Jer. 52 A repetition of the reign of Zedekiah: of the siege, taking, and destruction of Jerusalem; with the causes thereof; and what further happened there, Jer. 52:1–30. Evil-merodach advanceth Jehoiachin, Jer. 52:31–34.

It is generally thought that what we have in this chapter was not penned by the prophet Jeremiah, who it is not probable would have so largely repeated what he had related before, Jer.

This history is found 2 Kings 25:1–7, much in the same words. See the annotations on that chapter. Jeremiah also hath the substance of it, Jer. 39:1–7; only neither of those places have the last words, from whence we learn that Zedekiah died in Babylon a prisoner.

See Poole “2 Kings 25:8”, See Poole “2 Kings 25:9”, See Poole “2 Kings 25:10”, See Poole “2 Kings 25:11”, See Poole “2 Kings 25:12” where all this is related, only with a small difference as to the day of the month when Nebuzar-adan came to Jerusalem and burned the temple.

The particular enumeration of the parts and utensils of the temple, mentioned in this and in the following verses, may be conceived to have been to justify the prophecy of Jeremiah, Jer.

The caldrons also: these were called pots, 2 Kings 25:14. And the shovels; which were to remove the ashes from the altar. The snuffers: some think that this word in this place were better translated tongs, because he is speaking of instruments of brass; and that those utensils are not here…

Some of these utensils were only of brass; others were some of them brass, some of silver, some of gold: the captain of the guard carried away all, both those of silver, and those of gold, and those of brass.

Solomon made two pillars, 1 Kings 7:15, which, Jer. 52:21, he called Jachin and Boaz; Jer. 52:23, a molten sea, ten cubits broad; this, Jer. 52:25, stood upon twelve oxen, and had ten bases, Jer.

This agreeth with 1 Kings 7:15, where what is called here a fillet is called a thread; concerning the height of the pillars, we read the same 2 Kings 25:17, 2 Chron. 3:15.

There are some differences as to the measure of these chapiters betwixt 2 Kings 25:17 and this text; here the height of them is made to be five cubits, there it is said to be three cubits: that which is said to resolve this difficulty is, that there were three parts in the chapiter, the square, the…

See Poole “2 Kings 25:18”, where we have the same words. This Seraiah was not he mentioned Jer. 51:59, but the son of Azariah, 1 Chron. 6:14. By the second priest, interpreters understand him that supplied the place of the high priest in case he were sick, &c., he that was sent by Zedekiah to the…

See 2 Kings 25:19; only there is mention out of five men, here there is mention of seven, but probably two of them were of less note.

See 2 Kings 25:20–21.

That is, in the time of Jehoiachin, 2 Kings 24:12–14; here it is said to be in the seventh year, there in the eighth year, it might be in part of both.

That was the year when the city was broken up.

Of this we read nothing in holy writ; some judge it to have been upon occasion of Ishmael’s killing Gedaliah, but this was four years after the taking of the city, and we are not certain what at this time brought again the Chaldean forces.

Jehoiachin began his reign at eighteen years of age, 2 Kings 24:8, and reigned but three months, but that he yielded himself to the king of Babylon besieging him, Jer. 52:12, in the eighth year of the king of Babylon’s reign.

The king of Babylon might have other kings his prisoners, his father having been so great a conqueror, or he might have other kings his subjects, that might reside at his court; and either out of a particular kindness he had to Jehoiachin, or in regard of the fame of David and Solomon, from whom…

He treated him like a prince, with a respect becoming his former state, took care both for his habit and diet: for his habit, that it should be decent, such as became a person of his quality, though a captive: for his diet, that he should have it in his court, thereby learning others that humanity…