Daily Tanach – Yirmiyah Chapter 39: The Fall of Jerusalem, Zedekiah’s Fate, and God’s Promise to the Faithful (Tuesday 19th Kisleiv)

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Chapter 39: The Fall of Jerusalem, Zedekiah’s Fate, and God’s Promise to the Faithful

 

The Siege and Breach of Jerusalem (Yirmiyahu 39:1–3)

In the ninth year of King Zedekiah’s reign, during the tenth month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his army laid siege to Jerusalem. After nearly two years, in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the Babylonian forces breached the city walls. The Babylonian officials entered and took positions at the middle gate, marking the complete fall of Jerusalem.

  1. Zedekiah’s Flight and Capture (39:4–7)

When King Zedekiah and his soldiers saw the Babylonian officials inside the city, they fled at night through a passage near the king’s garden, heading toward the Arabah. However, the Babylonian army pursued them and captured Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho. He was taken to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, where judgment was pronounced. Zedekiah witnessed the execution of his sons and the nobles of Judah. Then his eyes were blinded, and he was bound in bronze chains and taken to Babylon.

  1. The Destruction of Jerusalem (39:8–10)

The Babylonians burned the royal palace and the houses of the people and tore down the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan, the chief executioner, deported the remaining population, including defectors and survivors, to Babylon. However, the poorest people who had nothing were left behind in Judah, and Nebuzaradan gave them vineyards and fields.

  1. Yirmiyahu’s Release and Protection (39:11–14)

Nebuchadnezzar issued orders concerning Yirmiyahu, instructing Nebuzaradan to take care of him and do whatever he requested. Yirmiyahu was removed from the courtyard of the guard and entrusted to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, who took him to his home. Yirmiyahu lived among the people, no longer imprisoned.

  1. God’s Promise to Ebed-melech (39:15–18)

While Yirmiyahu was still in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him concerning Ebed-melech, the Cushite who had rescued Yirmiyahu earlier. God assured Ebed-melech that although disaster would come upon the city, he would be spared. He would not fall by the sword or be handed over to those he feared. His life would be preserved because he trusted in the Lord.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.