25  Jerusalem is taken, Ki2 25:1-4.
Zedekiah taken and sentenced, Ki2 25:5-7.
Nebuzaradan burns the city, breaks down the walls, and carries away the spoils, with most of the people, Ki2 25:3-17.
The chief officers are put to death, Ki2 25:18-21.
The very remnant of the people is scattered, Ki2 25:22-26.
Jehoiachin is countenanced, after thirty seven years imprisonment, Ki2 25:27-30.

25:1 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.

25:3 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, etc Jeremiah in this extremity, earnestly persuaded the king to surrender; but his heart was hardened to his destruction.

25:6 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.

25:7 Slew, etc - 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, Jer 34:4, 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.

25:8 Months, etc - 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.

25:9 Burnt the house of the Lord - One of the apocryphal writers tells us, that Jeremiah got the ark out of the temple, and conveyed it to a cave in mount Nebo, Ma2 2:4-5. But this is like the other tales of that author, who has no regard either to truth or probability.For Jeremiah was at this time a close prisoner. By the burning of the temple God would shew, how little he cares for the outward pomp of his worship, when the life and power of religion are gone. About four hundred and thirty years the temple of Solomon had stood. And it is observed by Josephus, that the second temple was burnt by the Romans, the same month, and the same day of the month, that the first temple was burnt by the Chaldeans.

25:11 People - Whom neither the sword nor famine had destroyed, who were eight hundred and thirty two persons, Jer 52:29, being members and traders of that city: for it is likely, there were very many more of the country people fled thither, who were left with others of their brethren to manure the land. Multitude - Of the inhabitants of the country.

25:12 Left of the poor - So while the rich were prisoners in a strange land, the poor had liberty and peace in their own country! Thus providence sometimes humbles the proud, and favours them of low degree.

8 

8:2 A leper came - Leprosies in those countries were seldom curable by natural means, any more than palsies or lunacy.Probably this leper, though he might not mix with the people, had heard our Lord at a distance. Mar 1:40; Luk 5:12.

8:4 See thou tell no man - Perhaps our Lord only meant here, Not till thou hast showed thyself to the priest - who was appointed to inquire into the case of leprosy. But many others he commanded, absolutely, to tell none of tho miracles he had wrought upon them. And this he seems to have done, chiefly for one or more of these reasons:

1. To prevent the multitude from thronging him, in the manner related Mar 1:45.
2. To fulfil the prophecy, Isa 42:1, that he would not be vain or ostentatious. This reason St. Matthew assigns, Mat 12:17, etc
3. To avoid the being taken by force and made a king, Joh 6:15. And,
4. That he might not enrage the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees, who were the most bitter against him, any more than was unavoidable, Mat 16:20-21.

For a testimony - That I am the Messiah; to them - The priests, who otherwise might have pleaded want of evidence. Lev 14:2.