Jeremiah 39 4

Jeremiah 39:4 kjv

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 39:4 nkjv

So it was, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, that they fled and went out of the city by night, by way of the king's garden, by the gate between the two walls. And he went out by way of the plain.

Jeremiah 39:4 niv

When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king's garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah.

Jeremiah 39:4 esv

When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled, going out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls; and they went toward the Arabah.

Jeremiah 39:4 nlt

When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the soldiers saw that the Babylonians had broken into the city, they fled. They waited for nightfall and then slipped through the gate between the two walls behind the king's garden and headed toward the Jordan Valley.

Jeremiah 39 verses

Jeremiah 39 4 meaning

Jeremiah 39:4 details the climactic and desperate flight of King Zedekiah of Judah and his military forces from the besieged city of Jerusalem. After the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar had breached the city walls, Zedekiah and his soldiers sought to escape under the cover of darkness. They used a discreet, perhaps pre-planned, route through the king's garden and a hidden passage between the city's two defensive walls, aiming to reach the relative safety of the Jordan Rift Valley (the Arabah) to evade capture and the divine judgment long foretold by Jeremiah. This event marks the immediate fulfillment of prophecy and the final, ignominious end to Judah's sovereignty.

Jeremiah 39 4 Context

Jeremiah 39:4 marks the immediate aftermath of Jerusalem's final breach by the Babylonian army, occurring in Zedekiah's eleventh and last year as king of Judah. For approximately eighteen months, Nebuchadnezzar's forces had subjected Jerusalem to a brutal siege, causing widespread famine and distress. Zedekiah, installed as a vassal king by Babylon, had repeatedly disregarded Jeremiah's prophetic warnings to surrender to prevent utter devastation, instead seeking aid from Egypt and rebelling against Babylonian rule. This verse encapsulates the moment when the city's defenses finally crumbled. Zedekiah's flight, contrary to Jeremiah's specific advice that he surrender to save himself and the city (Jer 38:17-23), is an act born of terror and desperate self-preservation. It sets the stage for the dramatic and tragic fulfillment of all the prophecies Jeremiah had relentlessly delivered regarding Zedekiah's capture, blinding, and exile.

Jeremiah 39 4 Word analysis

• And when Zedekiah:
  • וַיְהִי (Vayhi): "And it happened" or "And it was." A common Hebrew narrative conjunction, introducing a sequential event and signifying a crucial turn in the story, often with prophetic implications.
  • זִדְקִיָּהוּ (Tzidqiyyahu): Zedekiah. The last reigning king of Judah, whose name ironically means "My righteousness is Yahweh." His actions of rebellion and disobedience stand in stark contrast to his God-honoring name, highlighting the profundity of his failure.
• the king of Judah: Specifies his royal office and kingdom, emphasizing his divinely ordained responsibility that he failed to uphold. This marks the end of an era for the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem.
• and all the men of war, saw them,:
  • וְכָל-אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה (vekol-anshey ha-milchamah): "and all the men of war." This refers to the entire military force—the officers and fighting men—indicating a total collapse of defense and morale, with the entire establishment joining the desperate flight.
  • אֹתָם (otam): "them." Refers specifically to the Babylonian (Chaldean) invaders who had successfully breached Jerusalem's defenses, becoming a visible and imminent threat.
• then they fled,:
  • וַיִּבְרְחוּ (va-yivr'khu): "and they fled." A verb that conveys a sense of sudden, urgent, and panicked escape. It depicts a rout, not an orderly retreat, from an overwhelming and inevitable defeat.
• and went forth out of the city by night,:
  • וַיֵּצְאוּ הָעִירָה לַיְלָה (va-yetzu ha-ira laylah): "and they went out of the city by night." The choice of "night" highlights their intention for stealth and secrecy, hoping to evade the watchful eyes of the Babylonian forces and effect a covert escape. It's an act of desperate last resort.
• by the way of the king's garden,:
  • דֶּרֶךְ גַּן הַמֶּלֶךְ (derekh gan ha-melekh): "by the way of the king's garden." This specifies a particular geographical route. Located likely south of the Temple Mount in the Kidron Valley, this area, possibly watered, offered a less conspicuous and potentially less guarded exit from the city compared to major gates.
• by the gate betwixt the two walls:
  • בֵּין הַחֹמֹתַיִם (bein ha-chomotayim): "between the two walls." This points to a specific fortified or concealed passage, common in ancient defensive systems, which provided a secure exit that might have been less visible to the besieging army or used in emergencies.
• and he went out by the way of the plain.
  • וַיֵּצֵא דֶּרֶךְ הָעֲרָבָה (va-yetze derekh ha-aravah): "and he went out by the way of the Arabah." The singular "he went out" (וַיֵּצֵא) contrasts with the preceding plural "they fled," emphasizing Zedekiah's personal role and leadership in the escape attempt, highlighting the direct focus of judgment on him. The Arabah is the geological name for the Jordan Rift Valley, leading eastward toward Jericho and beyond, a sparsely populated area suitable for attempting to outrun or hide from pursuers.

Jeremiah 39 4 Bonus section

The detailed topographical elements in Jeremiah 39:4, such as "the king's garden" and "the gate betwixt the two walls," underscore the historical authenticity and geographical precision of the biblical account. Ancient Jerusalem indeed featured multiple layers of defensive walls and a cultivated area, such as a royal garden, often located in the Kidron Valley or near the Gihon Spring, which provided a more secluded escape route compared to main public gates. The designation of the destination as "the Arabah" suggests a calculated, albeit ultimately failed, attempt to escape to the east, potentially seeking refuge across the Jordan in Moab, Ammon, or even deeper into the desert regions where Babylonian control was weaker. This act also serves as a potent theological symbol: the shepherd king, meant to protect his flock, abandoning them in their darkest hour, thus illustrating a profound failure of divine commission. It also draws a subtle but stark contrast to instances in Scripture where individuals successfully escape, not by their own cunning against God's will, but through divine providence and obedience, as seen in Moses' escape from Egypt or David's numerous deliverances. Zedekiah’s escape attempt, fueled by fear and rejection of God's command to surrender, demonstrates the inherent futility of any endeavor launched against the clear, revealed will of God.

Jeremiah 39 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 39:4 captures the pathetic climax of Judah's long rebellion against God, embodied in the final, desperate actions of King Zedekiah. Having consistently spurned Jeremiah's counsel and God's warnings, Zedekiah now faced the full weight of judgment. His name, "My righteousness is Yahweh," stands in bitter irony against his unrighteous actions and this inglorious flight. The vivid description of him and his "men of war" attempting to slip away under the cover of night, through a hidden route, speaks volumes about their fear, despair, and the complete failure of their resistance. This was not a strategic retreat but a panicked rout from a power they could not withstand—a power ordained by God. The carefully described escape route—the king's garden, between the two walls, towards the Arabah—indicates both a last-ditch effort at discretion and a failed strategy. No human cunning or military might could circumvent God's decreed judgment. This passage underscores a crucial biblical principle: resisting God's word and divine appointments leads not to safety but to ultimate and inescapable futility. Zedekiah’s personal ignominy and his immediate capture in the plains of Jericho (Jer 39:5) serve as a perpetual warning against both faithlessness and rebellious leadership.