NOTES for Jer 39:1-18

As usual, when biblical authors recount historical events, they do not heighten the emotions. We read of the fall of Jerusalem, the murder of the king’s sons and nobles, and understand that all of this is terrible. But there is one thing we cannot do: grumble against God, asking why He failed to protect His people. God sent the people of Jerusalem His great prophet, gave him a precise prophecy warning of the coming disaster, and told them how it could be avoided. The prophet Jeremiah conveyed all of this to the people, first of all to King Zedekiah. But they would not listen! And so everything that Jeremiah prophesied with such heartfelt pain comes to pass.

It is striking that Nebuchadnezzar, the pagan king of Babylon, proves more devout than the Jews: they persecuted Jeremiah and nearly killed him, while Nebuchadnezzar gives him protection and shelter.

God truly shows no partiality: of all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, only Ebed-Melech, who did not belong to the people of God by blood but demonstrated his true piety by interceding for God’s prophet, receives a promise of safety. Once again, we see that faithfulness to God and trust in Him are not in vain.