# Jeremiah 39 > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jeremiah_39 > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jeremiah_39.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_39 > Source revision: 1245311679 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For Jeremiah 39 in the Septuagint, see [Jeremiah 32](/source/Jeremiah_32). **Jeremiah 39** is the thirty-ninth [chapter](/source/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible) of the [Book of Jeremiah](/source/Book_of_Jeremiah) in the [Hebrew Bible](/source/Hebrew_Bible) or the [Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament) of the [Christian](/source/Christianity) [Bible](/source/Bible). It is numbered as **Jeremiah 46** in the [Septuagint](/source/Septuagint). This book contains prophecies attributed to the [prophet](/source/Biblical_prophet) [Jeremiah](/source/Jeremiah), and is one of the [Books of the Prophets](/source/Nevi'im). This chapter is part of a narrative section consisting of chapters [37](/source/Jeremiah_37) to [44](/source/Jeremiah_44).[1] Chapter 39 records the fall of [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem), verses 1–10, and Jeremiah's fate, verses 11–18.[2] ## Text The original text was written in [Hebrew](/source/Biblical_Hebrew). [This chapter is divided into](/source/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible) 18 verses. ### Verse numbering The order of chapters and verses of the Book of Jeremiah in the English Bibles, Masoretic Text (Hebrew), and [Vulgate](/source/Vulgate) (Latin), in some places differs from that in the [Septuagint](/source/Septuagint) (LXX, the Greek Bible used in the [Eastern Orthodox Church](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church) and others) according to [Rahlfs](/source/Alfred_Rahlfs) or [Brenton](/source/Lancelot_Charles_Lee_Brenton). The following table is taken with minor adjustments from *Brenton's Septuagint*, page 971.[3] The order of Computer Assisted Tools for Septuagint/Scriptural Study (CATSS) based on *[Alfred Rahlfs](/source/Alfred_Rahlfs)' Septuaginta* (1935), differs in some details from Joseph Ziegler's critical edition (1957) in *Göttingen LXX*. *Swete's Introduction* mostly agrees with Rahlfs' edition (=CATSS).[3] Hebrew, Vulgate, English Rahlfs' LXX (CATSS) Brenton's LXX 39:1-3,14-18 46:1-3,14-18 46:1-4,15-18 39:4-13 none 32:1-44 39:1-44 ### Textual witnesses Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language) are of the [Masoretic Text](/source/Masoretic_Text) tradition, which includes the [Codex Cairensis](/source/Codex_Cairensis) (895), [the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets](/source/Codex_Babylonicus_Petropolitanus) (916), [Aleppo Codex](/source/Aleppo_Codex) (10th century), [Codex Leningradensis](/source/Leningrad_Codex) (1008).[4] There is also a translation into [Koine Greek](/source/Koine_Greek) known as the [Septuagint](/source/Septuagint) (with a different chapter and verse numbering), made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the [Septuagint](/source/Septuagint) version include [Codex Vaticanus](/source/Codex_Vaticanus) (**B**; \mathfrak{G}B; 4th century), [Codex Sinaiticus](/source/Codex_Sinaiticus) (**S**; [BHK](/source/Biblia_Hebraica_(Kittel)): \mathfrak{G}S; 4th century), [Codex Alexandrinus](/source/Codex_Alexandrinus) (**A**; \mathfrak{G}A; 5th century) and [Codex Marchalianus](/source/Codex_Marchalianus) (**Q**; \mathfrak{G}Q; 6th century).[5] The Septuagint version does not contain the part what is generally known to be verses 4–13 in Christian Bibles.[3] ### Parashot The *[parashah](/source/Parashah)* sections listed here are based on the [Aleppo Codex](/source/Aleppo_Codex).[6] Jeremiah 39 is a part of the "*Fifteenth prophecy ([Jeremiah 36](/source/Jeremiah_36)-39)*" in the section of *Prophecies interwoven with narratives about the prophet's life ([Jeremiah 26](/source/Jeremiah_26)[-45](/source/Jeremiah_45))*. {P}: open *parashah*; {S}: closed *parashah*. - [{S} 38:28b] 39:1-14 והיה כאשר {S} 39:15-18 {P} ### Old Testament references - [Jeremiah 39:1–10](#Verses_1–10): ; [7][8] ## Analysis Chronologically and thematically this chapter is a continuation of the [previous one](/source/Jeremiah_38), describing Babylon's invasion of Jerusalem and its consequences, particularly for Zedekiah () and Jeremiah ().[9] The narrative places the invasion as background to larger issues (cf. and ), as the focus is more on the Zedekiah's cowardly behavior, escape, and capture ([verses 4](#Verse_4)–[5](#Verse_5)) under the fulfillment of the prophecy, with the ending of the king being blinded, physically as already spiritually.[9] On the other hand, Jeremiah simultaneously obtains release and protection from Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, at the command of Nebuchadrezzar () and then under the protection of [Gedaliah](/source/Gedaliah), the governor appointed by Babylon, and son of Ahikam (cf. [Jeremiah 26:24](/source/Jeremiah_26:24)).[10] This signifies the fulfillment of another prophecy that by submitting to Babylon, people could save their lives as the prize of war and returned home ().[11] The episode with Ebed-melech, the [Ethiopian](/source/Ethiopia) rescuer of Jeremiah (), further emphasizes the fulfillment of the divine message (Jeremiah 38:7-13) about his life as a prize of war because he trusted in YHWH ().[11] ## The Fall of Jerusalem (39:1–10) See also: [Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC)](/source/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(587_BC)) [Verses 1](#Verse_1)–[3](#Verse_3) detail the events of the Babylonian [invasion to Jerusalem](/source/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(587_BC)) from the ninth to the eleventh year of [Zedekiah](/source/Zedekiah) when finally the city was captured, occupied and destroyed by the Babylonian army. focus on Zedekiah's failed effort to escape and the fulfillment of the prophecy that Zedekiah's offspring were killed in front of him before he himself was blinded and taken to captivity. The houses of Jerusalem were burned and people were exiled, except the poor ones who remained and given their land back by Nebuzaradan, the Babylonian captain of the guard ().[9] ### Verse 1 - *In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem, and besieged it.*[12] Cross reference: ; ; "The ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month" refers to January 587 BCE.[13] , [Jeremiah 52:4](/source/Jeremiah_52:4) and provide the date as "the tenth day of the month".[14] ### Verse 2 - *And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.*[15] Cross reference: ; - "The city was broken up" (KJV); "the city was penetrated" (NKJV): An alternative translation would be "... the city wall was breached".[16] "The eleventh year of Zedekiah, in [the fourth month](/source/Tammuz_(Hebrew_month))" refers to July 586 BCE: the wall of Jerusalem "was broken through" after 18 months of siege,[13][14] and the city fell after completely devoid of food. [Cannibalism](/source/Human_cannibalism) became prevalent (; ).[14] ### Verse 3 - *All the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar, Nebusarsechim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of Babylon’s king.*[17] The [Jerusalem Bible](/source/Jerusalem_Bible) merges the last part of [Jeremiah 38:28](/source/Jeremiah_38:28) with verse 3: *Now when Jerusalem was captured … all the officers of the King of Babylon marched in...*[18] The [medieval](/source/Middle_Ages) [Jewish](/source/Jewish_Biblical_exegesis) commentator [Rashi](/source/Rashi) considered the statement "*All the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat at the Middle Gate*" as the fulfillment of the prophecy, "*They shall come and each one set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem*" in [Jeremiah 1:15](/source/Jeremiah_1:15).[19] Various language versions have rendered the list of names differently:[20] Hebrew: נֵרְגַל שַׂרְ-אֶצֶר סַמְגַּר-נְבוּ שַׂר-סְכִים רַב-סָרִיס נֵרְגַל שַׂרְאֶצֶר רַב-מָג Hebrew (Romanized): Nêrəḡal Śar’eṣer Samgar Nəḇū-Śarsəḵîm Raḇsārîs Nêrəḡal Śar’eṣer Raḇmāḡ Greek: Μαργανασαρ και Σαμαγωθ και Ναβουσαχαρ και Ναβουσαρεις Ναγαργας Νασερραβαμαθ Vulgate: NEREGEL SERESER SEMEGAR NABV SARSACHIM RABSARES NEREGEL SERESER REBMAG - "Nebusarsechim [Rab-saris](/source/Rabsaris)" (Hebrew: נבו שר־סכים רב־סריס): David Vanderhooft reported, "A certain Nabû-šarrūssu-ukīn held the office of rēš šarri under Amel-Marduk in 561 B.C.E."[21] [A tablet](/source/Nebo-Sarsekim_Tablet) was unearthed in the ancient city of [Sippar](/source/Sippar) in the 1870s and acquired by the [British Museum](/source/British_Museum) in 1920, but only being discovered by Michael Jursa of [University of Vienna](/source/University_of_Vienna) in 2000s, to contain both the name and the title *Nabu-sharrussu-ukin rab ša-rēši* closely matched of this person.[22] As the tablet is dated just eight years before the events described here, Jursa wrote that the rarity of the Babylonian name, the high rank of the *rab ša-rēši* and the close proximity in time make it almost certain that the person mentioned on the tablet is identical with the biblical figure.[23] - "Samgar" or "Simmagir"; "[Rab-saris](/source/Rabsaris)"; and "[Rab-mag](/source/Rab-Mag)" are "titles of Babylonian officials" according to the New Oxford Annotated Bible.[13] ### Verse 4 - *So it was, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, that they fled and went out of the city by night, by way of the king's garden, by the gate between the two walls. And he went out by way of the plain.*[24] - Cross references: [2 Kings 25:4](/source/2_Kings_25:4); [Jeremiah 52:7](/source/Jeremiah_52:7); [Ezekiel 12:12](/source/Ezekiel_12:12) - "The king’s garden": mentioned in [Nehemiah 3:15](/source/Nehemiah_3:15) in conjunction with the [pool of Siloam](/source/Pool_of_Siloam) and 'the stairs that go down from the [City of David](/source/City_of_David_(historic))', which point to the southern part of the city near the [Tyropoeon Valley](/source/Tyropoeon_Valley). The location supports the reference to the "two walls," which were likely 'the walls on the eastern and western hills'.[25] - "The plain": or "Arabah; the Jordan valley",[26] which is the 'rift valley' (עֲרָבָה, ʿ[aravah](/source/Aravah)) extending from [Galilee](/source/Galilee) along the [Jordan River](/source/Jordan_River) then descending to the [Gulf of Aqaba](/source/Gulf_of_Aqaba). The king and his men might try to escape across the Jordan river to Moab or Ammon, because from and it is known that the Ammonites were harboring fugitives from the Babylonians.[27] ### Verse 5 - *But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath; and he passed sentence on him.*[28] - Cross reference: [Jeremiah 52:8](/source/Jeremiah_52:8) - "Plains": from the plural form of Hebrew word עֲרָבָה, *ʿaravah*, "rift valley"; here refers to 'the sloping plains of the rift valley basin north of the [Dead Sea](/source/Dead_Sea)' west of the [Jordan River](/source/Jordan_River) in the vicinity of the [Jericho](/source/Jericho) (cf. [Numbers 21](/source/Numbers_21):1).[29] - "[Riblah](/source/Riblah): was a city on the [Orontes River](/source/Orontes_River) in [Syria](/source/Syria), strategically located at a crossing of the major roads between [Egypt](/source/Ancient_Egypt) and [Mesopotamia](/source/Mesopotamia). About 22 years before ([609 BC](/source/609_BC)E), [Pharaoh](/source/Pharaoh) [Necho](/source/Necho_II) had brought Jehoahaz there, putting him in chains ([2 Kings 23:33](/source/2_Kings_23:33)) prior to taking him captive to Egypt. Now Nebuchadnezzar made it his base camp for his campaigns against the Palestinian states and his seat of judgment on prisoners brought to him there,[30] ### Verse 7 - *Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon.*[31] Cross references: [2 Kings 25:7](/source/2_Kings_25:7); [Jeremiah 52:11](/source/Jeremiah_52:11) - Huey notes the fulfillment of two prophecies in this verse:[7] 1. [Zedekiah](/source/Zedekiah) would see the king of Babylon and then be taken to Babylon (the prophecy recorded in [Jeremiah 32:4](/source/Jeremiah_32:4)-[5](/source/Jeremiah_32:5); [Jeremiah 34:3](/source/Jeremiah_34:3)) 1. Zedekiah would die in Babylon without being able to see that country (the prophecy recorded in [Ezekiel 12:13](/source/Ezekiel_12:13)) ## Jeremiah and Ebed-melech went free (39:11–18) Jeremiah survived because of his trust to YHWH and together with other people who were left behind by the Babylonians, he could go to his own home (), under the protection of [Gedaliah](/source/Gedaliah).[10] Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian who had rescued Jeremiah also survived (), because he trusted in YHWH.[11] The many topics of these narratives converge to a single persuasion effort that the exiles should submit to Babylon as the only way of life forward.[11] ### Verse 13 - *So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief officers;*[32] "[Rabsaris](/source/Rabsaris)"; and "[Rabmag](/source/Rab-Mag)" are "titles of Babylonian officials" according to the New Oxford Annotated Bible.[13] ### Verse 14 - *then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to [Gedaliah](/source/Gedaliah) the son of Ahikam, the son of [Shaphan](/source/Shaphan), that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.*[33] According to [Jeremiah 40:1](/source/Jeremiah_40:1) the court of the prison was located in [Ramah](/source/Ramah_in_Benjamin), from where Jeremiah was released into the protection of [Gedaliah](/source/Gedaliah) (cf. [Jeremiah 26:24](/source/Jeremiah_26:24)).[10] ## See also - [Babylon](/source/Babylon) - [Chaldean](/source/Neo-Babylonian_Empire) - [Ebed-Melech](/source/Ebed-Melech) - [Ethiopia](/source/Ethiopia) - [Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Saphan](/source/Gedaliah) - [Jericho](/source/Jericho) - [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem) - [Judah](/source/Kingdom_of_Judah) - [Nebuchadnezzar](/source/Nebuchadnezzar) - [Nebusarsechim](/source/Nebo-Sarsekim_Tablet) - [Nebuzaradan](/source/Nebuzaradan) - [Nergal-Sharezer](/source/Neriglissar) - [Rabmag](/source/Rabmag) - [Rabsaris](/source/Rabsaris) - [Riblah](/source/Riblah) - [Zedekiah](/source/Zedekiah) - Related [Bible](/source/Bible) parts: [2 Kings 25](/source/2_Kings_25), [Jeremiah 21](/source/Jeremiah_21), [Jeremiah 32](/source/Jeremiah_32), [Jeremiah 34](/source/Jeremiah_34), [Jeremiah 38](/source/Jeremiah_38), [Jeremiah 40](/source/Jeremiah_40), [Jeremiah 52](/source/Jeremiah_52), [Lamentations 4](/source/Lamentations_4), [Ezekiel 12](/source/Ezekiel_12), [Ezekiel 24](/source/Ezekiel_24) ## References 1. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition, New Revised Standard Version, Indexed. Michael D. Coogan, Marc Brettler, Carol A. Newsom, Editors. Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 2007. pp. 1137 Hebrew Bible. ISBN 978-0195288810 1. Huey 1993, pp. 340–346. 1. [CCEL - Brenton Jeremiah Appendix](http://www.ccel.org/bible/brenton/Jeremiah/appendix.html). 1. Würthwein 1995, pp. 35–37. 1. Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74. 1. As reflected in the [Jewish Publication Society's 1917 edition of the Hebrew Bible in English](http://mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et0.htm). 1. Huey 1993, p. 343. 1. [Jeremiah 39](https://biblehub.com/bsb/jeremiah/39.htm), Berean Study Bible 1. O'Connor 2007, p. 519. 1. O'Connor 2007, pp. 519–520. 1. O'Connor 2007, p. 520. 1. [NKJV](/source/New_King_James_Version) 1. Coogan 2007, p. 1140 Hebrew Bible. 1. Huey 1993, p. 341. 1. [KJV](/source/King_James_Version) 1. Footnote on Jeremiah 39:2 in the NKJV 1. [HCSB](/source/Holman_Christian_Standard_Bible) 1. Jerusalem Bible (1966), Jeremiah 38:28 and 39:3 1. Rashi's Commentary on Jeremiah 39:3 1. [Jeremiah 39:3](https://biblehub.com/multi/jeremiah/39-3.htm) - multilingual at Biblehub.com. Accessed May 1, 2019. 1. Vanderhooft, David, *The Neo-Babylonian Empire and Babylon in the Latter Prophets*. HSS 59; Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1999. p 151. 1. Translation (by Michael Jursa?) found in Reynolds, Nigel. (2007). "Tiny Tablet provides proof for Old Testament." *Telegraph.co.uk.* [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070914043526/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F07%2F11%2Fntablet111.xml). 1. Jursa, M., "Nabû-šarrūssu-ukīn, *rab ša-rēši*, und ,,Nebusarsekim“ (Jer 39:3)" *Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires* 2008-1 pp. 9-10 ([link](http://sepoa.fr/?page_id=261)) 1. NKJV 1. Note [a] on Jeremiah 39:4 in [NET Bible](/source/New_English_Translation) 1. Note [a] on Jeremiah 39:4 in NKJV 1. Note [b] on Jeremiah 39:4 in NET Bible 1. [ESV](/source/English_Standard_Version) 1. Note [b] on Jeremiah 39:5 in NET Bible 1. Note [d] on Jeremiah 39:5 in NET Bible 1. NKJV 1. NKJV 1. NKJV ## Sources - Coogan, Michael David (2007). [*The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48*](https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ). Augmented 3rd ed. Coogan, Michael David; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Newsom, Carol Ann; Perkins, Pheme (eds.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195288810. - Huey, F. B. (1993). [*The New American Commentary - Jeremiah, Lamentations: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture, NIV Text*](https://books.google.com/books?id=HBguYZCdAM4C). B&H Publishing Group. ISBN 9780805401165. - O'Connor, Kathleen M. (2007). ["23. Jeremiah"](https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ). *The Oxford Bible Commentary*. first (paperback) ed. Barton, John & Muddiman, John (eds.). Oxford University Press. pp. 487–533. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019. - Ryle, Herbert Edward (2009). *The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Paperback*. BiblioBazaar. ISBN 9781117708690. - Würthwein, Ernst (1995). [*The Text of the Old Testament*](https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC). Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019. ## External links ### Jewish - [Jeremiah 39 Hebrew with Parallel English](http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1139.htm) ### Christian - [Jeremiah 39 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate](http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=28&c=39) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jeremiah 39](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_39) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_39?action=history)). 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