Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Jeremiah 39

As the prophet Isaiah, after he had largely foretold the deliverance of Jerusalem out of the hands of the king of Assyria, gave a particular narrative of the story, that it might appear how exactly the event answered to the prediction, so the prophet Jeremiah, after he had largely foretold the delivering of Jerusalem into the hands of the king of Babylon, gives a particular account of that sad event for the same reason. That melancholy story we have in this chapter, which serves to disprove the false flattering prophets and to confirm the word of God’s messengers. We are here told, I. That Jerusalem, after eighteen months’ siege, was taken by the Chaldean army, Jeremiah 39:1-39:3. II. That king Zedekiah, attempting to make his escape, was seized and made a miserable captive to the king of Babylon, Jeremiah 39:4-39:7. III. That Jerusalem was burnt to the ground, and the people were carried captive, except the poor, Jeremiah 39:8-39:10. IV. That the Chaldeans were very kind to Jeremiah, and took particular care of him, Jeremiah 39:11-39:14. V. That Ebed-melech too, for his kindness, had a protection from God himself in this day of desolation, Jeremiah 39:15-39:18. MHBCC 785.1