Jeremiah 39:3

“And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, etc.] Into the city: a breach being made in the walls to take possession of it: and sat in the middle gate; according to Jarchi, this was a gate of the temple; the gate Nicanor, the eastern gate, which was between the gate of the court of the women and the gate of the temple; who observes, that their Rabbins say, the middle gate was the gate in which the wise men made their decrees and constitutions: so that, in “the place of judgment, wickedness was there”; as in (<210316>Ecclesiastes 3:16); and Josephusf729 says, that the city was taken in the middle of the night, when the enemies’ generals went into the temple; but rather, according to…”

“sat--expressing military occupation or encampment. middle gate--the gate from the upper city (comprehending Mount Zion) to the lower city (north of the former and much lower); it was into the latter (the north side) that the Chaldeans forced an entry and took up their position opposite the gate of the "middle" wall, between the lower and upper city. Zedekiah fled in the opposite, that is, the south direction (Jer 39:4). Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo--proper names formed from those of the idols, Nergal and Nebo (Kg2 17:30; Isa 46:1). Rab-saris--meaning "chief of the eunuchs." Rab-mag--chief of the magi; brought with the expedition in order that its issue might be foreknown through his…”

“These princes were four: (1) Nergal, Sharezer, i. e., Nirgal-sar-usur (May Nergal protect the king); (2) Samgar-Nebo (Be gracious, O Nebo); (3) Sarsechim. No explanation is given at present of this name. He was Rab-saris, i. e., chief of the eunuchs (2 Kings 18:17 note). (4) another Nergal-sharezer, who was Rab-mag, i. e., chief of the Magians. He is known in history as Neriglissar, the son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar, and probably his vicegerent during his seven years of madness. Two years after his death Neriglissar murdered Evil-Merodach, Nebuchadnezzars son, and seized the crown, but after a reign of four years was slain in battle against Cyrus, when disputing with him the crown of Media.…”

“The middle gate - The city was encompassed with two walls, before they came to the wall of the temple; the gate in the inner wall is supposed to have been that which is called the middle gate. They would not at first venture farther, 'till they might without hazarding their persons. Jeremiah 39:5”

“39:3 High-ranking officers came into the city to oversee its destruction and sat in triumph at the Middle Gate, showing how important this victory was to the Babylonians. According to custom, victorious officials positioned themselves at one of the gates, since judicial and administrative matters were controlled at gateways.”

“all the: Jer 1:15, Jer 21:4, Jer 38:17 Nergalsharezer: Jer 39:13; Kg2 17:30 Sarsechim: These were the principal commanders; but Dr. Blayney thinks that, instead of six persons, we have in reality but three, as the name that follows each is the title of the office. Thus Nergal-Sharezer, who was Samgar-nebo, or keeper, i.e., priest of Nebo; Sarsechim, who was Rab-saris, or chief eunuch; and Nergal-sharezer, who was Rab-mag, or chief magi; as the words mog in Persian, magoos in Arabic, magooshai in Syriac, and μαγος \[Strong's G3097\], in Greek, signify; and we learn from Justin and Curtius that the magi attended the king in war. Jeremiah 39:4”