Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Kings
Book: 2 Kings
Chapter: 25
Overview:
Jerusalem besieged, Zedekiah taken.
(1-7) The
Temple burnt,
The people carried into
Captivity.
(8-21) The
Rest of the Jews
flee into
Egypt, Evil-
Merodach relieves the
Captivity of
Jehoiachin.
(22-30)
1-7 Jerusalem was
So fortified, that it could not be taken till
Famine rendered the besieged unable to resist. In the
Prophecy
and
Lamentations of
Jeremiah, we find more of this event; here
it suffices to say, that the impiety and misery of the besieged
were very great. At length the
City was taken
By storm. The
King, his family, and his great men escaped in the night,
By
secret passages. But those deceive themselves who think to
escape
God's judgments, as much as those who think to brave
them.
By what befell Zedekiah, two prophecies, which seemed to
contradict each other, were both fulfilled.
Jeremiah prophesied
that Zedekiah should be brought to
Babylon, Jer 32:5; 34:3;
Ezekiel, that he should not see
Babylon, Eze 12:13. He was
brought thither, but his eyes being
Put out, he did not see it.
8-21 The
City and
Temple were burnt, and, it is probable, the
Ark in it.
By this,
God showed how little he cares for the
outward pomp of his
Worship, when the
Life and power of religion
are neglected. The walls of
Jerusalem were thrown down, and the
people carried
Captive to
Babylon. The vessels of the
Temple
were carried away. When the things signified were sinned away,
what should the signs stand there for? It was righteous with
God
to deprive those of the benefit of his
Worship, who had
preferred false worships before it; those that would have many
altars, now shall have none. As the
Lord spared not the angels
that sinned, as he doomed the whole race of fallen men to the
Grave, and all unbelievers to
Hell, and as he spared not his own
Son, but delivered him up for us all, we need not wonder at any
miseries he may bring upon guilty nations, churches, or persons.
22-30 The
King of
Babylon appointed
Gedaliah to be the
Governor
and protector of the Jews left in their land. But the things of
their peace were
So hidden from their eyes, that they knew not
when they were
Well off.
Ishmael basely slew him and all his
friends, and, against the counsel of
Jeremiah, the
Rest went to
Egypt. Thus was a full
End made of them
By their own folly and
disobedience; see
Jeremiah chap. 40 to 45.
Jehoiachin was
released out of
Prison, where he had been kept 37 years. Let
none say that they shall never see good again, because they have
long seen little but evil: the most miserable know not what turn
Providence may yet give to their affairs, nor what comforts they
are reserved for, according to the days wherein they have been
afflicted. Even in this world the
Saviour brings a release from
Bondage to the distressed sinner who seeks him, bestowing
foretastes of the pleasures which are at his right
Hand for
evermore.
Sin alone can hurt us;
Jesus alone can do good to
sinners.