Jeremiah 52:13

And burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great [men], burned he with fire:

And burned {H8313} the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, and the king's {H4428} house {H1004}; and all the houses {H1004} of Jerusalem {H3389}, and all the houses {H1004} of the great {H1419} men, burned {H8313} he with fire {H784}:

He burned down the house of ADONAI, the royal palace and all the houses in Yerushalayim - every notable person's house he burned to the ground.

He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building.

And he burned the house of Jehovah, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burned he with fire.

Jeremiah 52:13 graphically describes the devastating culmination of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. This verse, found in the appendix to the Book of Jeremiah, recounts the systematic destruction carried out by Nebuzaradan, captain of Nebuchadnezzar's guard, during the 19th year of the Babylonian king's reign (around 586 BC).

Context

This verse is part of a historical recounting that largely parallels 2 Kings 25, detailing the final siege and fall of Jerusalem. After a prolonged siege, King Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon led to the city's breach. Jeremiah 52:13 specifically highlights the deliberate act of setting fire to the most significant structures in the city: the sacred Temple, the royal palace, and the homes of the city's elite. This act marked the definitive end of the Kingdom of Judah and the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period of profound national suffering and reflection.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: The burning of Jerusalem, particularly the "house of the LORD" (Solomon's Temple), was not merely an act of war but the direct fulfillment of God's warnings and prophecies through Jeremiah and other prophets. It underscored the severe consequences of national sin and persistent idolatry.
  • The Desecration of Sacred Space: The Temple was the spiritual heart of Israel, symbolizing God's dwelling place among His people. Its destruction was a profound theological shock, signaling a period of divine discipline and the apparent withdrawal of God's visible presence, yet it was a necessary purification in God's sovereign plan.
  • Total Devastation: The inclusion of "the king's house" and "all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great [men]" emphasizes the complete and indiscriminate nature of the destruction. It signifies the utter collapse of Judah's political, social, and religious structures, leaving no aspect of the nation untouched by the judgment.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 52:13 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths. Firstly, it illustrates the seriousness of God's warnings and the inevitable consequences of disobedience, whether on a national or individual level. Secondly, it highlights the sanctity of God's presence and the importance of revering what is holy. While the physical Temple was destroyed, believers today are called to be temples of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the need for personal and communal purity.

Finally, even in this scene of immense destruction and judgment, we see God's sovereignty at work. This devastating period was part of His larger plan, preparing the way for future restoration, the return from exile, and ultimately, the coming of the Messiah. It reminds us that even through suffering, God's purposes will prevail.

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.

  • Micah 3:12

    Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed [as] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

  • Psalms 79:1

    ¶ A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:19

    And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.

  • Amos 3:10

    For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

  • Amos 3:11

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary [there shall be] even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.

  • Isaiah 64:10

    Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

  • Isaiah 64:11

    Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.

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