Chapter 39
Jerusalem’s Fall and Jeremiah’s Fate (39:1-40:6)
Jerusalem is Destroyed (39:1-10)
After about eighteen months of siege, a breach was made in the city walls, and officers of the king of Babylon entered and set up a military government to control the city.
Meanwhile, Zedekiah and his men of war had fled from the city by night hoping to escape the Babylonian army. But they were caught and brought before Nebuchadnezzar. There Zedekiah’s sons and nobles were slain before his eyes. Then Zedekiah's own eyes were punched out and he was put in chains and taken as a prisoner to Babylon. About a month later the city and the temple were burned. Most of the people were carried to Babylon to be slaves.
The safety of the prophet (39:11-14; 40:1-6)
Jeremiah was bound in chains in Ramah (40: 1) after he was freed from the court of the guard sometime earlier (39:14). After having been released by the order of Nebuchadnezzar through Nebuzaradan (39:11), Jeremiah was picked up on the street by Babylonian soldiers and with other prisoners taken to Ramah, the processing point for deportation to Babylon.
Chapters 40-43
Events ater the fall of Jerusalem
At Ramah, the prophet was again released by order of Nebuzaradan, and given a choice of going or remaining in Palestine with his people. Jeremiah choice to remain in Palestine. Once the choice was made, the prophet was given a supply of food and a present and sent on his way to dwell among his people in the home of Gedaliah at Mizpah (40:6).
This section traces the experiences of Jeremiah and the Jews left in Judah from the departure of the exiles for Babylon until the time of Jeremiah’s last prophecy in the land of Egypt. As long as he remained in Judah, Jeremiah continued to counsel his people against fleeing to Egypt to escape the Babylonian yoke (40:7-43:7).
Chapter 44
Jeremiah reminded the people that their calamity came as a result of their idolatry. Still, they worshiped false gods in Egypt. Jeremiah prophesied that they would be destroyed, and only a remnant would return to judge. Even so, they refused to listen to the prophet and continued their idolatry claiming they were prosperous that way.
Chapter 44 is the last record of Jeremiah in Egypt. Many think he died there.
Chapter 45
Chapter 45 is a message to Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe. He suffered from deep depression because King Jehoiakim burned his scroll (See Jeremiah, Chapter 36). Jeremiah promised Baruch that he will receive divine protection during Jerusalem's future destruction.
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