1. What did Zedekiah and the men of war in Judah do when the princes of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate of Jerusalem?
They fled the city by night: “(1) In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. (2) And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. (3) And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon. (4) And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain” (Jeremiah 39:1-4).
Timeline (II Kings 25:1-4).
This was foretold (Jeremiah 1:15 and Jeremiah 21:1-6).
They could have surrendered and lived (Jeremiah 21:8-11 and Jeremiah 38:17).
2. What did the Chaldeans do to Zedekiah and his sons?
They killed Zedekiah’s sons and put out Zedekiah’s eyes before taking him bound in chains to Babylon: “(5) But the Chaldeans 'army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him. (6) Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah. (7) Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon” (Jeremiah 39:5-7).
II Kings 25:6-7 and Jeremiah 52:7-11; cf. Jeremiah 34:21
3. Did Jerusalem remain mostly intact after being besieged?
No: “And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 39:8).
II Kings 25:8-9, Jeremiah 17:27, and Jeremiah 21:10
4. According to Jeremiah in this chapter, who was left in Judah and given vineyards and fields?
The poor of the people: “(9) Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained. (10) But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time” (Jeremiah 39:9-10).
Nebuzaradan carried away most (Jeremiah 52:30).
They were forewarned (II Kings 20:17-18 and Jeremiah 20:4-6).
He left some of the poor (II Kings 25:12 and Jeremiah 52:16) to care for the vineyards (Jeremiah 40:7).
Consider the greater point concerning the poor of God’s people (Psalms 10:14-18, Psalms 68:10, Proverbs 21:13, Isaiah 29:19, and James 2:5).
5. What happened to Jeremiah during the time Jerusalem was taken?
Nebuchadrezzar commanded them to take care of Jeremiah and listen to him and they did so: “(11) Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, (12) Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee. (13) So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes; (14) Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people” (Jeremiah 39:11-12).
The faithful had nothing to fear (Jeremiah 15:11).
God promised Jeremiah that the people would not prevail against him (Jeremiah 1:19 and Jeremiah 15:20-21).
Consider what was really happening here (Jeremiah 40:1-6).
Gedaliah (II Kings 25:22-25).
6. While Jeremiah was still in prison, what did God tell Jeremiah concerning Ebedmelech the Ethiopian?
He would not die in the siege, but be delivered for a prey [spoil] because he trusted in God: “(15) Now the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, (16) Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. (17) But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. (18) For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 39:15-18).
While Jeremiah was shut up in the court of the prison (Jeremiah 32:2 and Jeremiah 33:1).
Ebedmelech the Ethiopian (Jeremiah 38:7-18).
Because he trusted God (Psalms 9:10, Proverbs 28:25, Proverbs 29:25, and Nahum 1:7).