After two years’ siege Jerusalem is taken. Sedecias is carried before Nabuchodonosor, who kills his sons in his sight, and then puts out his eyes. Jeremias is set at liberty.
Ierusalem after two yeares siege is taken by the Chaldees: 4. king Sedecias with others, fleing by a posterne gate, is taken, brought to the king of Babylon, al his sonnes are slaine, his eyes put out, and so led into Babylon. 8. The kinges palace and the towne house are burned; the walles of the citie destroyed, the people caried captiue, only the poorest left to til the ground. 11. Ieremias is deliuered. 15. And Abdemelech is saued from danger.
1In the ninth year of Sedecias king of Juda, in the tenth month, came Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and all his army to Jerusalem, and they besieged it.L'anno nono di Sedecia re di Giuda, il decimo mese venne Nabucodonosor re di Babilonia, e tutto il suo esercito a Gerusalemme, e pose l'assedio.IN THE ninth yeare of Sedecias the king of Iuda, the tenth moneth, came Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and al his armie to Ierusalem, and they besieged it.Anno nono Sedeciæ regis Juda, mense decimo, venit Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis, et omnis exercitus ejus, ad Jerusalem, et obsidebant eam. 2And in the eleventh year of Sedecias, in the fourth month, the fifth day of the month, the city was opened.E l'anno undecimo di Sedecia, il mese quarto, ai cinque del mese fu espugnata la città,And in the eleuenth yeare of Sedecias, the fourth moneth, the ninth of the moneth the citie was opened.Undecimo autem anno Sedeciæ, mense quarto, quinta mensis, aperta est civitas: 3And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate: Neregel, Sereser, Semegarnabu, Sarsachim, Rabsares, Neregel, Serezer, Rebmag, and all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.E v'entraron tutti i principi del re di Babilonia, e si fermarono alla porta di mezzo, Neregel, Sereser, Semegarnabu, Sarsachim, Rabsaces, Neregel, Sereser, Rebmag, e tutti gli altri principi del re di Babilonia.And al the princes of the king of Babylon went in, and sate in the midle gate: Neregal, Sereser, Semegarnabu, Sarsachim, Rabsares, Neregel, Serezer, Rebmag, and al the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.et ingressi sunt omnes principes regis Babylonis, et sederunt in porta media: Neregel, Sereser, Semegarnabu, Sarsachim, Rabsares, Neregel, Sereser, Rebmag, et omnes reliqui principes regis Babylonis. 4And when Sedecias the king of Juda and all the men of war saw them, they fled: and they went forth in the night out of the city by the way of the king’s garden, and by the gate that was between the two walls, and they went out to the way of the desert.E avendogli veduti Sedecia re di Giuda, e tutti gli uomini di valore, fuggirono, e usciron di notte tempo dalla città per la strada del giardino del re, e per la porta, che era tralle due muraglie, e preser la via del deserto.And when Sedecias the king of Iuda, and al the men of warre had seene them, they fled: and they went forth in the night out of the citie by the way of the kinges garden, and by the gate, that was betwen the two walles, and they went out to the way of the desert.Cumque vidisset eos Sedecias rex Juda, et omnes viri bellatores, fugerunt: et egressi sunt nocte de civitate per viam horti regis, et per portam quæ erat inter duos muros, et egressi sunt ad viam deserti.
5But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them: and they took Sedecias in the plain of the desert of Jericho, and when they had taken him, they brought him to Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon to Reblatha, which is in the land of Emath: and he gave judgment upon him.Ma tenne lor dietro L'esercito de' Caldei, e presero Sedecia nella campagna deserta di Gerico, e preso lo condussero a Nabucodonosor re di Babilonia in Reblatha, che è nella terra di Emath: e questi lo giudico.But the host of the Chaldees pursued them: and they tooke Sedecias in the field of the desert of Iericho, and being taken they brought him to Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon into Reblatha, which is in the Land of Emath: and he spake vnto him iudgements.Persecutus est autem eos exercitus Chaldæorum, et comprehenderunt Sedeciam in campo solitudinis Jerichontinæ, et captum adduxerunt ad Nabuchodonosor regem Babylonis, in Reblatha, quæ est in terra Emath: et locutus est ad eum judicia. 6And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Sedecias, in Reblatha, before his eyes: and the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Juda.E il re di Babilonia uccise i figliuoli di Sedecia sotto gli occhi di lui in Reblatha: e tutti i nobili di Giuda fece morire il re di Babilonia.And the king of Babylon killed the sonnes of Sedecias in Reblatha, before his eies: and the king of Babylon killed al the nobles of Iuda.Et occidit rex Babylonis filios Sedeciæ in Reblatha, in oculis ejus: et omnes nobiles Juda occidit rex Babylonis. 7He also put out the eyes of Sedecias: and bound him with fetters, to be carried to Babylon.E fece di più cavar gli occhi a Sedecia, e lo mise in ceppi, perchè fosse condotto a Babilonia.The eies also of Sedecias he plucked out: and bound him with fetters, to be led into Babylon.Oculos quoque Sedeciæ eruit, et vinxit eum compedibus ut duceretur in Babylonem. 8And the Chaldeans burnt the king’s house, and the houses of the people with fire, and they threw down the wall of Jerusalem.I Caldei pure incendiarono la casa del re, e la casa del volgo, e smantellarono le mura di Gerusalemme.The kinges house also, and the house of the common people the Chaldees burnt with fire, and they ouerthrew the wal of Ierusalem.Domum quoque regis et domum vulgi succenderunt Chaldæi igni, et murum Jerusalem subverterunt. 9And Nabuzardan the general of the army carried away captive to Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and the fugitives that had gone over to him, and the rest of the people that remained.E gli avanzi del popolo restato nella città, e i disertori, che si eran rifugiati presso di lui, e il rimanente del volgo fu condotto a Babilonia da Nabuzardan comandante della cavalleria.And the remnant of the people, that remayned in the citie, and the fugitiues that were fled to him, and the rest of the people that remained, Nabuzardan the prince of the soldiars transported into Babylon.Et reliquias populi qui remanserant in civitate, et perfugas qui transfugerant ad eum, et superfluos vulgi qui remanserant, transtulit Nabuzardan, magister militum, in Babylonem.
10But Nabuzardan the general left some of the poor people that had nothing at all, in the land of Juda, and he gave them vineyards, and cisterns at that time.E la turba de' poveri, che non avevano nulla affatto, li lasciò Nabuzardan comandante della cavalleria nella terra di Giuda; e donò loro delle vigne, e delle cisterne in quel giorno.And the poore people, that had nothing at al, Nabuzardan the master of the soldiars let alone in the land of Iuda, and he gaue them vineyards, and cesternes in that day.Et de plebe pauperum, qui nihil penitus habebant, dimisit Nabuzardan magister militum in terra Juda, et dedit eis vineas et cisternas in die illa. 11Now Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had given charge to Nabuzardan the general concerning Jeremias, saying:Ma Nabuchodonosor re di Babilonia avea dati a Nabuzardan comandante della cavalleria i suoi ordini in torno a Geremia, dicendo:But Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had commanded Nabuzardan the prince of the soldiars concerning Ieremie, saying:Præceperat autem Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis de Jeremia Nabuzardan magistro militum, dicens: 12Take him, and set thy eyes upon him, and do him no harm: but as he hath a mind, so do with him.Predi quest'uomo, ed abbine cura, e non fare a lui nissun male, ma concedigli quello, che vuole.Take him, and set thine eies vpon him, and doe him no euil: but as he wil so doe to him.Tolle illum, et pone super eum oculos tuos, nihilque ei mali facias: sed ut voluerit, sic facias ei. 13Therefore Nabuzardan the general sent, and Nabuzardan, and Rabsares, and Neregel, and Sereser, and Rebmag, and all the nobles of the king of Babylon,Per la qual cosa Nabuzardan capitano dell'esercito, e Nabusezban, e Rabsaces, e Neregel, e Sereser, e Rebmag, e tutti i grandi del re di BabiloniaNabuzardan therefore the prince of the warfare sent; and Nabusezban also, and Rabsares, and Negerel, & Sereser, and Rebmag, and al the nobles of the king of Babylon,Misit ergo Nabuzardan princeps militiæ, et Nabusezban, et Rabsares, et Neregel, et Sereser, et Rebmag, et omnes optimates regis Babylonis, 14Sent and took Jeremias out of the court of the prison, and committed him to Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan, that he might go home, and dwell among the people.Mandarono a trar Geremia dal vestibolo della prigione, e lo consegnarono a Godolia figliuolo di Ahicam, figliuolo di Saphan, affinchè egli se n'andasse a casa sua, e vivesse in mezzo al popolo.sent, and tooke Ieremie out of the entrie of the prison, and deliuered him to Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan, that he might enter into the house, & dwel among the people.miserunt, et tulerunt Jeremiam de vestibulo carceris, et tradiderunt eum Godoliæ filio Ahicam filii Saphan, ut intraret in domum, et habitaret in populo.
15But the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, when he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying: Go, and tell Abdemelech the Ethiopian, saying:Ma a Geremia avea parlato il Signore mentre egli era rinchiuso nel vestibolo della prigione, e gli avea detto:But to Ieremie the word of our Lord was made, when he was shut vp in the entrie of the prison, saying: Goe, and tel Abdemelech the Aethiopian, saying:Ad Jeremiam autem factus fuerat sermo Domini, cum clausus esset in vestibulo carceris, dicens: 16Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold I will bring my words upon this city unto evil, and not unto good: and they shall be accomplished in thy sight in that day.Va, e dì ad Abdemelech Etiope: Queste cose dice il Signore degli eserciti, il Dio d'Israele: Ecco, che io adempierò sopra questa città le mie parole per suo danno, e non per suo bene, e tu avrai sotto gli occhi questo adempimento in quel giorno.Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel: Behold I wil bring my wordes vpon this citie vnto euil, and not vnto good: and they shal be in thy sight in that day.Vade, et dic Abdemelech Æthiopi, dicens: Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum, Deus Israël: Ecce ego inducam sermones meos super civitatem hanc in malum, et non in bonum, et erunt in conspectu tuo in die illa. 17And I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord: and thou shalt not be given into the hands of the men whom thou fearest:Ma io ti libererò in quel giorno, dice il Signore, e tu non sarai dato in potere di color, che tu temi:And I wil deliuer thee in that day, saith our Lord: and thou shalt not be deliuered into the handes of the men, whom thou fearest:Et liberabo te in die illa, ait Dominus, et non traderis in manus virorum quos tu formidas: 18But delivering, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword: but thy life shall be saved for thee, because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord.Ma ti libererò infallibilmente, e non perirai di spada; ma tu salverai l'anima tua, perchè hai confidato in me, dice il Signore.but deliuering I wil deliuer thee, and thou shalt not fal by the sword: but thy life shal be to thee vnto saluation, because thou hast had confidence in me, saith our Lord.sed eruens liberabo te, et gladio non cades, sed erit tibi anima tua in salutem, quia in me habuisti fiduciam, ait Dominus.
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Year of the World 3414.; 4 Kings xxv.
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Year of the World 3416, Year before Christ 588.
Sanctius
Fifth. The parallel passages and other editions read ninth. Some pretend that (Calmet) the city was taken on the 5th of the 4th month, and after being pillaged was burnt on the 7th (4 Kings 24:8.) or 10th of the 5th month, Jeremias 52:12. (Sanctius; Cornelius a Lapide)
Calmet
But the city was taken on the 9th of the 4th month, and Nabuzardan entered on the 7th of the 5th month, and burnt it and the temple on the 10th. (Salien, etc.) (Calmet)
From the beginning of the siege (the year of the world 3414) to the end (the year 3416.; Usher), two years and a half elapsed. It was interrupted a short time. Two fasts are still observed by the Jews to deplore these events, Zacharias 7:3., and 8:19.
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Calmet
Neregel, Sereser. Perhaps Nabuzardan should be read, (ver. 13.; Haydock) or these names are mentioned twice, probably by mistake of transcribers. The former was an idol; (4 Kings 17:30.) the latter word means "treasurer." (Calmet)
Haydock
(Protestants) Nergal-Sharezer seems to be one person, as in Septuagint, or "treasurer of Nergel." (Haydock)
Samgar-nebu, was "prefect of the temple of Nabo."
Sarsachim, "prince of the sacae, or Scythians."
Rabsares, "master of the eunuchs," or officers within the palace. Such a one was employed by Sennacherib, 4 Kings 18:17.
Junius
Rebmag, "chief of the magi," (Calmet) or "master of the camp." (Junius)
These entered the first wall, chap 1:15., and Isaias 22:7.
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Walls. This gate had not yet been seized, (Calmet) leading to Jericho, ver. 5. (Haydock) (Ezechiel 12:4.)
Calmet
Roman Septuagint passes over the next 12 verses, which seem to be taken from 4 Kings 25:4. (Calmet)
Grabe supplies ver. 4. to 13., inclusively. "And they sent," etc., which is well connected with ver. 3.
Worthington
The possession of one gate would let all the army enter: whereupon Sedecias fled by a postern gate. (Worthington)
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Worthington
Judgment. Reproaching him with perfidy and ingratitude. (Worthington)
He slew the nobles, as his accomplices.
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Army. Hebrew, "slayers," denoting soldiers, cooks, and sacrificers, Genesis 37:36.
Remained, having escaped the sword, etc. They had been spared when Joakim and Jechonias were taken.
39:10
Cisterns, and fields, 4 Kings 25:12. They were thus attached to the Chaldeans.
39:11
Had given, after the prisoners had got to Rama, Jeremias 40:1.
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Calmet
Nabusezban perhaps stand for Semegar, Nabu, and Sarsachim. The other four officers occur [in] ver. 3. (Calmet)
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Tirinus
Godolias. The Jews say he had gone over to assist the Chaldeans. (Tirinus)
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Calmet
Saved. Hebrew, "a booty," Jeremias 21:9. Thus God rewards what is done to his servants, Matthew 25:40. (Calmet)
39:1
Concordance • Reg. 25. Iere 52.
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Possession of one gate gaue sufficient entrance to the whole armie; whereupon the king and his chiefe nobles fled by a posterne gate.
39:5
He expostulated, & iustly reproued Sedecias for rebelling breaking his othe, shewing ingratitude, for so much as Nabu chodonosor had made him king, & reposed cōfidence in him.
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St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch 19.9
… “For it came to pass,” we are told, “in the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built a wall against it round about, and the city was besieged until the eleventh year of king Zedekiah, and the ninth day of the month,
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St Basil the Great † AD 379 De Spiritu Sancto 19
… He is called Spirit, as “God is a Spirit,” and “the breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord.”
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St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch 19.10
… “And the captain of the guard carried away the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon.
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 The Book of Pastoral Rule 3.19
… iii. 14 ); as if it were plainly said to him, In thought and in maw thou shalt have dominion over human hearts. That lechery follows upon gluttony the prophet testifies, denouncing hidden things while he speaks of open ones, when he says, The chief of the cooks broke down the walls of Jerusalem (
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St Jerome † AD 420 Against Jovinianus 1.33
… Jeremiah, who was sanctified in the womb, and was known in his mother’s belly, enjoyed the high privilege because he was predestined to the blessing of virginity. And when all were captured, and even the vessels of the temple were plundered by the King of Babylon, he alone was
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St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 8.0
Jeremiah xxxix. 18, 19 (Septuagint).
39:1
Note: In II Maccabees ii, are cited the commentaries or descriptions of Jeremiah, by which he himself wrote down those things which happened immediately after the city was destroyed, before the people taken captive were led away into Babylon, namely first, concerning the laws which Jeremiah prescribed for the people about to dwell in Babylon; secondly, concerning the perpetual fire which the priests removed from the altar and hid in an unknown well, which afterwards the descendants returning from Babylon re- 8. The house of the common people, common or popular houses. Thus Vatablus. Or rather the house of the common people was a public house, in which public games, weddings, banquets, javelin-throwing, etc. were celebrated. Thus Adrichomius and from him Sanchez. The city was opened. In Hebrew הבקעה hobkea, that is, the city was broken, that is, the walls of the city, so that through this breach the Chaldeans invaded and occupied the city. Broken, I say, by frequent blows of battering rams, which the Chaldeans hurled against the walls. Thus Abulensis and Vatablus, although Cajetan, in IV Kings xxv, wishes the wall to have been broken by Zedekiah and the citizens, so that they might open a way for themselves to flee from prolonged famine and war. 3. They sat in the middle gate, they occupied the middle gate, namely that which was between two gates, for instance between the gate of the outer wall and the gate of the temple. For the city was surrounded by two walls, and the Chaldeans had penetrated through the first to the gate of the second, which was between the gate of the first and the gate of the temple. Thus Maldonatus. Sereser. Vatablus thinks that certain of these names are offices, such as those beginning with rab or ser, that is, lord, so that the first was Nergal-Sereser, that is, Nergal, who is lord or prefect of treasures: for otsar also in Hebrew means treasure, sar or ser or sir means lord; the second, Semegarnabu Sarsachim, that is, Semegar-nabu, who was prefect of the perfumers, and he was the same as Rabsares, that is, prefect of eunuchs; the third, Nergal, who was Sereser, that is, prince of the treasury equally as the first, and he was the same as Rebmag, that is, prince of liquor: so that tropologically you may see who they are who profane the sacred city and temple, namely the prefects of the delights of this world; and those holding principality in them. But others take these names as proper: they can however be taken either way, namely as proper from office, or signifying the office of each, as when we say Constable, Admiral, Marshal of France, etc., we designate and describe a certain prince from his office.
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4. And when he saw them not now entering, but about to enter the city. It is evident from IV Kings xxv, 4. By the way of the king's garden. The king's garden was between the two walls of the city already mentioned, and through the gate of the garden which appears to have been in the outer wall of the city, the king fled.
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5. And the army of the Chaldeans pursued him, who had learned from the indication of the guards or citizens, or deserters, that he had fled. Rabbi Solomon relates, or rather fabricates, that Zedekiah with his men fled by a certain underground way, which led from the city far outside the city: where there was another opening, through which they went out into the open field. But when God had already devoted him to the servitude and mockery of the Chaldeans, He stirred up from the midst of their camps a wild goat, which in its flight above ground was carried over the same distance as Zedekiah with his men beneath; and this goat, content with its flight, reached the other opening of the cave at the same time that the king emerged from the sides, and thus he was captured by the Chaldean hunters. This is what Rabbi Solomon says, which Abulensis refutes at length in lib. IV Reg. cap. xxv, Quaest. xlix, and Lyra in the same place. And, to pass over other things, Scripture itself sufficiently refutes it, which says that the Chaldeans, having learned of Zedekiah's flight, pursued him; and Josephus explicitly states it, lib. X Antiq. xi, where he asserts that the Chaldeans learned of the king's flight from the indication of deserters. Riblah. It is a province of Syria, in which was the city of Hamath Minor, which was later called Epiphania by Antiochus Epiphanes. Thus St. Jerome in Amos vi, 2. There therefore Nebuchadnezzar sat, so that he might from a distance observe the success of the Judean war, and be nearer to Chaldea, and from there send supplies to his men against the Jews. Note: Zedekiah was blinded by Nebuchadnezzar at Epiphania, and like a wild beast shut up in a cage, was led to Babylon, and entering it, although he did not see it, because he was already blinded, as Ezekiel had foretold in cap. xii, 13. He spoke to him judgments, that is, Nebuchadnezzar sharply and justly rebuked Zedekiah according to his deserts for his infidelity and ingratitude, namely that he, having been made king by him in place of Jehoiachin, had violated the covenant made with him. Thus Theodoret, Josephus and others. Lyra adds that Zedekiah swore by God his fidelity to Nebuchadnezzar, who therefore called him Zedekiah instead of Mattaniah, that is, the justice of God, so that by his name he might admonish him concerning faith and justice to be kept holy and constantly, and that he would be unjust not only to him but also to God, faithless and perjured, if he violated it. Nebuchadnezzar therefore reproached him with this. Hence first he killed his sons before his eyes: then he took away his eyes, by which, looking up to heaven, he had invoked God as witness of his fidelity, and because he had followed the blind counsels of his men, he blinded him. This reproach wounded the Jews: wherefore they appointed an annual fast on the sixth day of the eighth month, namely October, on account of the blinded Zedekiah, as is evident from the Hebrew Menology. Tropologically, Blessed Peter Damian, lib. ii, epist. 4 to Hildebrand, who was later made Pontiff and called Gregory VII: "The king of Babylon," he says, "is the ancient enemy, possessor of intimate confusion, who first slaughters the sons before the eyes of the beholder: because he often so kills good works, that he who is captive sees himself losing these with sorrow. Then he tears out the eyes of Zedekiah; because the malign spirit, having first withdrawn good works, afterwards takes away the light of understanding. Zedekiah suffers this at Riblah, which is interpreted many things. For the light of reason is deservedly closed to him, who, setting aside the rigor of holy quiet, is swept away through worldly affairs, since with one thing despised, through many things the vagrant and impatient mind is scattered."
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9. The superfluous Jews, who remained by the sword, by famine and by pestilence. Sanchez better judges that here three classes of Jews are to be placed, which were led away into Babylon: the first of the remnants of the people, who survived the disaster and remained in the city; the second of those who, already fearing destruction beforehand, had deserted to the Chaldeans; the third of those who, unfit for arms during the time of war, were sent out from the city, or, not bearing the noise of war, went out willingly and dwelt in nearby places: these are called the superfluous of the common people. In the year of the Lord 776, the Saxons again rebelled against Charlemagne, breaking their oaths, having captured the fortress of Eresburg. But, when they prepared to continue the war, the glory (others read sword) of God appeared above the church, with all seeing it, from among whom many remain even now, who say they saw something like two shields of red color flaming, and moving themselves above that very church. When the Pagans, who were outside, had seen this sign, they were immediately confused, and terrified by great fear, began to flee to their camps, and all the multitude of them taking to flight, some were killing one another, and those who looked back were pierced by the lances of those going before them on account of their terror, and all suffered various blows among themselves, and were avenged by divine vengeance. Wherefore the Franks, encouraged, pursued the Saxons and killed them as far as the river Lippe. Thus from the Frankish Annals, Baronius, vol. IX Annals, in the year of the Lord 776. Master of soldiers. In Hebrew rab hattabbachim, which the Septuagint translates, prefect of cooks, because he was prefect of the royal kitchen, says Theodoret. Pagninus translates it, prefect of butchers; Vatablus, prefect of the slain or of capital matters; but most aptly Josephus translates it, prefect of soldiers. Word for word rab hattabbachim is the same as prince of those who slay, which are, first, butchers; second, cooks; third, soldiers: and that third meaning fits most excellently here, for the matter concerns war; yet it could have happened that the same Nebuzaradan was both prefect of soldiers and steward, or majordomo, as we commonly say, who presides over the kitchen. Whence St. Gregory mystically understands by him gluttony and the gluttonous.
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10. And cisterns, that is, fields or gardens, which could be irrigated from cisterns. Thus the Hebrew, the Septuagint and others. For the Jews dug these out, so that they might collect water in them, of which they suffered a lack. Those poor people, therefore, Nebuzaradan left in Judea, and assigned to them the fields and vineyards of the rich, so that they might cultivate them, and from this pay tribute to the Chaldeans. Among these poor people left behind, the Rechabites also are thought to have been, according to the Historia Scholastica and Abulensis, book IV Kings xxv, Question xix, who also cites Josephus as a witness.
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12. Place thine eyes upon him, be favourable to him, have care of him, provide for him. 14. Godolias. This was a man of chief rank among the Jews, who before the city was taken had gone over to the Chaldaeans according to the warnings of Jeremiah; wherefore he was made by them governor of Judaea, but was soon slain by rival Jews. That he might enter into the house, and dwell among the people, that he might move freely in the midst of the people and his own house. Note: Jeremiah was destined for death by his own people, but was received by the Chaldaeans, a type of Christ, whom the Jews killed, but the Gentiles received. 16. Say to Abdemelech, who delivered Jeremiah from the lake, cap. xxxviii, 12, whose mercy he receives a reward from him. And they shall be (namely the words, that is my oracles concerning the destruction of Jerusalem) in thy sight, as if to say, Thou shalt see and behold in truth the ruin which I have threatened to the city. Note: In II Maccabees ii, are cited the commentaries or descriptions of Jeremiah, by which he himself wrote down those things which happened immediately after the city was overthrown, before the people were led captive into Babylon, namely first, concerning the laws which Jeremiah gave to the people setting out into Babylon; secondly, concerning the sacred fire hidden by him in a well; thirdly, concerning the Ark and Tabernacle hidden by him on Mount Nebo: see the things said there. seeking, not fire, but thick water found, which when poured upon the victims was by miracle turned into fire, as is said in II Maccabees i, 21 and seq.; thirdly, concerning the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant and the altar of incense, which Jeremiah carried out of the city, and set aside in a cave of Mount Nebo, saying: "That the place shall be unknown, until God shall gather together the congregation of the people," etc. Learn from this chapter how faith must be kept even with an enemy, and how God is the avenger of its violation. For Sedecias overthrew himself and his line and kingdom; because he broke faith given to the Chaldaean, as is plain from verse 5. Thus the family of Saul was hanged and destroyed on account of the Gabaonites, to whom although fraudulently Joshua had given his faith and kept it, slain by him, I Kings cap. xxi. Accept similar, but rare, examples of all ages and peoples, brought forth by God as the avenger of faith. Justinian the Emperor, when he was waging war against the Persians, wishing to join the Hunni, a warlike people, as allies in arms, sought aid from their king: who, having received stipends and gifts sent by the Emperor, promised help; but, when he was also invited by the Persian to enter into friendship and alliance, and to wage war in common, he went to him, urged on by hope of greater gain. When Justinian learned this, having informed the Persian king of the whole matter, he warned him not to trust the barbarians. The Persian, having diligently investigated and ascertained the truth of the matter, ordered the king and his soldiers to be killed; him, as a most perfidious man; them, as accomplices and sharers in perjury. Thus John Zonara, V part. Annal. Constantin. in Justinian. Justinian the Emperor, when he was waging war against the Persians, wishing to join the Hunni, a warlike people, as allies in arms, sought aid from their king: who, having received stipends and gifts sent by the Emperor, promised help; but, when he had also received stipends from the Persian, he came to aid both, so that he stood with neither side, but pleased both, retaining the money of both for himself. Thus do those who, between two litigants, favour neither sincerely, but insinuate themselves with both, so that they may make their own advantage. When all matters had been settled between King Uladislaus and Amurath, Emperor of the Turks, the King of Hungary, violating the treaty, first moved war against the Turk, and when battle was joined, the Turk, seeing his men routed in the fight not without great slaughter, to atone for the violation of faith, to avenge the perfidy of Christians, and to vindicate the right of the broken peace, drew forth from his bosom the code of the most holy treaty made, and with eyes raised to heaven: "These are, he said, Jesus Christ, the treaties which thy Christians made with me, which they swore most solemnly by thy godhead, and having given their faith under thy name, they violated it, perfidiously denying their God: now, Christ, if thou art God (as they say), and we are deceived, I beseech thee, avenge thy injuries and mine: show to those who have not yet known thy holy name the penalties of violated faith." Scarcely had he said this, when he was awaiting the final assault upon himself, when the battle, which had long been doubtful and uncertain, began to turn: for by the intervention of pack camels the Hungarians had turned their minds from slaughter to plunder. At length, with King Uladislaus slain, the Hungarians were put to flight, leaving a noble victory to Amurath. Thus Anthony Bonfinius, lib. XXV De Rebus Hungar. dec. 3, and Chron. general. Hispan. part. IV. See more things in Fulgosium, lib. VI, and P. Ribadeneira, lib. II De Principe Christ. cap. xv and xvi. Seneca therefore truly said in the Thyestes: Where there is no shame, nor care for law, holiness, piety, faith, the kingdom is unstable. But where these are present, the kingdom, though weak, becomes stable. Indeed the Romans, by the faith which they constantly maintained intact both toward enemies and toward friends, drew all nations to themselves. Among others, the example of M. Atilius Regulus, consul, was celebrated, who after many victories and triumphs over the Carthaginians, captured by the art of Xanthippus, sent to prison, sent as an envoy to Rome concerning the exchange of captives, having sworn an oath that, if he did not obtain it, he would thus return: he dissuaded the senate from the condition, and rejecting his wife and children from himself, he returned to Carthage: where, thrown into a wooden chest, with nails driven inward, tortured by sleeplessness and punctures, he preferred to undergo a harsh death rather than betray the faith given to the enemy. Thus Pliny, in the book On Illustrious Men.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
39:2
Hic ponitur instructio reliquiarum populi, post ipsius populi captivitatem. Et dividitur in tres partes. In prima ponitur captivatio; in secunda reliquiarum conservatio, cap. 40: sermo qui factus est ad Jeremiam a domino; tertio reliquiarum instructio, cap. 42: et accesserunt omnes principes bellatorum. Circa primum duo. Primo ponitur populi captivatio; secundo quorumdam liberatio, ibi, et de plebe pauperum qui nihil penitus habebant. Circa primum tria. Primo ponit obsidionem, et obsidebant. Isa. 29: circumdabo quasi sphaeram in circuitu tuo, et jaciam contra te aggerem, et munimenta ponam in obsidionem tuam. Secundo ponit captionem urbis: undecimo anno, mense quarto, scilicet Julio. Tamen combusta est mense quinto, septima die mensis: sicut habetur 2 Reg. ult.: quinta mensis. Contra 2 Reg. ult.: dicitur, quod nona mensis. Et potuit esse quod quinta die coeperunt homines fugere prae fame; et nona, civitas aperta est, custodibus ablatis.
39:3
Et quia primo ceperunt antemurale; et tunc habebant urbem quasi captam; et postea ceperunt urbem: unde sequitur: sederunt in porta media, idest in medio duorum murorum; vel quae erat inter duas portas ex eadem parte civitatis. Supra 1: ponet unusquisque solium suum in introitu portarum Jerusalem, et super muros ejus in circuitu, et super universas urbes Juda.
39:4
Ponit etiam captionem regis designans fugam: cumque vidisset eos Sedecias rex Juda, et omnes viri bellatores, fugerunt, et egressi sunt nocte de civitate per viam horti regis, et per portam quae erat inter duos muros, qui conjungebantur muro civitatis juxta domum regis, et cingebant hortum regium, inter quos erat et via, et porta secundum aequidistantiam ab utroque. Thren. 1: facti sunt principes ejus velut arietes non invenientes pascua, abierunt absque fortitudine ante faciem subsequentis.
39:5
Et subjungit captionem: persecutus est autem eos exercitus Chaldaeorum. Thren. 4: velociores fuerunt persecutores nostri aquilis caeli. Tertio ponit captorum condemnationem: et primo regis, et principum, in occisionem, et captum, regem, adduxerunt ad Nabuchodonosor, scilicet in sententiae pronuntiationem: et locutus est ad eum judicia. Ezech. 10: judicabo te judiciis adulterarum, et effundentium sanguinem. Et executionem sententiae principum, et occidit. Sap. 6: potentes potenter tormenta patientur.
39:7
Et oculorum caecitatem: oculos quoque Sedeciae eruit (...) ut duceretur in Babylonem. 4 Reg. 25, idem.
39:8
Secundo condemnationem urbis in destructionem: domum quoque regis, et domum vulgi succenderunt Chaldaei igni. Thren. 2: praecipitavit omnia moenia ejus dissipavit munitiones ejus.
39:9
Tertio condemnationem plebis in transmigrationem: et reliquias populi transtulit Nabuzardan magister militum in Babylonem. Baruch. 4: delicati mei ambulaverunt vias asperas: ducti sunt enim ut grex directus ab inimicis.
39:10
Hic ponit quorumdam liberationem. Primo pauperum qui nihil penitus habebant (...), et dedit eis vineas, et cisternas, quia terra penuriam in aquis patitur. Supra 5: verumtamen in diebus illis, ait dominus, non faciam vos in consummationem. Secundo liberationem justorum. Primo prophetae, ponens jussionem: praeceperat, et executionem: misit ergo in domum, suam. Proverb. 11: justus de angustia liberatus est et tradetur impius pro eo. Ibid. 10: quod timet impius, veniet super eum, desiderium suum justis dabitur. Et cap. 16: cum placuerint domino viae hominis, etiam inimicos ejus convertet ad pacem.
39:15
Secundo liberationem eunuchi: ad Jeremiam autem factus fuerat sermo domini. Et primo promittit liberationem ab hostium dominio: et non traderis. Sap. 10: custodivit illum ab inimicis, et a seductoribus tutavit illum.
39:18
Secundo ab occisionis gladio: et gladio non cades. Psal. 90: cadent a latere tuo mille, et decem millia a dextris tuis, ad te autem non appropinquabit. Supra 17: benedictus vir qui confidit in domino, et erit dominus fiducia ejus. Eccl. 2: crede Deo, et recuperabit te, et dirige viam tuam, et spera in illum.
39:1
… There he is designated by the title amēlu rab nuhūmu (sic), "prefect of the bakers (and cooks)." More is known from the biblical pericopes Jer. 39:1-14; 52:1-30, of which II Kings 24:18-25:21 is an abbreviated reference. …
39:2
Sedecias (Heb. Sidhāyijāhā "Justice of Jahweh")
… S., having fled with the principal captains, was overtaken near Jericho and taken prisoner (Jer. 39:2 ff.). …
39:3
… The Babylonians returned to Jerusalem and took the ever-rebellious city; a month later the "chief of the charioteers" (Jer. 39, 3. 13), in reality chief of the bodyguard, Nebuzaradan (v.), destroyed it. Only Tyre still held out, but finally Ethbaal submitted, acknowledging the sovereignty of N., and with this the …
… There is the addition amēlu "Sin-magir" (which perhaps entered the corrupt text of Jer. 39:3, as Samgar), which gives solid probability to the opinion that he was governor of Bit-Sin-magir, north of Babylon, a delicate position on the border of Media.
… quarters) surrounded by 7 walls furnished with 7 double gates (corresponding to the 7 spheres of the planets: F. Hommel); it is the "land from which one does not return" (ersit lā tari), cf. Job 7:9-10 and 10:21; its master is Nergal (cf. II Reg. 17:30; Ier. 39:3, 13) and his wife Ereshkigal, in a subterranean palace (cf. "the king of terrors": Job 18:14); there Tammūz disappears ("descends"), to revive whom the ātar seeks the source of life; Gilgamesh …
39:5
Jericho (Hebrew Yērīkō, Arabic Eriha)
… (I Kings 16, 34). In the Israelite city a school of prophets flourished, often visited by Elijah and Elisha (II Kings 2, 1-22). After the population had been deported and the city plundered at the time of the Assyrian invasion (II Kings 25, 5; Jer. 39, 5; 52, 8), it prospered again after the exile and its inhabitants contributed to the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Ezra 2, 34; Neh. 7, 35).
39:13
… Neregel, Sereser), N., although subordinate to Nabuzardan, would have been among those Babylonian dignitaries who after the capture of Jerusalem in 586 reorganized the country and who, according to Jer. 39:13, gave freedom to the prophet Jeremiah. …
39:14
Godolias (Hebrew Gédhaljâh[â] « Greatness of Jahweh »)
… G. was the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan (Jer. 39:14).
39:16
… In Jer. 13:23 the Cushite is described as belonging to the black race; while in Am. 9:7 a certain contempt is shown toward that people, generally employed as slaves (cf. 2 Sam. 18:21 ff.; Jer. 38:7; 39:16). Yet even the wife of Moses was a Cushite (Num. 12:1). Angelo Penna
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.