Глава 39

After this, the Prophet begins the story of what happened after the capture of the city, and says that in the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah, the Babylonians took up arms; (Jer.39:2) “and in the first ten years of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the tenth day of the month,” the wall was destroyed, and the enemies attacked the city. When this happened, Zedekiah fled, and all those who boasted of their strength fled. But the Chaldeans, chasing after them (Jer. 39:5), “struck Zedekiah,” and took him near the city of Jericho. “Araboth” of Jericho 19 The Prophet calls the place that was to the west of Jericho. him in “Revlath, like the land of Hamath.” This place belongs to the city of Emessa; from which it is clear that the Prophet here calls Emath “Emath.” “And the verb came to him with judgment,” that is, he accused him of violating his oaths, of ill-will and ingratitude towards the one who benefited him and made him king. Having convicted him of unrighteousness, he imposes punishment, and first in his eyes he puts to death his children and all officials and high-ranking people. And having punished him with this sad spectacle, he took away the sight of Zedekiah himself. The prophet also describes how the Babylonians burned the royal palace and other houses, and destroyed the city walls, and the remaining inhabitants were taken into captivity by the kings, Archmagir Nebuzaradan, and left a small number of them living in poverty, ordering them to cultivate the land. Jer.39:11. And the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon concerning Jeremiah Nebuzardan, saying: (Jer.39:12). “Take him and place your eyes on him, and do no harm to him: but whatever he tells you, do so to him.” And King Nebuchadnezzar and Ebedmelech the Ethiopian increased the guilt of the Jews; because, being foreigners, they honored the Prophet, but the Jews, brought up by prophetic teachings, did not want to listen to the words of God, and subjected the Prophets to all kinds of punishments. And with this God’s promise was fulfilled; because God, having appointed Jeremiah as a Prophet, promised to make him invincible, like a pillar of “iron” and a “wall of copper”, so that although they “will fight” against him, “they will not prevail” (Jer. 1:18,19). Nebuzaradan and the entire assembly of princes brought Jeremiah out of prison and handed him over to Gedaliah, to whom the king of Babylon entrusted authority over those who remained in Judah. The prophet did not leave the writings unattended, and what was predicted by God about Ebed-melech has already been fulfilled; because he left nothing neglected or unrewarded. Then, says the Prophet, God promised to tell him the following: (Jer.39:16). “Behold, I bring My words against this city for evil, and not for good: and they will be before you in that day.” (Jer.39:17). “And I will deliver you in that day,” says the Lord, “and I will not give you in your hand the man whom you fear because of them:” (Jer. 39:18). “For by delivering I will save you, and you will not fall with the sword. And your soul will be found, for you have trusted in Me, says the Lord.” Truly, “blessed is the God of Jacob, his helper; his trust is in the Lord his God” (Ps. 145:5); “And blessed are the people, whose Lord is their God” (Ps. 143:15). What benefit did Zedekiah have in the kingdom? How did slavery harm Ebedmelech? One suffered all these disasters for wickedness, while the other did not experience disasters for fear of God. According to the Slavic translation: “the desert of Jericho.”