremiah 52:13; though Jarchi interprets of the synagogues. It is in the original text in the singular number, "the house of the people"; which Abarbinel understands of the temple, called, not the house of God, he having departed from it; but the house of the people, a den of thieves; according to Adrichomius (k), there was a house in Jerusalem called "the house of the vulgar", or common people, where public feasts and sports were kept; but the former sense seems best: and broke down the walls of Jerusalem; demolished all the fortifications of it, and entirely dismantled it, that it might be no more a city of force and strength, as it had been. (k) Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 154.

(8) And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house. —In the fuller account of Jeremiah 52:12 , we find that this was the work of Nebuzar-adan, who had been sent by Nebuchadnezzar, on hearing of the capture of the city, and that it included the destruction of the Temple as well as the palace.

Still it is observable how punctual the Holy Ghost is in recording the fulfillings of the words of the Lord. This prophet had at least four times foretold that this would be one consequent of the king’s and nobles’ stubbornness, in not submitting to the king of Babylon. See Jeremiah 37:8 38:18,23 .

Jeremiah 39:8-10 contain a brief notice regarding the fate of the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants, joined on to the passage preceding, in order to prepare the way for a short account of the treatment which Jeremiah experienced at the same time. From the more detailed notice regarding the fate of the city, given in Jeremiah 52:12 ., 2 Kings 25:8 ., we see that the destruction of the city and the carrying away of the people took place one month after their fall, and that the king of Babylon had appointed Nebuzaradan, the commander of his body-guards, to go to Jerusalem for the purpose of carrying out these matters. In these verses of ours, also, Nebuzaradan is mentioned as the one who carried out the judgment that had been pronounced ( Jeremiah 39:10 .); but the fact of his being sent from Riblah and the date of the execution of his commission are here omitted, so that it appears as if it had all occurred immediately after the capture of the city, and as if Nebuzaradan had been always on the spot. For the writer of this chapter did not need to give a historically exact account of the separate events; it was merely necessary briefly to mention the chief points, in order to place in proper light the treatment experienced by the prophet. The Chaldeans burned the king's house (the palace) and בּית־העם.

Verse 39. - Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) [ Jeremiah 17:10 . Cf. ὁ παρδιογνώστης θεὸς ( Acts 15:8 ; also ib . 1:24). 1 Kings 8:39

36 . Midianites ] Heb. Medanites . This verse, from E, resumes the narrative from Genesis 37:29-30 . Potiphar ] An Egyptian name, denoting “the gift of Ra,” the sun-god. It appears as “Potiphera,” Genesis 41:45 , Genesis 46:20 . LXX Πετεφρῆς , Lat. Putiphar , reproducing the Egyptian Pedephrç = “he whom the sun-god gives.” officer ] Lit. “eunuch.” Probably a word used to denote an official about the court. Heb. saris , LXX σπάδων , Lat. eunuchus . Some Assyriologists prefer the derivation from ša rêši = “he who is the head.” But there seems to be no sufficient reason to call in question the meaning which the word has in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic. The class to which the saris belonged has always infested Oriental courts, and the name was therefore likely to acquire a general significance as “a court official.” Cf. 2 Kings 18:17 (Rab-saris); Jeremiah 39:3 ; Jeremiah 39:13 ; Daniel 1:3 . Pharaoh ] i.e. the king of Egypt. The title, but not the personal name, of the sovereign: see note on Genesis 12:15 . captain of the guard ] Heb. chief of the executioners , and, as such, having charge of the prisoners ( Genesis 40:3-4 , Genesis 41:12 ). Cf. “captain of the guard,” 2 Kings 25:8 ; Jeremiah 39:9 ; Jeremiah 41:10 ; Jeremiah 43:6 ; Jeremiah 52:12 ; Daniel 2:14 . Another very possible rendering is “chief of the butchers” (cf.