Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
Vers. 1. IN the ninth yeer of his reign] Zedekiahs reign, Jere. 39. 1. and 52. 4.
he] See chap. 14. 11.
f…rts] Or warlike engins.
V. 2. eleventh] About a yeer and an half. Compare v. 1. with v. 3.
V. 3. fourth monethmonth] Jere. 52. 6.
the people] The common sort. There was left some bread for the chie…er sort, Jere. 37. 21.
V. 4. broken up] By the enemies, Jere. 39. 2, 3.
men of war] That belonged to Zedekiah, and he himself with them, Jere. 39. 4.
by night] As was foretold, Ezek. 12. 12.
by the way of the gate] A secret way thorow a postern-gate, or back-door.
between two wals] In the one wall might be that back-door: a passage might be digged thorow the other wall in the night time, as Ezek. 12. 12.
the king] With his company, Jere. 52. 7.
the plain] Or, wildernesse.
V. 5. Jericho] In the tribe of Benjamin, Josh. 18. 21.
were scattered] Every one shifting for himself. These are supposed to be they who are mentioned, v. 23. and Jere. 40. 7.
V. 6. Riblah] See the notes on chap. 23. v. 33.
gave judgement upon him] Heb. spake judgement with him. For breach of covenant and oath, Ezek. 17. 18.
V. 7. put out the eyes] Heb. made blinde. Thus was the prophecie accomplished, Ezek. 1…. 13.
V. 8. the seventh day] He came, and began to make spoil: and on the tenth day (Jere. 52. 12.) he clean burnt down all.
nineteenth yeer] Compare with this chap. 24. v. 12.
captain of the guard] Or, chief ma…shall. Heb. master of those that slay. It was an high place, and honourable office: as generall of an army: provost-marshall: captain of a guard: chief jaylour. See Gen. 37. 36. Dan. 2. 14.
V. 9. every great mans house] Within and without Jerusalem. In the city he spared none, Jere. 39. 8. and 52. 13. without …e burnt onelyonly the great ones.
V. 10. all the army] Some in one place, others in another.
captain of the guard] See v. 8.
the wals] To take away all occasion and means of future rebellion.
V. 11. left in the …ty] After the first spoiling thereof, v. 4.
the fugitives that fell away] Heb. fallen away. Such as in the time of the siege yeelded to the king of Babylon, and came into his camp, Jere. 52. 15.
remnant of the multitude] In any place, within or without the city: except such poor of the land, as are mentioned, v. 12.
V. 12. poor] Who were most accustomed to labour, and best exercised in husbandry.
V. 13. the pillars of brasse that were in the house of the Lord] Chap. 20. 17. Jere. 27. 22. See 1 King. 7. 15, 23, 27.
V. 14. the pots, &c.] See 1 King. 7. 45, 50.
V. 16. one sea] Heb. the one sea.
without weight] See the notes on 1 Chron. 22. 3.
V. 17. The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits] 1 King. 7. 15. Jere. 52. 21.
three cubits] See the notes on 1 King. 7. 19.
V. 18. Seraiah] Son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah (1 Chron. 6. 13, 14.) who found the book of the law, chap. 22. 8.
Zephaniah] Son of Meras…iah, to distinguish him from the prophet, Zeph. 1. 1.
second priest] Next in office to the high priest, and chief over the chief of the Levites, Num. 3. 32. These two were as Aaron and Eleazar, Eleazar and Phinenas, Zadok and Ahimelech, Zadok and Abiathar, 2 Sam. 8. 17. and 20. 25.
keepers] See chap. 22. 4.
door] Heb. thresh…ld.
V. 19. officer] Or, eunuch. See the notes on 1 King. 22. 9.
five] Adde to these the officer mentioned before, and the scribe following, the number of seven (Jere. 52. 25.) will be made up: Here they are included: there not so.
were in the kings presence] Heb. saw the kings face. Of his bedchamber, or p…y counsell. See Esth. 1. 14. All these were taken for ill counsellours, and to advise Zedekiah to stand out to the last: and therefore they were all slain, v. 21.
principall scribe of the host] Or, scribe of the captain of the host.
V. 20. Riblah] See chap. 23. 33.
V. 21. smote] By his officers and souldiers, whom he commanded so to do: compare 1 Sam. 11. 15. and 12. 9.
V. 22. And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah] Jere. 40. 5, 9.
Gedaliah] See his story at large, Jere. 39. 14. and 40. 6, &c. and 41. 1, &c.
son of Ahikam] To distinguish him from the grandfather of the prophet, Zeph. 1. 1.
V. 23. captains of the armies] Jer. 40. 7. See the notes on v. 5.
their men] Souldiers and others under them.
Ne…ophathite] See 1 Chron. 2. 54.
V. 24. sware to them] To assure them of his fidelity to them.
servants] Holding what you have as tributaries under them.
V. 25. of the seed royall] Heb. of the kingdom. Descending from David.
smote Gedaliah] Jere. 41. 2. Upon disdain, that a deputy under a stranger should govern the land.
V. 26. came to Egypt] See Jere. 43. 5… &c.
V. 27. seven and thirtieth yeer] And fifty fift of his age, see chap. 24. v. 8. So long had Nebuchadnezzar kept him in prison, though he had voluntarily yeelded himself to him, chap. 24. 12.
seven and twentieth day] On the five and twentieth day (Jere. 52. 31.) he might consult thereabout, and decree it: but publish, and actually procure it on the seven and twentieth.
Evil-mer…da…h] Nebuchadnezzars son, who succeeded his father in the kingdom of Babylon.
in the yeer that he began] The first yeer of his reign. By this accompt Nebuchadnezzar reigned forty four yeers, see Jer. 25. 1.
the head] The person. Prisoners use to hang down the head. See Gen. 40. 13.
V. 28. …indly to him] Heb. good things with him.
set his throne] His royall estate: for he afforded some evidences of a royall dignity to such kings as he held in captivity.
V. 29. ca… bread] Did meal: did dine and sup.
before him] In his court: or at his table, 2 Sam. 9. 7.
all the dayes] So long as they two lived together.
V. 30. his allowance] For himself and his retinue.
for every day] See the notes on 1 King. 8. 59.