Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 52:32
And spoke kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that [were] with him in Babylon,
32. set his throne above ] in general, paid him more honour.
the kings ] Captured kings were kept at the court of their conqueror to perpetuate the memory of his triumph as well as for security against rebellion. Cp. Jdg 1:7. So Croesus dwelt at the court of Cyrus.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 32. Spake kindly] Conversed freely with him.
Set his throne] Gave him a more respectable seat than any of the captive princes, or better than even his own princes had, probably near his person.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The king of Babylon might have other kings his prisoners, his father having been so great a conqueror, or he might have other kings his subjects, that might reside at his court; and either out of a particular kindness he had to Jehoiachin, or in regard of the fame of David and Solomon, from whom Jehoiachin lineally descended, he might do him this honour.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
32. set his throne aboveamark of respect.
the kingsThe Hebrewtext reads (the other) “kings.” “The kings”is a Masoretic correction.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And spake kindly unto him,…. Used him with great familiarity, treated him with great respect: or, “spake good things to him” s; comforted him in his captive state, and promised him many favours; and was as good as his word:
and set his throne above the throne of the kings that [were] with him in Babylon; these kings were either petty kings over the several provinces that belonged to the Chaldean monarchy, that were occasionally at Babylon; or rather the kings Nebuchadnezzar had conquered, and taken captive, as Jehoiachin; such as the kings of Moab, Ammon, Edom, c. these, notwithstanding they were captives, had thrones of state, partly in consideration of their former dignity, and partly for the glory of the Babylonish monarch now Jehoiachin’s throne was higher and more grand and stately than the rest, to show the particular respect the king of Babylon had for him.
s “ac locutus est cum eo bona”, V. L. Schmidt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Jer 52:32. And set his throne above the throne of the kings, &c. And set his seat above the seat of the kings. This may easily be understood to signify, that the king of Babylon shewed him more respect and honour than he did to any of the other captive princes, by placing him nearest himself. See Est 3:1. It is probable, the phrase may have proceeded from the custom of placing cushions for persons of more than ordinary distinction in the place allotted them to sit in. See Harmer’s Observ. ch. 6 obs. 26.
REFLECTIONS.1st, We are here told,
1. The cause of the ruin of Zedekiah and the people. It was their sins which provoked God’s wrath against them: and what particularly hastened their destruction was, his rebellion against the king of Babylon, in violation of the oath of God which was upon him; and this God permitted as a punishment for his former sins. Note; When sinners wilfully depart from God, he gives them up to their own folly; and usually nothing more is needful to push them on their destruction.
2. The instruments employed were, the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar, who, after a siege of about eighteen months, took the city by assault, the famine having disabled the besiegers, and the obstinacy of the king and princes preventing a surrender.
3. Too late the king, and the men of war who survived, attempted to escape. Though covered by the night, they are quickly pursued and taken. See the unhappy king dragged as a criminal before the Babylonish monarch; judgment passed upon him; his sons murdered before his eyes; his princes slain; and then, as if to fix upon his mind continually the memory of the shocking scene, his eyes put out; in chains carried to Babylon, and condemned in a prison to languish out the remainder of his miserable days. He would not be warned, therefore he must suffer for it.
2nd. A month after the taking of the city, we have an account of its entire demolition by Nebuzar-adan, sent for this purpose by Nebuchadnezzar: the temple is laid in ashes, after being plundered of all its vessels and all its brass; the quantity of which was immense, and the particulars of which are mentioned, to shew the exact fulfilment of the prediction, chap. Jer 27:19. The palaces and houses of Jerusalem are burnt to the ground, the walls razed, and the residue of the people, who survived the siege and famine, led captive by the Chaldean army. A melancholy scene! a warning to other nations, how dangerous it is to provoke a jealous God!
3rdly, When the sword is drawn, it is not quickly sheathed. We have,
1. The dreadful execution of seventy-four of the principal men, who were brought up by Nebuzar-adan to the king of Babylon at Riblah. The account in 2Ki 25:18-19 reckons them but seventy-two; some hence imagine, that Jeremiah and Ebed-melech were of the number who were taken, but afterwards released; or two, of less note than the rest, might not be there reckoned. All these were murdered in cold blood by Nebuchadrezzar’s orders, as a punishment for their rebellion; and we must own this to be the just fate of traitors, while we condemn the cruelty of the Chaldean king.
2. Their repeated captivities in the seventh, the eighteenth, and twenty-third years of Nebuchadnezzar. The two former we had an account of, 2Ki 24:12; 2Ki 24:20 though the numbers considerably differ. Perhaps here the men of note only are mentioned, and the officers; there the common people also: but the latter probably was the gleaning of the people after the death of Gedaliah and the flight of Johanan: a number small and inconsiderable, compared to the multitudes which once dwelt in the land; but by pestilence, famine, and the sword, they were thus miserably reduced. Such ravages does sin make!
4thly, There is a difference between the account given, Jer 52:31 and that in 2Ki 25:27. There Jehoiakin’s deliverance from prison is said to be on the 27th day of the 12th month; here on the 25th: probably the orders were given this day, though not executed till two days after. The captive king experienced now a very happy change; released from his prison; arrayed in royal robes, instead of his prison-garments; his throne exalted above his fellow-captive monarchs; treated with great affection and regard by the Babylonish emperor; admitted to a constant seat at his table, and nobly provided for all his days. Thus strange are the changes of this shifting scene; prosperity and adversity are often set over-against each other, that in our highest estate we may never be confident, nor, in the lowest, despair. It was, no doubt, matter of inexpressible joy to this unhappy captive, after so long a confinement, once more to taste the sweets of liberty. But how much greater the delight of the captive soul, when delivered from the bondage of corruption through the blood of the covenant; exchanging its filthy prison-garments for the glorious robe of righteousness; fed at the table of the King of kings; yea, called to sit down on his throne.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
kindly unto him = good things with him.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
kindly unto him: Heb. good things with him, Pro 12:25
set: Gave him a more respectable seat than any of the captive princes. Jer 27:6-11, Dan 2:37, Dan 5:18, Dan 5:19
Reciprocal: Gen 41:14 – he shaved Eze 26:7 – a king
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 52:32. Set his throne does not mean that he was permitted to act as king. It means he was treated with more courtesy and distinction than other kings in captivity.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Evilmerodach was kind to Jehoiachin, and gave him a special position among the other kings that the Babylonians had imprisoned. Evilmerodach regarded Jehoiachin as Judah’s king. [Note: See Pritchard, ed., p. 308.] Evidently many of the Judean exiles did as well (cf. Jer 22:24-30).