Verse 1. Days. At the end of the third year. Daniel 1:1. Jeremiah 25:1. Nabuchadonosor, in the first year of his reign, (Jer. ib.) being associated in the empire by his aged father Nabopolassar, came up to attack Carchemis, (Jeremiah 46:1) and the other dominions of Egypt, (verse 7.) and their ally or vassal Joakim. He took the city of Jerusalem, and carried off many of the sacred vessels, and captives, (Daniel 1. Calmet.) conducting the king himself to prison, for a short time, when he set him at liberty, on condition that he should pay tribute. 2 Chronicles 36:6. Tirinus.—Joakim obeyed for 3 years.—Then again. Hebrew “he turned and rebelled.” This was the first time, as he had before been subject to Egypt, and was attacked no that account. He probably took advantage of the absence of Nabuchodonosor, who was gone with haste to secure all the dominions of his deceased father. In the 7th year of his reign, he sent rovers to punish Joakim. When the latter had reigned near 11 years, they reduced the kingdom, and treated the king’s corpse with the utmost indignity. Jeremiah 22:19. Tirinus.
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Verse 2. The rovers. Latrunculos. Bands or parties of men, who pillaged and plundered wherever they came. Challoner. See Calmet. 5:2. and Judges 11:3.—Nabuchodonosor could not come in person.—Prophets. Holda, sup. Calmet. 22:16. Isaias Calmet. 21:17. Jeremias 14. 15. 16. and so forth
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Verse 5. Did. Paral. And his abominations which he wrought, and the things which were found in him. This S. Jerom, (Trad.) explains of certain diabolical marks on his body, shewing him to be devoted to the fiend Codonasar. Suchar are often found on magicians. Menochius.—Thus the priests of Baal cut themselves. 3 Kennicott. 18:28. Bible.
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Verse 6. Joachin, who is styled Jechonias, Matthew 1 and Conias Jeremiah 22:24. The prophet counts his reign as nothing, because it was so limited by the Chaldees, and continued only three months. Jeremiah 36:30.
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Verse 7. Egypt, at least from the eastern mouth of the Nile, at Damietta, to the Euphrates. Nechao had conquered all those countries: but now he was driven into his ancient territories. After some time he attempted to relieve Sedecias, but war repulsed by Nabuchodonosor, who soon after took Jerusalem, Jeremiah 37:6. Calmet.—Again, during the reign of Joachin. D.
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Verse 8. Eighteen. One Hebrew MS. reads “thirteen,” ( Bible.) or 3 instead of 8. Kennicott.—The number seems also ( Bible.) to be incorrect in Paral. where we find that Joachin was only eight years old, as the Syr. and Arab. have 18 in both places, and it could not well be said, that he did evil, and so forth (verse 9.) at the age of 8, much less that he had wives so soon, verse 15. Calmet.—Some attempt to reconcile both places, by saying that the eight years refer to the commencement of his father’s reign; (Jun.) which is very unusual: ( Calmet.) or to the servitude of Babylon, when Jerusalem was taken under Joakim. Hardouin.—Sanctius conjectures that Joachin was associated with his father when he was 10 years old, and after 8 years became sole king. Kimchi, and so forth D.
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Verse 9. Done. Ezechiel 19:5 and Jeremias 22:24 speak of this king under the name of ( Bible.) Jechonias. Calmet.
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Verse 10. Came. Hebrew “servants … he came.” But several MSS. are more accurate and grammatical, “they came.” Kennicott. Bible.
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Verse 12. Went out. Josephus (Bel. vi. 8.) insinuates, to save the vessels of the temple.—Jeremias had persuaded him to desist from making resistance. Tirinus.—Nabuchodonosor did not comply with his promise, ( Menochius.) but took the king and all the artificers (verse 14.) to Babylon, that the former might not attempt to revenge the injuries done to his father, nor the latter contribute to fortify the towns. The Philistines had deprived the Israelites of blacksmiths, with the same design. 1 Kennicott. 7 and 13. Angelomus. Tirinus.—Eighth; commencing, or at the end of the seventh. Jeremiah 52. D.
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Verse 13. All, or a great part; for some were still left. 1 Ezra 1.—Which: or like unto those which Solomon had made. The identical vessels had been perhaps ( D.) plundered. Menochius.—Nabuchodonosor took away the sacred vessels at three different times: 1. under Joakim. These he placed in the temple of his god; and they were afterwards profaned by Baltassar, and restored by Cyrus. Daniel 1:2 and 5:2 and 1 Ezra 1:7. 2. Many he now broke in pieces. 3. Under Sedecias, he took probably what that prince had made. Calmet. 25:13. Baruch 1:7—Lord, by Isaias (39:6. Sup. Calmet. 20:17) and Jeremias, 15:13.
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Verse 14. All; the chief men. Calmet. 25:18. Ezechiel and Mardocheus were in the number.—Engraver. The first term means a workman in wood, stone, and so forth; the latter seems to designate a mason, smith, or garrison-soldier; ( Calmet.) or one expert in making camps; (Sa.) an engineer. Tirinus.—S. Jerom explains it of one who enchases jewels in gold. Menochius.—Hecateus and Demetrius (ap. Jos. and Clem. Alex.) mention this transportation. D.
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Verse 15. Judges. Hebrew “the rams.” Chal. “the grandees.” These are not included in the 10,000, (verse 14.) nor more than ( Calmet.) the 8,000 who were taken from the country (verse 16. Calmet.;) or 3,000 were taken from Jerusalem, and 7,000 from other places. D.
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Verse 17. Uncle, the third son of Josias, who was placed on the throne. Bible.—The eldest, ( Menochius.) called Johanan, seems to have died in his youth. Calmet.—Sedecias means, “the justice of God,” ( Tirinus.) as Nabuchodonosor had adjured him, or made him swear by God; (2 Chronicles 36:15. Bible.) and thus insinuated, that, if he proved faithless, he should feel the effects of God’s justice, as it happened. Tirinus.
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Verse 19. Done. He was not deterred by his punishment, nor by the admonition of Jeremias, 37:2. and 2 Chronicles 36:12. The prophet informs us, that the priests and people defiled the temple of God. See Ezechiel 8. and so forth Calmet.
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Verse 20. Revolted. Lit. “departed;” ( Bible.) “broke his covenant;” (Sept.) acting contrary to his oath, (Par.) and to the dictates of prudence. God permitted this to take place, in the 8th year of Sedecias. Calmet.