Jeremiah 39:1

¶ 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 they besieged it.

In the ninth {H8671} year {H8141} of Zedekiah {H6667} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, in the tenth {H6224} month {H2320}, came {H935} Nebuchadrezzar {H5019} king {H4428} of Babylon {H894} and all his army {H2428} against Jerusalem {H3389}, and they besieged {H6696} it.

In the ninth year of Tzidkiyahu king of Y'hudah, in the tenth month, N'vukhadretzar king of Bavel marched against Yerushalayim with his entire army and began to lay siege against it.

In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to the city.

(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;

Jeremiah 39:1 marks the somber beginning of the end for the Kingdom of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem. This verse precisely dates the final, devastating siege by the Babylonian Empire, led by King Nebuchadrezzar.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse plunges the reader into the critical period leading to the Babylonian exile. It pinpoints the start of the siege to the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, a puppet king installed by Babylon after the first deportation. Despite repeated warnings from the prophet Jeremiah, Zedekiah and the people of Judah continued in idolatry and rebellion against God, as well as against the Babylonian overlords. This siege, lasting nearly two years, was the culmination of decades of spiritual decline and political instability, fulfilling numerous prophecies concerning Judah's impending judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The siege is a clear manifestation of God's righteous judgment against Judah for its persistent sin, idolatry, and rejection of His covenant.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This event directly fulfills Jeremiah's long-standing prophecies of Jerusalem's destruction and the people's exile. It underscores the certainty of God's word, whether in blessing or judgment.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The dire circumstances described highlight the severe consequences of turning away from God and ignoring His warnings.
  • God's Sovereignty: Even pagan kings like Nebuchadrezzar are instruments in God's sovereign plan to bring about His purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Nebuchadrezzar" is an alternative, often used in the book of Jeremiah, for the more commonly known "Nebuchadnezzar," the powerful king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The term "besieged" (Hebrew: tsarar) implies a deliberate and prolonged military blockade, designed to cut off supplies and wear down the city's defenses, leading to its eventual surrender or fall by force. This indicates a strategic, enduring assault rather than a swift raid.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 39:1 serves as a powerful reminder that God's warnings are not empty threats. While it speaks to a specific historical judgment, the principle remains: persistent disobedience carries significant consequences. It calls believers today to take God's word seriously, to heed His guidance, and to live in obedience, trusting in His ultimate sovereignty over all nations and historical events. It also reminds us that God's justice is just as real as His mercy, and His prophetic word will always come to pass, whether for judgment or for the promise of a new covenant and restoration.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 52:4

    And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, [that] Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.

  • Jeremiah 52:7

    Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which [was] by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans [were] by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.

  • Ezekiel 24:1

    ¶ Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

  • Ezekiel 24:2

    Son of man, write thee the name of the day, [even] of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.

  • 2 Kings 25:1

    ¶ And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, [that] Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

  • 2 Kings 25:12

    But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land [to be] vinedressers and husbandmen.

  • Zechariah 8:19

    Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth [month], and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

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