(15) And he carried away.--The form of the verb is different from that in 2 Kings 24:14. We might render: "Yea, he carried away;" for 2 Kings 24:15-16 simply give the particulars of what was stated generally in 2 Kings 24:14. In the present verse the "princes" are defined.
He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother.--Fulfilment of Jeremiah 22:24-27.
The mighty of the land.--So the Targum, "the magnates of the land." All who could do so, must have taken refuge in Jerusalem at the approach of the Chaldaean army.
Verse 15. - And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon (comp. 2 Chronicles 36:10; Jeremiah 22:26; Jeremiah 24:1; Jeremiah 52:31; Josephus, 'Ant. Jud.,' 10:7. § 1). Jehoiachin continued a captive in Babylon during the remainder of Nebuchadnezzar's reign - a space of thirty-seven years (see the comment on 2 Kings 25:27). And the king's mother (see above, ver. 12), and the king's wives - this is important, as helping to determine Jehoiachin's ago (see the comment on ver. 8) - and his officers - rather, his eunuchs (comp. Jeremiah 38:7; Jeremiah 39:16) - and the mighty of the land. Not only the "princes" and the trained soldiers and the skilled artisans (ver. 14), but all who were of much account, as the bulk of the priests and the prophets (see Jeremiah 29:1-24). Those carriedhe into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. "Babylon" (בָבֶל) is the city, not the country (as Thenius imagines). It was the practice for the conquering kings to carry their captives with them to their capital, for ostentation's sake, before determining on their destination. The Jewish prisoners were, no doubt, ultimately settled in various parts of Babylonia. Hence they are called (Ezra 2:1; Nehemiah 7:6) "the children of the province."
24:8-20 Jehoiachin reigned but three months, yet long enough to show that he justly smarted for his fathers' sins, for he trod in their steps. His uncle was intrusted with the government. This Zedekiah was the last of the kings of Judah. Though the judgments of God upon the three kings before him might have warned him, he did that which was evil, like them. When those intrusted with the counsels of a nation act unwisely, and against their true interest, we ought to notice the displeasure of God in it. It is for the sins of a people that God hides from them the things that belong to the public peace. And in fulfilling the secret purposes of his justice, the Lord needs only leave men to the blindness of their own minds, or to the lusts of their own hearts. The gradual approach of Divine judgments affords sinners space for repentance, and believers leisure to prepare for meeting the calamity, while it shows the obstinacy of those who will not forsake their sins.
And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon,.... Where he continued at least thirty seven years, 2 Kings 25:27.
and the king's mother; whose name was Nehushta, 2 Kings 24:8.
and the king's wives; for though he was so young, it seems he had many wives, as was the custom of those times; or his "women", who were either his concubines, or servants in his family:
and his officers; in his court: and the mighty of the land; the princes and nobles thereof; or "the fools of the land", as the word is written; so the people generally were:
those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon; which, according to Bunting (s), were six hundred and eighty miles distant from each other.
He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother.--Fulfilment of Jeremiah 22:24-27.
The mighty of the land.--So the Targum, "the magnates of the land." All who could do so, must have taken refuge in Jerusalem at the approach of the Chaldaean army.
and the king's mother; whose name was Nehushta, 2 Kings 24:8.
and the king's wives; for though he was so young, it seems he had many wives, as was the custom of those times; or his "women", who were either his concubines, or servants in his family:
and his officers; in his court: and the mighty of the land; the princes and nobles thereof; or "the fools of the land", as the word is written; so the people generally were:
those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon; which, according to Bunting (s), were six hundred and eighty miles distant from each other.
(s) Travels, &c. p. 198.