Jeremiah 39 1

Jeremiah 39:1 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 39:1 nkjv

In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem, and besieged it.

Jeremiah 39:1 niv

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

Jeremiah 39:1 esv

In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and besieged it.

Jeremiah 39:1 nlt

In January of the ninth year of King Zedekiah's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came with his entire army to besiege Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 39 verses

Jeremiah 39 1 Meaning

This verse marks a pivotal moment in the destruction of Jerusalem, detailing the beginning of its conquest by the Babylonian army. It introduces the key players and the immediate actions taken against the city.

Jeremiah 39 1 Context

Jeremiah chapter 39 recounts the final events of the Babylonian siege and conquest of Jerusalem, which occurred in 586 BC. Chapter 38 had detailed Zedekiah's indecision and Jeremiah's imprisonment. This chapter immediately follows, depicting the actual breach of the city walls and the king's capture. The immediate context is the fulfillment of God's judgment, pronounced through Jeremiah for the sin and rebellion of Judah, particularly Zedekiah. The wider context is the historical backdrop of the Neo-Babylonian Empire's dominance and its repeated campaigns against Judah, which ultimately led to the city's destruction and the Babylonian exile.

Jeremiah 39 1 Word Analysis

• "Now": This temporal adverb ("וְעַתָּה" - ve'atah) signals a transition and the immediate commencement of the predicted events, linking this chapter directly to previous prophecies and Zedekiah's earlier interactions with Jeremiah.
• "it came to pass": A common prophetic formula ("וַיְהִי" - vay'hi) indicating that divine plans are unfolding or historical events are transpiring as foretold.
• "in the ninth year of Zedekiah the king of Judah": Specifies the exact year, marking a crucial historical marker for this catastrophic event. The ninth year corresponds to 586 BC.
• "in the tenth month": The tenth month (Tebeth) was significant for marking the beginning of the siege.
• "on the tenth day of the month": This specific day (10th of Tebeth) historically represented the start of the siege operations that ultimately led to Jerusalem's fall.
• "that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard": Introduces the chief Babylonian military commander responsible for carrying out the destruction. His title, "captain of the guard" or "chief of the executioners/butchers," implies a role in security and the carrying out of harsh military decisions. (Hebrew: "רַב־סָרִיס" - rav saris, which can also mean chief of the eunuchs or chief official).
• "who had charge of the king of Babylon": Indicates his high rank and direct authority under Nebuchadnezzar.
• "came": Signifies the arrival and presence of the conquering army at the city walls.
• "came against Jerusalem with all his army": Emphasizes the full military might of Babylon directed towards the city.
• "and encamped against it": Describes the military tactic of siege warfare.
• "and built against it forts": "Forts" or "siegetowers" (Hebrew: "חָ֑יִל" - chayil, here implying military works or siege ramparts).

Group by Words Analysis

• "in the ninth year... on the tenth day of the month": The precise dating underscores the deterministic aspect of God's judgment, showing that these events were not accidental but occurred on foreordained dates.
• "Nebuzaradan... captain of the guard, who had charge of the king of Babylon, came against Jerusalem with all his army": This phrase consolidates the forces of the invading power, presenting Nebuchadnezzar's decisive action through his chief military officer, signifying the overwhelming nature of the Babylonian conquest.
• "and encamped against it, and built against it forts": These actions collectively depict the commencement of the military siege, the tightening of the blockade, and the preparation for breaching the city's defenses, highlighting the relentless pressure applied.

Jeremiah 39 1 Bonus Section

The name Nebuzaradan is significant. He is presented as an instrument of divine judgment, even though he was an agent of a pagan empire. This illustrates the biblical concept that God uses nations and individuals, regardless of their awareness of His purposes, to accomplish His will and execute His judgments against sin. His actions in the following verses, such as blinding Zedekiah and executing his sons, are further fulfillments of prophetic warnings and underscores the severity of Judah's apostasy.

Jeremiah 39 1 Commentary

This verse is a solemn historical account of the beginning of the end for Jerusalem and the Davidic kingdom. It signifies the divine judgment that Jeremiah had so consistently proclaimed. The precise date emphasizes that this catastrophe was orchestrated by God, using Babylon as His instrument. Nebuzaradan's arrival with the entire army and the construction of siege works mark the physical manifestation of God's wrath against Judah's unfaithfulness. The prophetic word is being realized with terrifying accuracy. This event also sets the stage for the tragic fate of King Zedekiah and the ensuing exile of the people, as further detailed in subsequent verses.