John Gill Commentary 2 Kings 25:18

"And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:" — 2 Kings 25:18 (ASV)

Ver. 18-21. 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 Josephus ^F24 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 him ^F25 .

From hence, to the end of (2 Kings 25:21) the account is the same as in (Jeremiah 52:25–27) , 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).

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FOOTNOTES:

• F24: Antiqu. l. 17. c. 6. sect. 4.
• F25: Misn. Yoma, c. 1. sect. 1.