2 Kings 24:1--25:30
During <03117> [his days.]
Nebuchadnezzar <05019> [Nebuchadnezzar.]
This prince, so famous in the writings of the prophets, was the son of Nabopollasar king of Babylon.
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
<01697> [according.]
servants <05650> [his. Heb. the hand of his.]
announced <06310> [Surely.]
rejected ... because <05493 06440> [remove them.]
sins <02403> [for the sins.]
innocent .............. forgive <05355> [for the innocent.]
stained <04390> [he filled.]
Lord <03068> [which.]
rest <03499> [the rest.]
passed away <07901> [A.M. 3405. B.C. 599. slept]
As Jehoiakim was "buried with the burial of an ass," by being "drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem," without internment, the expression "slept with his fathers," can only mean that the died, or slept the sleep of death. In the East, a body exposed during the night would be a prey to wild animals; if any of it were left till the morning, the carnivorous birds would devour it.
Jehoiachin <03078> [Jehoiachin.]
As this man reigned only three months, and was a mere vassal of the king of Babylon, his reign is scarcely reckoned; and therefore Jeremiah (ch. 31:30) says of Jehoiakim, "he shall have none to sit upon the throne of David."
king .............. king .......... king <04428> [the king.]
Brook <05158> [from the river.]
Jehoiachin <03078> [Jehoiachin.]
[Jeconiah.]
[Coniah.]
[Jechonias.]
eighteen years <08141 08083> [eighteen years.]
In the parallel place, he is said to be only eight years old; but this must be a mistake, for we find that having reigned only three months, he was carried captive to Babylon, and there had wives; and had he been of such a tender age, it could scarcely have been said that, as a king, "he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord."
time <06256> [At that time.]
<0935> [was besieged. Heb. came into siege.]
Jehoiachin <03078> [Jehoiachin.]
eunuchs <05631> [officers. or, eunuchs. took him.]
[eigth year.]
"Nebuchadnezzar's eighth year."
<03318> [he carried.]
removed <07112> [and cut.]
Solomon <08010> [which Solomon.]
Jerusalem ..... officials ..... soldiers .......... craftsmen <03389 08269 01368 02796> [all.]
That is, all the chief men, the nobles, and the artificers. Among these were 7,000 mighty men, and 1,000 craftsmen and smiths.
Jerusalem <03389> [Jerusalem.]
craftsmen <02796> [craftsmen. So]
poorest <01803> [the poorest sort.]
deported <01540> [he carried.]
eunuchs <05631> [officers. or, eunuchs.]
7,000 ..... 1,000 <0505 07651> [seven thousand.]
king <04428> [the king.]
uncle <01730> [his father's brother.]
He was son of Josiah, brother to Jehoiakim, and uncle of Jehoiachin.
<05437> [changed.]
The change of name was to shew Nebuchadnezzar's supremacy, and that Zedekiah was only his vassal or viceroy. The custom of changing names, we are assured by travellers, still exists in the East.
Zedekiah <06667> [A.M. 3405-3416. B.C. 599-588. Zedekiah.]
Hamutal <02537> [Hamutal.]
did ............ done <06213> [And he did.]
anger <0639> [through.]
Zedekiah <06667> [Zedekiah.]
ninth <08671> [A.M. 3414. B.C. 590. in the ninth.]
This according to the computation of Archbishop Usher, was on Thursday, January 30th, A.M. 3414, which was a sabbatical year; wherein they proclaimed liberty to their servants, according to the law, but soon enthralled them again. (See Jer 34:8-10.)
Nebuchadnezzar <05019> [Nebuchadnezzar.]
[Nebuchadrezzar.]
set up camp <02583> [pitched.]
ninth ...... month <08672 02320> [A.M. 3416. B.C. 588. the ninth day.]
famine <07458> [the famine.]
food <03899> [there was no.]
city ...................................... city <05892> [the city.]
This being the ninth day of the fourth month, corresponded to Wednesday, July 27.
night <03915> [fled.]
<03212> [and the king.]
caught <05381> [and overtook.]
captured <08610> [they took.]
Riblah <07247> [Riblah.]
sentence <04941 01696> [gave judgment upon him. Heb. spake judgment with him.]
executed <07819> [they slew.]
put out <05786> [and put out. Heb. and made blind.]
Thus were fulfilled the apparently contradictory prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel--that his eyes should see the king of Babylon, but Babylon he should not see, though he should die there.
bound .... bronze <0631 05178> [bound him.]
fifth month <02320 02549> [in the fifth month.]
This answered to Wednesday, August 24; and three days after he reduced the temple to ashes, and carried Judah captive; in the 11th year of Zedekiah; the 19th of Nebuchadnezzar; 424 years, 3 months, and 8 days from the foundation of the temple; 468 years from the beginning of the reign of David; 388 years from the division of the ten tribes; and 134 years from their captivity.
nineteenth <08672> [the nineteenth.]
Nebuzaradan <05018> [Nebuzar-adan.]
captain <07227> [captain. or, chief marshal.]
burned down .............. including <08313> [he burnt.]
royal <04428> [the king's.]
tore <05422> [brake.]
rest ...................... rest <03499> [the rest.]
deserted <05307> [fugitives. Heb. fallen away.]
left behind ..... poor <07604 01803> [left of the poor.]
Babylonians ..... bronze pillars .... Lord's temple ...... movable stands ..... bronze .......... bronze <05982 01004 03068 04350 05178 03778> [the.]
pillars <05982> [pillars.]
movable stands <04350> [bases.]
pots <05518> [the pots.]
golden <02091> [and such things.]
[one sea. Heb. the one sea. the brass.]
pillars ........... one ........................ pillar <05982 0259> [one pillar.]
captain <07227> [captain.]
Seraiah <08304> [Seraiah.]
Zephaniah <06846> [Zephaniah.]
priest ..... priest .... second <03548 04932> [the second priest.]
Called by the Jews, {sagan,} who officiated for the high priest in case of any temporary incapacity.
doorkeepers <05592> [door. Heb. threshold.]
eunuch <05631> [officer. or, eunuch. were in the king's presence. Heb. saw the king's face.]
official <08269> [principal. or, scribe of the captain of the host.]
<03212> [and brought.]
king <04428> [the king.]
These men were put to death as accessories to Zedekiah's rebellion; for the king of Babylon had no doubt found that they had counselled him to revolt.
Judah <03063> [So Judah.]
people <05971> [the people.]
Gedaliah <01436> [Gedaliah.]
Ahikam <0296> [Ahikam.]
officers <08269> [And when.]
Mizpah <04709> [Mizpah.]
There were several places of the name of Mizpah, or Mizpeh, and we do not certainly know which of them this was; but it is probable that it was that situated east of Jordan, in the mountains of Gilead, (Ge 31:49,) and most contiguous to Babylon; and therefore the most proper for the residence of Gedaliah.
oath <07650 0582> [sware to them.]
well <03190> [and it shall be.]
seventh <07637> [seventh.]
Ishmael <03458> [Ishmael.]
royal <04410> [royal. Heb. of the kingdom.]
thirty-seventh ............. twenty-seventh <07651> [A.M. 3442. B.C. 562. it came to pass.]
King ............. King .... Babylon .......... King <04428 0894> [king of Babylon.]
pardoned <07218 05375> [lift up the head.]
kindly ..... gave <02896 05414> [kindly to him. Heb. good things with him. the throne.]
took off <08132> [changed.]
ate <03899 0398> [he did eat bread.]
day <03117 01697> [a daily rate.]
life .... day <03117 02416> [all the days of his life.]
CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE TWO BOOKS OF KINGS. The events detailed in these books are highly interesting and important. The account of the wisdom, magnificence, and extended commerce of Solomon; the rash and impolitic conduct of Rehoboam; the disobedient prophet; the widow of Zarephath; Elijah and the prophets of Baal; Ben-hadad's pride and defeat; Elijah's assumption into heaven; Elisha's succession to his ministry, and the series of illustrious miracles he performed; the panic flight of the Syrians; the history of Ben-hadad and Hazael; and the predicted death of Ahab and Jezebel, and their children, are all pregnant with instruction, and have furnished themes for frequent dissertation. We perceive in these impressive histories the characters and qualities of men painted with the utmost fidelity, and the attributes of God displayed with great effect: we contemplate the exact accomplishment of God's promises and threatenings, the wisdom of his dispensations, and the mingled justice and mercy of his government. The particulars and circumstances are sketched out with a brief and lively description, and the imagination lingers with pleasure in filling up the striking outlines presented to our view. The authenticity of these books is attested by the prophecies they contain, which were subsequently fulfilled; by the citation of our Saviour and his Apostles; by their universal reception by the Jewish and Christian churches; and by the corresponding testimonies of profane authors and ancient sculptures.
