The following commentary covers Chapters 39 through 44.
Zedekiah
carried to Babylon: useless endeavour to escape judgment
After this, chapter 39 and
the following chapters give us the history of the
confusion and iniquity that reigned among the remnant who
were not carried captive to Babylon, in order that they
should be scattered, and that all should fully bear the
judgment which God had pronounced. Nevertheless, if at
this last hour this remnant had submitted to the yoke of
Nebuchadnezzar, peace should have reigned in the land,
and these few that remained should have possessed it. But
some revolt, and the others fear the consequences of
their folly. There is no idea of trusting in Jehovah.
They consult Jeremiah, but refuse to obey the word of the
Lord from his mouth. They take refuge in Egypt to escape
Nebuchadnezzar, but only to fall under the sword which
would have spared them in Judea, had they remained there
in subjection to the king. In Egypt they give themselves
up to idolatry, that the wrath of God might come upon
them to the end. Nevertheless God would spare even a
little remnant of these, but Pharaoh-hophra, in whom they
trusted, should be given up into the hands of
Nebuchadnezzar, as Zedekiah had been.
Jeremiah 40 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Zedekiah carried to Babylon: useless endeavour to escape judgment
After this, chapter 39 and the following chapters give us the history of the confusion and iniquity that reigned among the remnant who were not carried captive to Babylon, in order that they should be scattered, and that all should fully bear the judgment which God had pronounced. Nevertheless, if at this last hour this remnant had submitted to the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, peace should have reigned in the land, and these few that remained should have possessed it. But some revolt, and the others fear the consequences of their folly. There is no idea of trusting in Jehovah. They consult Jeremiah, but refuse to obey the word of the Lord from his mouth. They take refuge in Egypt to escape Nebuchadnezzar, but only to fall under the sword which would have spared them in Judea, had they remained there in subjection to the king. In Egypt they give themselves up to idolatry, that the wrath of God might come upon them to the end. Nevertheless God would spare even a little remnant of these, but Pharaoh-hophra, in whom they trusted, should be given up into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, as Zedekiah had been.