391 Now when Jerusalem was captured in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah , in the tenth month , Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it; 2 in the eleventh e year of Zedekiah , in the fourth month , in the ninth day of the month , the city wall was breached . 3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate : Nergal-sar-ezer , Samgar-nebu , Sar-sekim the Rab-saris , Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag , and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon . 4 When Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they fled and went out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls ; and he went out toward the Arabah . 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho ; and they seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath , and he passed sentence on him. 6 Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes at Riblah ; the king of Babylon also slew all the nobles of Judah . 7 He then blinded Zedekiah's eyes and bound him in fetters of bronze to bring him to Babylon .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 39:1-7
Commentary on Jeremiah 39:1-10
(Read Jeremiah 39:1-10)
Jerusalem was so strong, that the inhabitants believed the enemy could never enter it. But sin provoked God to withdraw his protection, and then it was as weak as other cities. Zedekiah had his eyes put out; so he was condemned to darkness who had shut his eyes against the clear light of God's word. Those who will not believe God's words, will be convinced by the event. Observe the wonderful changes of Providence, how uncertain are earthly possessions; and see the just dealings of Providence: but whether the Lord makes men poor or rich, nothing will profit them while they cleave to their sins.