Wesley Corpus

Chapter XXV Jerusalem is taken, ver. 1 - 4. Zedekiah taken and sentenced, ver. 5 - 7. Nebuzaradan burns the city, breaks down the walls, and carries away the spoils, with most of the people, ver. 3 - 17. The chief officers are put to death, ver. 18 - 21. The very remnant of the people is scattered, ver. 22 - 26. Jehoiachin is countenanced, after thirty seven years imprisonment, ver. 27 - 30. Came - To chastise Zedekiah for his rebellion and perjury. Built - To keep all supplies of men or provisions from entering into the city: and that from thence they might shoot darts, or arrows, or stones. The people - For the common people, but only for the great men. Now they eat their own children for want of food, Lam 4:3, &c. Jeremiah in this extremity, earnestly persuaded the king to surrender; but his heart was hardened to his destruction. Riblah - Where Nebuchadnezzar staid, that he might both supply the besiegers with men, and military provisions, as their occasions required; and have an eye to Chaldea, to prevent or suppress any commotions which might happen there in his absence. They - The king's officers appointed thereunto, examined his cause, and passed the following sentence against him. Slew, &c. - Tho' they were but children, that this spectacle, the last he was to behold, might leave a remaining impression of grief and horror upon his spirit. And in slaying his sons they in effect declared, that the kingdom was no more, and that he nor any of his breed were fit to be trusted: therefore not fit to live. Babylon - Thus two prophecies were fulfilled, which seemed contrary one to the other, that he should go to Babylon, Jer 32:5, 34:3, and that he should never see Babylon: which seeming contradiction, because Zedekiah the false prophet could not reconcile, he concluded both were false, and it seems Zedekiah the king might stumble at this difficulty. Months, &c. - So the Chaldeans did not put all to fire and sword, as soon as they had taken the city: but about a month after, orders were sent, to compleat the destruction of it. This space God gave them to repent after all the foregoing days of his patience. But in vain; they still hardened their hearts: and therefore execution is awarded to the utmost.