People of Judah Taken Prisoner
February 2, 2021
Commentary
Jeremiah had predicted that the furnishings still in the temple would be taken to Babylon (Jer. 27:19-22). This passage proves the truth of Jeremiah’s prophecy (vv. 17-23). The bronze pillars, the movable stands, and the other furnishings were indeed carried to Babylon. This was such a huge project that the author paused to explain the size of the bronze pillars that were removed (v. 21). He explains the fate of those in the city during its fall (vv. 24-27). All of the leaders were rounded up by the Babylonians and were taken to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where Nebuchadnezzar had his headquarters, and were executed.
The last section of this chapter was not included in II Kings 25. It seems that the author added it here to show that other groups of exiles were taken to Babylon. This talks about at least three times of departure (vv. 28-30). It also mentions how Jehoiachin became the “first fruits” of those in captivity. In his 37th year of exile he was released from prison and allowed to eat regularly at the king’s table and paid a daily allowance to buy whatever he needed (vv. 31-34).
Application
Jeremiah died an old man and his burial place is a mystery but his words are still with us and Warren Wiersbe in his commentary on this book list seven important lessons I can glean from his life:
1. In difficult days we need to hear and head God’s word.
2. True prophets of God are usually (not always) persecuted.
3. True patriotism isn’t blind to sin.
4. God’s servants occasionally have their doubts and failings.
5. The important thing isn’t success; its faithfulness.
6. The greatest reward of ministry is to become like Jesus.
7. God is king and the nations are under His sovereign control.
Jeremiah 52:12– 34 (NET)
12 On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard who served the king of Babylon, arrived in Jerusalem. 13 He burned down the Lord’s temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem, including every large house. 14 The whole Babylonian army that came with the captain of the royal guard tore down the walls that surrounded Jerusalem. 15 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took into exile some of the poor, the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen. 16 But he left behind some of the poor and gave them fields and vineyards.
17 The Babylonians broke the two bronze pillars in the temple of the Lord, as well as the movable stands and the large bronze basin called “The Sea.” They took all the bronze to Babylon. 18 They also took the pots, shovels, trimming shears, basins, pans, and all the bronze utensils used by the priests. 19 The captain of the royal guard took the gold and silver bowls, censers, basins, pots, lampstands, pans, and vessels. 20 The bronze of the items that King Solomon made for the Lord’s temple (including the two pillars, the large bronze basin called “The Sea,” the twelve bronze bulls under “The Sea,” and the movable stands) was too heavy to be weighed. 21 Each of the pillars was about 27 feet high, about 18 feet in circumference, three inches thick, and hollow. 22 The bronze top of one pillar was about 7½ feet high and had bronze latticework and pomegranate-shaped ornaments all around it. The second pillar with its pomegranate-shaped ornaments was like it. 23 There were 96 pomegranate-shaped ornaments on the sides; in all there were 100 pomegranate-shaped ornaments over the latticework that went around it.
24 The captain of the royal guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest who was second in rank, and the three doorkeepers. 25 From the city he took an official who was in charge of the soldiers, seven of the king’s advisers who were discovered in the city, an official army secretary who drafted citizens for military service, and sixty citizens who were discovered in the middle of the city. 26 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 27 The king of Babylon ordered them to be executed at Riblah in the territory of Hamath.
28 Here is the official record of the number of people Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile: In the seventh year, 3,023 Jews; 29 in Nebuchadnezzar’s eighteenth year, 832 people from Jerusalem; 30 in Nebuchadnezzar’s twenty-third year, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, carried into exile 745 Judeans. In all, 4,600 people went into exile.
31 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, King Evil Merodach of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, pardoned King Jehoiachin of Judah and released him from prison. 32 He spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prestigious position than the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 Jehoiachin took off his prison clothes and ate daily in the king’s presence for the rest of his life. 34 He was given daily provisions by the king of Babylon for the rest of his life until the day he died.