Jeremiah 39

The Jewish calendar was based on the cycles of the moon instead of the seasons of the sun. They call the tenth month Tebeth. It ran from mid-December to mid-January. Jeremiah 52:4 says Babylonians arrived on the tenth day of the tenth month. Scholars put the invasion in late December or early January, possibly in 588-587 BC. Most scholars seem to say the siege lasted a year and a half, from the winter of 588-587 BC to the July heat of 586 BC. But some scholars say the siege began a year earlier, in January of 589 BC and that the city fell in 587 BC, and that the siege lasted 2 1/2 years. Archaeological evidence supports that the city did fall about the time of 587 BC or 586 BC. Babylonians burned the city and pulled down the stone walls surrounding it. When they were finished, Jerusalem was a burned out pile of scorched rocks.

One technique invaders used to get inside a walled city was to have “sappers” dig a hole under the wall to see if they could get that section of the wall to collapse into the hole.

The breach of the wall took place more literally in the fourth month of Israel’s calendar, on the 9th day of that month. The fourth month is Tammuz, which runs from mid-June to mid-July.

This is the only time a Bible writer mentions the Middle Gate. It may have been a gate into the middle of the walled city of Jerusalem.

It’s hard to know where one Babylonian name ends and another begins. That’s why Bible translations don’t agree. It’s a guessing game, so far.

Jeremiah 39:13 says he has the title of “Rabsaris,” which is usually translated “chief eunuch.” Also known as chamberlain, this top official was entrusted with managing the king’s household and other personal matters.

His title is “Rabmag,” meaning “top magician” or “chief advisor.”

Jerusalem to Jericho is roughly 15 miles (25 km) in a straight line. Meandering trails could have added several more miles.

Riblah is today Rablah, Syria, about 200 miles (320 km) north of Jerusalem, as the crow flies.

2 Kings 25:8-10.

Babylonians appointed him governor of the local territory they had just conquered. His father had once protected Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24). Locals would later assassinate him (Jeremiah 41:2-3). They weren’t fond of puppet leaders. They were used to kings from the family of David. Those days were gone.

Jeremiah 38:7-13.