Глава 39

1–14. The capture of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans and the release of Jeremiah from custody. 15–18. The promise to Ebed-melech. Jeremiah 39:1–14. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign, Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar; Zedekiah was captured during his flight from the city and his eyes were gouged out, after forcing him to see the execution of his sons; Almost all of the Jews, with the exception of the poor, were taken to Babylon. Jeremiah found favor in the eyes of the king of Babylon, who granted him freedom. Jer.39:1. In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army to Jerusalem, and besieged it. For the siege of Jerusalem, see Jer 32.1–2; Jer 34.1–7 and 2 Kings 25, where there is an almost literal repetition of several verses from the chapter in question. Jeremiah. Jer.39:3. And all the princes of the king of Babylon entered into it, and sat in the middle gate, Nergal-Sharetzer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsehim, the chief of the eunuchs, Nergal-Sharetzer, the chief of the magicians, and all the other princes of the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar, as can be concluded from Art. On the 1st, he himself only opened actions against Jerusalem, and left their continuation to his military leaders. During the capture of the city, he was in the city of Rial (in Syria). The Chaldean commanders, having taken the city, discussed its further fate in the middle gate, which probably led from the middle city (2 Kings 20.4) to the northern suburb and, therefore, belonged to the old city wall. As a central place, they were a convenient point from which to observe the entire city, and the military leaders here apparently had a permanent meeting place. Among the military leaders, four persons with Assyrian names are named here: “Nergal-Sharetser” (Nergal: protect the king!), “Samgar-Nevo” (be merciful, Nevo!), “Sarsehim” (the meaning of the name is unknown) and another “Nergal-Sharetser”. Two of those named are designated by their positions: the chief of the eunuchs (rab saris) and the chief of the magicians (rab mag). The word mag could be a modification of the Assyrian word mahhu priest. As for the relationship of this word with the Persian magu, nothing reliable can be said about this. Jer.39:5. But the Chaldean army pursued them; and they overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and they took him and brought him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him. In Rivla, a Syrian city on the banks of the river. Orontes, Nebuchadnezzar observed Syria and Phenicia. Jer.39:10. Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left the poor of the people who had nothing in the land of Judah and then gave them vineyards and fields. The poor of the people were left behind in Judea. The Chaldeans hoped that they would be grateful to the Chaldeans for rewarding them with vineyards and fields. Jer.39:11. And regarding Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave the following command to Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguard: Nebuzaradan and Nebuchadnezzar himself could have known about Jeremiah’s activities through Jewish defectors. Jer.39:13. And Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, and Nebuzazvan, the chief of the eunuchs, and Nergal-Sharezer, the chief of the magicians, and all the princes of the king of Babylon sent Here the head of the eunuchs is no longer named Samgar, but Nebuzaradan (in Assyrian: Nabusezibanni Nebo, save me!). Most interpreters recognize this new name as the second name of the same person, Samgar, and, moreover, a proper name, while the word Samgar is recognized as a corrupted Assyrian compound expression sar mag - chief of magicians. Jer.39:14. They sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard, and entrusted him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan to take him home. And he remained to live among the people. It is said here about Jeremiah that, having received freedom, he remained to live among his people. Meanwhile, in Jeremiah 40.1 v. he is chained with other Jews in the city of Rama. To reconcile both statements of the book, it is enough to make a very natural assumption that Jeremiah, having received freedom, immediately went to console his unfortunate fellow tribesmen and was chained with them, until his second release in the city of Ramah, where he could be recognized by Gedaliah, to whom he was entrusted by Nebuzaradan. Jer.39:15. To Jeremiah, while he was still kept in the prison court, the word of the Lord came: Jer.39:16. Go, tell Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for evil and not for good, and they will come true in that day before your eyes; Jer.39:17. But I will deliver you on that day, says the Lord, and you will not be delivered into the hands of the people whom you fear. Jer.39:18. I will deliver you, and you will not fall by the sword, and your life will remain with you as a spoil, because you have placed your trust in Me, said the Lord. This speaks of the reward that Ebed-melech, who was disposed towards Jeremiah, received. The prophet then, upon his release from the hands of the Jewish nobles, announced to Ebed-melech that he would be saved during the destruction of Jerusalem. You might be interested in: