Jeremiah 39:5

“But the Chaldean army pursued after them, etc.] Being informed of the flight of them, by those who surrendered to them, as Josephus says; or not finding the king, his family, nobles, and guards, at the palace, where they expected them; and, knowing which way they must take, pursued after them; not the whole army, only a part of it; for some must remain at Jerusalem to demolish the city, and take the spoil of it: and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; not far from it, as Josephus says; and who also observes, that when his friends and generals saw the enemy near, they left him, and shifted for themselves, and only a few were with him when overtook: and when they had taken him they…”

“Riblah--north of Palestine (see Jer 1:14; Num 34:11). Hamath is identified by commentators with Antioch, in Syria, on the Orontes, called Epiphania, from Antiochus Epiphanes. gave judgment upon him--literally, "spake judgments with him," that is, brought him to trial as a common criminal, not as a king. He had violated his oath (Eze 17:13-19; Ch2 36:13).”

“Compare the marginal reference. The differences between the two accounts are slight. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Riblah - Riblah was upon the borders of Canaan. Zedekiah was a tributary to the king of Babylon, and so subject to his power, having made a covenant with him, and secured his allegiance by his oath to him. Jeremiah 39:12”

“39:5 Zedekiah and his royal party fled on foot, so it was not difficult for strong and healthy soldiers to capture the group near Jericho. The enemy troops then forced their captives to walk more than 200 miles north to Riblah, where King Nebuchadnezzar had his field headquarters.”

“Chaldeans': Jer 32:4, Jer 32:5, Jer 38:18, Jer 38:23; Ch2 33:11; Lam 1:3, Lam 4:20 in the plains: Jer 52:8; Jos 4:13, Jos 5:10 Riblah: Jer 52:9, Jer 52:26, Jer 52:27; Kg2 23:33, Kg2 25:6 Hamath: Num 13:21; Jos 13:5; Jdg 3:3; Sa2 8:9; Kg2 17:24 gave judgment upon him: Heb. spake with him judgments, Jer 4:12; Eze 17:15-21 Jeremiah 39:6”