Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 39:1-9

"And it came to pass when Jerusalem was taken, (in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and besieged it; in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city,) that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, [to wit], Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon. And it came to pass that, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king`s garden, through the gate betwixt the two walls; and he went out toward the Arabah. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; and he gave judgment upon him. Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah. Moreover he put out Zedekiah`s eyes, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. And the Chaldeans burned the king`s house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the residue of the people that remained in the city, the deserters also that fell away to him, and the residue of the people that remained." — Jeremiah 39:1-9 (ASV)

This section describes the ordering of the remnant of the people after they were taken captive. It is divided into three parts:

1. The captivity.
2. The preservation of the remnant: the word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD (Jeremiah 40:1).
3. The ordering of the remnant: and all the captains of the men at war came near (Jeremiah 42:1).

Concerning the first point, the captivity, there are two further points:

1. The captivity of the people.
2. The release of certain men, as in the verse: but some of the poor people, who had nothing within (Jeremiah 39:10).

Regarding the first of these points—the captivity of the people—there are three aspects:

1. It speaks of the siege: and they besieged it (Jeremiah 39:1). And I will make a circle around you, and cast up a mound against you, and raise up bulwarks to besiege you (Isaiah 29:3).

2. It speaks of the taking of the city: in the eleventh year, in the fourth month (Jeremiah 39:2), that is, in July. Nevertheless, it was burned in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, as is related in 2 Kings 25:8. Contrary to this, 2 Kings 25:3 says it was on the ninth of the month.

   A possible reconciliation is that people began to flee from hunger on the fifth day, and on the ninth day the city was breached after its guards had been removed. Because they first took the outer wall, it was as if the city had already been taken at that point, before they later captured the inner city.

   For this reason, the text continues: and all the princes sat in the middle gate (Jeremiah 39:3), that is, between the two walls. Alternatively, this could refer to a gate that was between two other gates on the same side of the city. As mentioned above: each one will place his throne in the entry of the gates of Jerusalem, and upon all her walls all around, and upon all the cities of Judah (Jeremiah 1:15).

   The text also speaks of the capture of the king, noting his flight: and when Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and all the men of war saw them, they fled; and they went out by night from the city by way of the king’s garden, and through the gate that was between the two walls (Jeremiah 39:4). These walls were joined to the city wall near the king’s house and surrounded the royal garden, and between them was a road and a gate. Her princes have become like rams that find no pasture; they have gone away without strength before the face of the pursuer (Lamentations 1:6).

   It then describes their capture: but the army of the Chaldeans pursued them (Jeremiah 39:5). Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky (Lamentations 4:19).

3. It speaks of the condemnation of the captives, which is broken down into three parts:

   1. The condemnation of the king and the princes to death. The king was led bound to Nebuchadnezzar for judgment to be pronounced: and he passed sentence on him (Jeremiah 39:5). I will judge you with the judgments of adulteresses, and of those who spill blood (Ezekiel 16:38). The execution of the sentence on the princes followed: and the king killed (Jeremiah 39:6). Then came the blinding of his eyes: he also put out the eyes of Zedekiah... so that he would be led to Babylon (Jeremiah 39:7). The same account is found in 2 Kings 25.
   2. The condemnation of the city to destruction: the Chaldeans also burned the king’s house and the people’s house with fire (Jeremiah 39:8). He has thrown down all her walls and destroyed all her strongholds (Lamentations 2:5).
   3. The condemnation of the people to exile: and Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took the remnant of the people... to Babylon (Jeremiah 39:9). My delicate ones have walked rough ways, for they were taken away as a flock made prey by the enemy .