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.

Then the city {H5892} was broken up {H1234}, and all the men {H582} of war {H4421} fled {H1272}, and went forth {H3318} out of the city {H5892} by night {H3915} by the way {H1870} of the gate {H8179} between the two walls {H2346}, which was by the king's {H4428} garden {H1588};(now the Chaldeans {H3778} were by the city {H5892} round about {H5439}:) and they went {H3212} by the way {H1870} of the plain {H6160}.

they broke through into the city. All the soldiers fled and left the city by night through the gate between the two walls, near the king's garden. Because the Kasdim were surrounding the city, they took the route through the 'Aravah.

Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled the city by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah,

Then a breach was made in the city, 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 against the city round about); and they went toward the Arabah.

Jeremiah 52:7 describes a pivotal and tragic moment in the history of ancient Judah: the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. This verse vividly recounts the desperate attempt of King Zedekiah and his soldiers to escape the besieged city under the cover of night, highlighting the chaos and inevitability of their situation as the Chaldean forces surrounded them.

Context

Jeremiah 52 serves as an appendix to the book of Jeremiah, largely reiterating accounts found in Jeremiah 39 and 2 Kings 25. It recounts the final, devastating siege of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, which culminated in the city's destruction and the forced exile of its inhabitants. The siege had been long and brutal, a direct consequence of Judah's persistent rebellion against God and their refusal to heed the warnings delivered through prophets like Jeremiah. This specific verse details the breach of the city walls and the immediate, desperate flight of the king and his military forces, a futile attempt to evade capture.

Key Themes

  • The Inevitability of Prophecy: This verse powerfully illustrates the fulfillment of Jeremiah's many prophecies concerning Jerusalem's fall and the capture of its king. Despite their desperate measures, the outcome was predetermined by divine judgment against Judah's sin.
  • Desperate Flight and Failed Escape: It portrays the utter futility of trying to escape God's judgment once it has fully manifested. The "men of war," who should have been defending the city, were instead fleeing for their lives, indicating the complete collapse of resistance.
  • The End of an Era: The breaching of the walls and the flight of the king marked the definitive end of the Kingdom of Judah and the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem, ushering in the painful period of the Babylonian exile.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "broken up" (Hebrew: baqa') signifies a violent breach or tearing open, emphasizing the forceful penetration of Jerusalem's defenses by the Babylonian army. The detailed description of the escape route – "the gate between the two walls," "by the king's garden" – suggests specific, recognizable geographical features of ancient Jerusalem, lending authenticity to the historical account and underscoring the precise knowledge of the chronicler.

Related Scriptures

  • The events described here are directly paralleled and expanded upon in Jeremiah 39:2-4, which explicitly mentions King Zedekiah's flight through this very gate and his subsequent capture.
  • This desperate flight ultimately led to Zedekiah's capture, the slaughter of his sons before his eyes, and his blinding, as vividly detailed in Jeremiah 52:8-11, fulfilling earlier prophecies regarding his demise.
  • The long siege and ultimate destruction were the direct consequences of Judah's repeated rebellion against God, as warned in verses like Jeremiah 32:29, which speaks of the city being burned by the Chaldeans.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 52:7 serves as a solemn reminder that consequences inevitably follow disobedience, especially when repeated warnings are ignored. It underscores the futility of attempting to escape the results of one's actions or God's appointed judgments. For believers today, it's a powerful call to heed divine warnings and to seek God's will proactively, rather than waiting until desperate measures are the only perceived option. While the specific context is historical judgment, the principle of accountability for choices remains timeless. It also reminds us that even in moments of profound failure and exile, God's ultimate plan of restoration and redemption, though often delayed by human sin, remains steadfast.

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 51:32

    And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.

  • Jeremiah 39:4

    And it came to pass, [that] when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain.

  • Jeremiah 39:7

    Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.

  • 2 Kings 25:4

    And the city was broken up, and all the men of war [fled] by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which [is] by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees [were] against the city round about:) and [the king] went the way toward the plain.

  • Jeremiah 34:2

    Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:

  • Jeremiah 34:3

    And thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon.

  • Deuteronomy 32:30

    How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

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