In these studies in the second half of the book of Jeremiah,  we will see God’s word coming through Jeremiah and being rejected again and again. We will see the difficulties of Jeremiah but also the way he is saved through it all. Jeremiah is God’s reporter on the spot, in the midst of one of the most tumultuous periods in Israel’s history.

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, and the particular theme, as with studies elsewhere, each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read on the main Bible page.

The Fall of Jerusalem

Jer 39:1-10

¹ In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. ² And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through. ³ Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. ⁴ When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah.

⁵ But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. ⁶ There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah. ⁷ Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

⁸ The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. ⁹ Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people. ¹⁰ But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.

A. Find Out

1. In what year did Nebuchadnezzar come? v.1
2. In what year was the wall breached? v.2
3. How did the Babylonians frighten Jerusalem’s people? v.3,4
4. What did Zedekiah do? v.4
5. What happened to him? v.5-7
6. What happened to Jerusalem? v.8
7. What happened to its people? v.9,10

B. Think:

1. How long had the siege of Jerusalem lasted?
2. What, from the previous studies, had the Lord said a) He would do with Jerusalem and b) Should be Zedekiah’s course of action?
3. How would the Israelites be feeling by the end of this passage?

C. Comment:

After some two years of siege, the wall of Jerusalem is eventually breached. To show their superiority, some of the Babylonian officials took possession of an area usually used in the past by the rulers of the city. The effect is as they desire, terror in the city.

That night Zedekiah and his soldiers flee from the city. Their escape is short lived and they are quickly captured and Zedekiah’s end is particularly unpleasant. God had warned about this. He had warned that Jerusalem WOULD be taken. He had warned Zedekiah to surrender so that he would be spared. God knew what the enemy would do unless He protected Jerusalem. The way of escape had been spelt out to this foolish king but he had refused it.

Repentance and whole heartedly turning back to God would have resulted in a completely different story, but that never came. The wilful stubbornness of the king, in so many ways like so many before him, brought the end of Jerusalem.

D. Application:

1. Have we understood the king’s foolishness, typical of so many, that hears and hears and hears again – but still doesn’t respond?
2. Worship the One Holy God today.

Jeremiah Protected

Jer 39:11-18

¹¹ Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: ¹² “Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.” ¹³ So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officers of the king of Babylon ¹⁴ sent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people.

¹⁵ While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: ¹⁶ “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. ¹⁷ But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. ¹⁸ I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’”

A. Find Out

1. Who gave instructions about Jeremiah? v.11
2. What instructions did he give? v.12
3. Where was he to be taken? v.14
4. Who had Jeremiah a word for? v.16
5. What had the Lord confirmed about Jerusalem? v.16
6. But what would happen to that person? v.17,18

B. Think:

1. What was amazing about Jeremiah’s deliverance?
2. Who was the person Jeremiah had had a word for? (look back to Jer 38:7-9)
3. Why did the Lord honour these two men?

C. Comment:

As Jerusalem’s walls are breached and the Babylonians swarm in and captives are taken, fear and horror must have been the prevailing feelings within the occupants of the city. The exception to all this was Jeremiah. The Lord had told him what would happen.  He could rest in the Lord’s sovereign knowledge and care in it all.

Then Jeremiah is given the red carpet treatment. From the very top the command comes, from Nebuchadnezzar himself.  Some how he must have heard of this prophet of God speaking out, proclaiming his victory. Had this king already been having dealings with God via Daniel? (see Dan Ch.1-3)

Whatever it was, Jeremiah receives his protection while others are being taken into captivity.  It would appear that the Cushite who had previously helped Jeremiah is also getting God’s protection.  In the midst of the disaster, the Lord is still there looking after His special men.  In every situation God is the Lord!  Sometimes He delivers from death (as here) and sometimes he delivers through death (into heaven), such as with Stephen in Acts 7:60.

D. Application:

1. Are you able to rest in every situation, knowing that the Lord is ruling over your life, and will protect you and provide for you?
2. Declare that today by faith.