22 And as for the people H5971 that remained H7604 in the land H776 of Judah, H3063 whom Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 had left, H7604 even over them he made Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam, H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 ruler. H6485
Even they sent, H7971 and took H3947 Jeremiah H3414 out of the court H2691 of the prison, H4307 and committed H5414 him unto Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 that he should carry H3318 him home: H1004 so he dwelt H3427 among H8432 the people. H5971
And the king H4428 commanded H6680 Hilkiah H2518 the priest, H3548 and Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 and Achbor H5907 the son H1121 of Michaiah, H4320 and Shaphan H8227 the scribe, H5608 and Asahiah H6222 a servant H5650 of the king's, H4428 saying, H559
But it came to pass in the seventh H7637 month, H2320 that Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 the son H1121 of Elishama, H476 of the seed H2233 royal, H4410 came, H935 and ten H6235 men H582 with him, and smote H5221 Gedaliah, H1436 that he died, H4191 and the Jews H3064 and the Chaldees H3778 that were with him at Mizpah. H4709
And the king H4428 commanded H6680 Hilkiah, H2518 and Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 and Abdon H5658 the son H1121 of Micah, H4318 and Shaphan H8227 the scribe, H5608 and Asaiah H6222 a servant H5650 of the king's, H4428 saying, H559
Nevertheless the hand H3027 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 was with Jeremiah, H3414 that they should not give H5414 him into the hand H3027 of the people H5971 to put him to death. H4191
Now while he was not yet gone back, H7725 he said, Go back H7725 also to Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 whom the king H4428 of Babylon H894 hath made governor H6485 over the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and dwell H3427 with him among H8432 the people: H5971 or go H3212 wheresoever it seemeth convenient H3477 H5869 unto thee to go. H3212 So the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 gave H5414 him victuals H737 and a reward, H4864 and let him go. H7971 Then went H935 Jeremiah H3414 unto Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 to Mizpah; H4708 and dwelt H3427 with him among H8432 the people H5971 that were left H7604 in the land. H776 Now when all the captains H8269 of the forces H2428 which were in the fields, H7704 even they and their men, H582 heard H8085 that the king H4428 of Babylon H894 had made Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 governor H6485 in the land, H776 and had committed H6485 unto him men, H582 and women, H802 and children, H2945 and of the poor H1803 of the land, H776 of them that were not carried away captive H1540 to Babylon; H894 Then they came H935 to Gedaliah H1436 to Mizpah, H4708 even Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 and Johanan H3110 and Jonathan H3129 the sons H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and Seraiah H8304 the son H1121 of Tanhumeth, H8576 and the sons H1121 of Ephai H5778 the Netophathite, H5200 and Jezaniah H3153 the son H1121 of a Maachathite, H4602 they and their men. H582 And Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 sware H7650 unto them and to their men, H582 saying, H559 Fear H3372 not to serve H5647 the Chaldeans: H3778 dwell in H3427 the land, H776 and serve H5647 the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and it shall be well H3190 with you. As for me, behold, I will dwell H3427 at Mizpah H4709 to serve H5975 H6440 the Chaldeans, H3778 which will come H935 unto us: but ye, gather H622 ye wine, H3196 and summer fruits, H7019 and oil, H8081 and put H7760 them in your vessels, H3627 and dwell H3427 in your cities H5892 that ye have taken. H8610 Likewise when all the Jews H3064 that were in Moab, H4124 and among the Ammonites, H5983 and in Edom, H123 and that were in all the countries, H776 heard H8085 that the king H4428 of Babylon H894 had left H5414 a remnant H7611 of Judah, H3063 and that he had set H6485 over them Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan; H8227 Even all the Jews H3064 returned out H7725 of all places H4725 whither they were driven, H5080 and came H935 to the land H776 of Judah, H3063 to Gedaliah, H1436 unto Mizpah, H4708 and gathered H622 wine H3196 and summer fruits H7019 very H3966 much. H7235
Then arose H6965 Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 and the ten H6235 men H582 that were with him, and smote H5221 Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 with the sword, H2719 and slew H4191 him, whom the king H4428 of Babylon H894 had made governor H6485 over the land. H776
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 2 Kings 25
Commentary on 2 Kings 25 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 25
In this chapter is an account of the siege, taking, and burning of the city of Jerusalem, and of the carrying captive the king and the inhabitants to Babylon, 2 Kings 25:1, as also of the pillars and vessels of the temple brought thither, 2 Kings 25:13 and of the putting to death several of the principal persons of the land, 2 Kings 25:18, and of the miserable condition of the rest under Gedaliah, whom Ishmael slew, 2 Kings 25:23, and the chapter, and so the history, is concluded with the kindness Jehoiachin met with from the king of Babylon, after thirty seven years' captivity, 2 Kings 25:27.
And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign,.... Of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. From hence to the end of 2 Kings 25:7, the account exactly agrees with Jeremiah 52:4.
And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month,.... In Jeremiah 52:12 it is the tenth day of the month; which, how to be reconciled; see Gill on Jeremiah 52:12.
which is the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar; who, according to Ptolemy's canon, reigned forty three years; MetasthenesF21De Judicio Temp. & Annal. Pers. fol. 221. 2. says forty five; and from hence, to the end of 2 Kings 25:12 facts are related as in Jeremiah 52:12 whither the reader is referred.
And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the Lord,.... The two pillars in the temple, Jachin and Boaz. Benjamin of Tudela saysF23Itinerar. p. 13. , that in the church of St. Stephen in Rome these pillars now are with the name of Solomon engraved on each; and the Jews at Rome told him, when there, (in the twelfth century,) that on the ninth of Ab (the day the temple was destroyed) every year sweat was found upon them like water; the one, I suppose, will equally be believed as the other, since it is here expressly said that the Chaldeans broke them in pieces. From hence, to the end of 2 Kings 25:17 is the same with Jeremiah 52:7, where it is rather more largely and fully expressed; only there is this difference here in 2 Kings 25:17 the height of the chapiter of a pillar is said to be three cubits, there five cubits; for the reconciliation of which; see Gill on Jeremiah 52:22.
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest,.... The sagan, or deputy priest, who officiated for the high priest, when by any means he was rendered unfit and incapable; so Joseph, the son of Ellem, as JosephusF24Antiqu. l. 17. c. 6. sect. 4. relates, officiated for Matthias, when defiled with a nocturnal pollution; and seven days before the day of atonement they always substituted one under the high priest, lest anything of this kind should happen to himF25Misn. Yoma, c. 1. sect. 1. . From hence, to the end of 2 Kings 25:21 the account is the same as in Jeremiah 52:25, only here in 2 Kings 25:19 it is said, that five men that were in the king's presence were taken, there seven men; to account for which; see Gill on Jeremiah 52:25.
And as for the people that remained,.... That were left in the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen; over these the king of Babylon made Gedaliah governor, to whom the captains, with their scattered troops, came, and submitted for a time; of whom; see Gill on Jeremiah 40:7; see Gill on Jeremiah 40:8; see Gill on Jeremiah 40:9.
And it came to pass in the seventh month,.... Not of Gedaliah's government, but of the year, the month Tisri or September, near two months after the destruction of Jerusalem; the Jews say fifty two days after it; of the death of Gedaliah, and the man that slew him, as here related; see Gill on Jeremiah 41:1, Jeremiah 41:2, Jeremiah 41:3.
And all the people, both small and great,.... High and low, rich and poor, among whom were the king's daughters, committed to the care of Gedaliah, and also the prophets Jeremiah and Baruch, see Jeremiah 41:16.
and the captains of the armies rose, and came to Egypt; contrary to the express command of God; these were Johanan, and the captain of the forces with him, Jeremiah 43:4.
for they were afraid of the Chaldees; lest they should come and avenge the death of Gedaliah, appointed governor of Judea, see Jeremiah 41:17.
And it came to pass in the thirty and seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah,.... Who must then be fifty five years of age:
in the twelfth month, on the twenty and seventh day of the month; in Jeremiah 52:31 it is said to be the twenty fifth day; of the reason of which difference; see Gill on Jeremiah 52:31,
that Evilmerodach king of Babylon; who is supposed, by someF26Vid. Lampe, Eccles. Hist. l. 1. c. 7. sect. 18. ", to be the same with Belshazzar, and his successor Neriglissar, the same with Darius the Mede in Daniel. From hence, to the end of the chapter, the same account is given of the kindness of this king to Jehoiachin, as in Jeremiah 52:31. See Gill on Jeremiah 52:31; see Gill on Jeremiah 52:32; see Gill on Jeremiah 52:33; see Gill on Jeremiah 52:34.MetasthenesF1Ut supra. (De Judicio Temp. & Annal. Pers. fol. 221. 2.) calls him Amilinus Evilmerodach, and says he reigned thirty years, and makes Belshazzar, or Baltassar, as he calls him, his third son.