Jeremiah 39 5

Jeremiah 39:5 kjv

But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.

Jeremiah 39:5 nkjv

But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.

Jeremiah 39:5 niv

But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him.

Jeremiah 39:5 esv

But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath; and he passed sentence on him.

Jeremiah 39:5 nlt

But the Babylonian troops chased them and overtook Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who was at Riblah in the land of Hamath. There the king of Babylon pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah.

Jeremiah 39 verses

Jeremiah 39 5 meaning

Jeremiah 39:5 records the immediate aftermath of King Zedekiah's failed escape from Jerusalem, as the Babylonian army relentlessly pursued him and his forces. The verse details their capture of Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho and his subsequent transport to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, at his military headquarters in Riblah, where Zedekiah was subjected to formal judgment. This moment marks a profound turning point, signifying the definitive end of the Davidic monarchy in Judah and the grim fulfillment of years of prophecy regarding Jerusalem's fall and its king's fate.

Jeremiah 39 5 Context

Jeremiah 39:5 is nestled within the vivid and painful account of Jerusalem's destruction in the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign. Verses 1-4 describe the protracted siege of the city and Zedekiah's desperate, last-ditch attempt to escape under the cover of darkness. Having fled Jerusalem with his soldiers, hoping to reach safety across the Jordan, Zedekiah and his men are relentlessly pursued by the superior Babylonian forces. This specific verse captures the critical moment of their capture and Zedekiah's personal journey from being a monarch to a captive brought before his conqueror. The larger context of Jeremiah's prophecies has consistently warned of this very outcome as God's judgment against Judah for its unfaithfulness, idolatry, and rebellion, and against the false prophets who contradicted Jeremiah's warnings. Zedekiah, installed as king by Nebuchadnezzar himself, had broken his oath of allegiance and rebelled, incurring not only Babylonian wrath but also divine condemnation.

Jeremiah 39 5 Word analysis

• But: Signals a direct contrast and a pivot from the previous action (Zedekiah's flight). It emphasizes the inevitability of the pursuing forces overcoming his escape attempt.
• the army of the Chaldeans: Refers to the Neo-Babylonian military (Hebrew: כַּשְׂדִּים, Kasdim), highlighting the overwhelming military power and organized pursuit by the designated instrument of God's judgment against Judah.
• pursued them: The Hebrew word רָדַף (radap) implies an active, aggressive, and relentless chase, emphasizing the speed and determination of the Babylonians to prevent Zedekiah's escape. "Them" refers to Zedekiah and his soldiers.
• and overtook Zedekiah: The Hebrew הִשִּׂיג (hissîg) means to catch up with, reach, or apprehend. It signifies that the Babylonians successfully closed the distance and brought the flight to an end. Zedekiah, the last reigning king in the Davidic line in Judah, is specifically named, underlining the profound political and theological implications of his capture.
• in the plains of Jericho: Jericho (Hebrew: יְרִיחוֹ, Yericho) is historically significant as the first city conquered by Israel when entering the Promised Land. Its "plains" (ערבת, ‘aravot) are relatively flat, open ground, which offered little cover for a fleeing army and made the capture more straightforward once detected. The irony is stark: the entry point into the promised land becomes the place of the king's ultimate humiliation and the beginning of the journey into exile.
• and when they had captured him: The Hebrew לָכַד (lakhad) means to seize, grasp, or take hold of, affirming the successful apprehension of the king. This marks the physical end of his freedom and his official status as a prisoner.
• they brought him up: The Hebrew הֵעֱלֻהוּ (he’eluhu) suggests a formal act of leading or escorting Zedekiah to a higher authority, often implying a journey toward a more significant or commanding location.
• to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (Hebrew: נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּר, Nevukhadnetsar) was the mighty monarch of the Babylonian Empire and God's chosen instrument of judgment against Judah. His full title emphasizes his supreme authority and power in this context.
• at Riblah: Riblah (Hebrew: רִבְלָה) was a strategic city in the land of Hamath (modern Syria), serving as Nebuchadnezzar's military headquarters during his campaigns in the west. It was an intentional choice for the location of Zedekiah's judgment, as it allowed Nebuchadnezzar to oversee multiple fronts without returning to Babylon and served as a very public display of his conquest far from Jerusalem.
• where he passed judgment on him: The Hebrew וַיִּדָּבֵר אִתּוֹ מִשְׁפָּט (vayidaber itto mishpat) literally means "he spoke judgment with him" or "uttered judgment concerning him." This indicates a formal legal process or sentencing, rather than a mere arbitrary decision. It underscores Nebuchadnezzar's role as the final authority, effectively stripping Zedekiah of all royal prerogative and condemning him for his rebellion against Babylon and implicitly against God's appointed path.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them": This phrase succinctly portrays the swift and unyielding chase by Babylon, showing the inevitability of Judah's king being caught. It juxtaposes Zedekiah's fleeting hope of escape with the overwhelming force determined to prevent it.
• "and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho": This combination highlights the culmination of the pursuit, precisely locating Zedekiah's capture in an open, significant, yet vulnerable landscape, underscoring the tragic end to his royal flight. The irony of Jericho as the site is significant.
• "and when they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah": This describes the transfer of Zedekiah from a fleeing king to a captured prisoner, taken directly before the supreme foreign authority. It emphasizes the complete shift of power and the hierarchical chain of command, demonstrating Babylon's total control.
• "where he passed judgment on him": This final clause defines the nature of the encounter at Riblah. It was not merely a meeting but a formal act of sentencing by Nebuchadnezzar, marking the end of Zedekiah's autonomy and signaling the dire consequences that would follow (further elaborated in Jer. 52:9-11). It embodies the execution of divine retribution through human instruments.

Jeremiah 39 5 Bonus section

• The selection of Riblah as Nebuchadnezzar's command center was strategically brilliant, positioning him to easily launch attacks against Egypt to the south or various smaller states to the north and west, ensuring his military dominance in the region. This meant that any important prisoner or military decision from the campaigns in Judah would logically be brought before him there.
• Zedekiah's decision to flee eastward, potentially aiming for the Transjordanian regions like Moab or Ammon, reveals his desperation but also his misjudgment of the extent of Babylonian control and surveillance. The open terrain of the Jericho plains provided little cover against the disciplined Babylonian pursuit.
• The divine authorship underlying this event is a crucial theological point. While executed by human agents (Chaldeans), Jeremiah repeatedly emphasizes that Nebuchadnezzar was YHWH's servant (Jer 25:9, 27:6), an instrument for fulfilling God's covenant curses (Lev 26, Deut 28) and disciplining His rebellious people.
• The severity of Nebuchadnezzar's judgment at Riblah (killing Zedekiah's sons before his eyes, then blinding him, and taking him in bronze chains to Babylon, Jer 52:9-11) goes beyond simple punishment. It was intended to be a brutal spectacle that shattered the last vestige of the Davidic dynasty's power and hope, fulfilling Ezekiel's prophecy of the blind king (Eze 12:13). Jeremiah 39:5 sets the stage for this terrible but biblically anticipated event.

Jeremiah 39 5 Commentary

Jeremiah 39:5 serves as a chilling summary of Zedekiah's fate, meticulously fulfilling previous prophecies by Jeremiah and other prophets. It vividly portrays the relentless efficiency of the Babylonian army, demonstrating that no human effort or strategic flight could evade God's appointed instrument of judgment. The capture of the last Davidic king in the symbolic plains of Jericho underscored the reversal of Israel's fortunes—a place once associated with triumphant entry now signified catastrophic national humiliation and loss. His transport to Riblah, far from Judah, further emphasizes Nebuchadnezzar's complete dominion and Zedekiah's utter dethronement. The phrase "passed judgment on him" is crucial; it was not a casual encounter but a formal legal proceeding where Zedekiah's fate, and by extension Judah's, was officially sealed, solidifying the end of their independent monarchy as prophesied. This verse highlights the profound consequences of persistently rejecting God's word and guidance, demonstrating that God's plans, whether of blessing or judgment, are unfailingly executed.