Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Kings 25

In the ninth year ... - As the final catastrophe approaches, the historian becomes more precise and exact in his dates, marking not only the year but also the month and day on which the siege began, as well as when it closed (2 Kings 25:3). From Ezekiel 24:1, we find that on the very day Nebuchadnezzar's army appeared before Jerusalem, the event was revealed to Ezekiel in Babylonia, and the city's fate was announced to him (Ezekiel 24:6–14).

The army seems to have initially spread itself over all Judea. It fought not only against Jerusalem but especially against Lachish and Azekah (Jeremiah 34:7), two southern cities (2 Chronicles 11:9) that had probably been strongly garrisoned to maintain communication with Egypt. This division of the Babylonian forces encouraged Hophra to put his troops in motion and advance to the relief of his Jewish allies (Jeremiah 37:5).

Upon hearing this, Nebuchadnezzar withdrew from Jerusalem and likely marched to Azekah and Lachish. The Egyptians, however, retreated and returned to their own country, taking no further part in the war (Jeremiah 37:7; Ezekiel 17:17). Nebuchadnezzar then led his army back and once more invested the city. (It is uncertain whether the date at the beginning of this verse refers to the first or to the second investment.)

Forts - These were probably movable towers, sometimes equipped with battering rams, which the besiegers advanced against the walls. This brought their fighting men to the same level as their antagonists. Such towers are depicted in Assyrian sculptures.

The siege lasted almost exactly a year and a half. Its calamities—famine, pestilence, and intense suffering—are best understood from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, written probably almost immediately after the capture.

The city was broken up - Rather, “broken into,” that is, a breach was made around midnight in the northern wall (Ezekiel 9:2), and an entry was made into the second or lower city (see the note on 2 Kings 22:14), which was protected by the wall of Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:14).

A precipitate flight followed the advance of the Babylonians to the “middle gate,” the gate of communication between the upper and lower cities. This position was just north of the royal palace, which the king therefore left. He escaped by the royal garden at the junction of the Hinnom and Kidron valleys, passing between the two walls that flanked the Tyropoeon valley.

Toward the plain - This refers to “the Arabah,” the great depression that borders Palestine on the east (see the note on Numbers 21:4). The “way toward the Arabah” is the road leading eastward over the Mount of Olives to Bethany and Jericho.

Jeremiah 38:23 and Ezekiel 12:13 had prophesied this capture; and the latter had also prophesied the dispersion of the troops (2 Kings 25:14).

To Riblah - See the note on 2 Kings 23:33. This was a position from where Nebuchadnezzar could most conveniently superintend the operations against Tyre and Jerusalem. In the monarch's absence, the siege of Jerusalem was conducted by a number of his officers, the chief of whom were Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the guard, and Nergal-shar-ezer (Neriglissar), the Rab-mag (Jeremiah 39:3, 13).