Jeremiah 52:28

This [is] the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and twenty:

This is the people {H5971} whom Nebuchadrezzar {H5019} carried away captive {H1540}: in the seventh {H7651} year {H8141} three {H7969} thousand {H505} Jews {H3064} and three {H7969} and twenty {H6242}:

The numbers of people deported by N'vukhadretzar were as follows: in the seventh year, 3,023 persons from Y'hudah;

These are the people Nebuchadnezzar carried away: in the seventh year, 3,023 Jews;

This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and twenty;

Commentary

Jeremiah 52:28 provides a precise, historical detail concerning one of the deportations of the Jewish people to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. This verse, part of an appendix to the book of Jeremiah, offers a sober account of the consequences of Judah's unfaithfulness, acting as a factual summary of events that fulfilled Jeremiah's prophecies.

Context

Jeremiah chapter 52 serves as a historical postscript to the prophetic book, largely paralleling accounts found in 2 Kings 24-25. It meticulously details the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple, and the various stages of the Babylonian captivity. Verse 28 refers to the first significant deportation, which occurred in the "seventh year" of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. This specific event is often associated with the surrender of King Jehoiachin and the removal of many prominent citizens, artisans, and mighty men to Babylon. While 2 Kings 24:14 mentions 10,000 captives during this period, Jeremiah 52:28 specifies 3,023 individuals. This difference might indicate a focus on a particular segment of the population, perhaps heads of households, or a separate, smaller wave within that broader deportation, highlighting the meticulous record-keeping of the time.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Prophecy Fulfillment: The deportations were not random acts of war but the fulfillment of God's warnings through His prophets, particularly Jeremiah, concerning the consequences of Judah's sustained idolatry and disobedience.
  • Historical Accuracy: The specific numbers and timelines provided in this verse underscore the Bible's commitment to historical detail, lending credibility to the narrative of God's interaction with His people.
  • The Reality of Exile: This verse reminds us that the Babylonian exile was a tangible, devastating event, impacting real people and breaking apart the nation of Judah in stages.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Nebuchadrezzar" is an alternative spelling of "Nebuchadnezzar," commonly used in the book of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Both spellings refer to the same powerful King of Babylon who was instrumental in the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent deportations of the Jewish people.

Historical Significance & Cross-References

This deportation, occurring in the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar (around 597 BC), followed the brief reign of King Jehoiachin. It marked a significant turning point, as many of Judah's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, were taken into captivity. This paved the way for Zedekiah to be installed as a puppet king, leading to the final rebellion and the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem in the 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 52:12-14), and a final deportation in the 23rd year (Jeremiah 52:29-30).

Practical Application

Jeremiah 52:28 serves as a stark reminder that actions have consequences. The precise accounting of those taken into exile highlights the seriousness of God's judgment against persistent sin and rebellion. For believers today, it underscores the importance of heeding divine warnings and living in obedience to God's will. Even in times of judgment, God's meticulous record-keeping demonstrates His sovereignty and the fulfillment of His word, offering a foundation of trust in His ultimate plan for redemption and restoration.

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Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 24:2 (3 votes)

    And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.

  • 2 Kings 24:3 (3 votes)

    Surely at the commandment of the LORD came [this] upon Judah, to remove [them] out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;

  • Daniel 1:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

  • Daniel 1:3 (3 votes)

    And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring [certain] of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

  • 2 Kings 24:12 (3 votes)

    And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.

  • 2 Kings 24:16 (3 votes)

    And all the men of might, [even] seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all [that were] strong [and] apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:20 (2 votes)

    And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: