Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
2 Kings Ch.25 / 25 Ch.s
2KI:25
* Jerusalem besieged, Zedekiah taken. (1-7) The temple burnt,
The people carried into captivity. (8-21) The rest of the Jews
flee into Egypt, Evil-merodach relieves the captivity of
Jehoiachin. (22-30)
#1-7 Jerusalem was so fortified, that it could not be taken till
famine rendered the besieged unable to resist. In the prophecy
and Lamentations of Jeremiah, we find more of this event; here
it suffices to say, that the impiety and misery of the besieged
were very great. At length the city was taken by storm. The
king, his family, and his great men escaped in the night, by
secret passages. But those deceive themselves who think to
escape God's judgments, as much as those who think to brave
them. By what befell Zedekiah, two prophecies, which seemed to
contradict each other, were both fulfilled. Jeremiah prophesied
that Zedekiah should be brought to Babylon, #Jer 32:5; 34:3|;
Ezekiel, that he should not see Babylon, #Eze 12:13|. He was
brought thither, but his eyes being put out, he did not see it.
#8-21 The city and temple were burnt, and, it is probable, the
ark in it. By this, God showed how little he cares for the
outward pomp of his worship, when the life and power of religion
are neglected. The walls of Jerusalem were thrown down, and the
people carried captive to Babylon. The vessels of the temple
were carried away. When the things signified were sinned away,
what should the signs stand there for? It was righteous with God
to deprive those of the benefit of his worship, who had
preferred false worships before it; those that would have many
altars, now shall have none. As the Lord spared not the angels
that sinned, as he doomed the whole race of fallen men to the
grave, and all unbelievers to hell, and as he spared not his own
Son, but delivered him up for us all, we need not wonder at any
miseries he may bring upon guilty nations, churches, or persons.
#22-30 The king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah to be the governor
and protector of the Jews left their land. But the things of
their peace were so hidden from their eyes, that they knew not
when they were well off. Ishmael basely slew him and all his
friends, and, against the counsel of Jeremiah, the rest went to
Egypt. Thus was a full end made of them by their own folly and
disobedience; see Jeremiah chap. 40 to 45. Jehoiachin was
released out of prison, where he had been kept 37 years. Let
none say that they shall never see good again, because they have
long seen little but evil: the most miserable know not what turn
Providence may yet give to their affairs, nor what comforts they
are reserved for, according to the days wherein they have been
afflicted. Even in this world the Saviour brings a release from
bondage to the distressed sinner who seeks him, bestowing
foretastes of the pleasures which are at his right hand for
evermore. Sin alone can hurt us; Jesus alone can do good to
sinners.