Jeremiah 39-40

Jeremiah 39-40

Chapter 39: Jerusalem is taken captive

In the ninth year of Zedekiah, Jerusalem is broken up by the Babylonian forces. Zedekiah is blinded, and his sons killed. Jeremiah is spared, and sent home to dwell among his people. Ebed-melech is also spared.

This is where I find the story of Zedekiah VERY interesting;

“And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men or war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night… But the Chaldeans’ army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho… they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon… where he gave judgment upond him… the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah  before his eyes… Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon…” (Jeremiah 39:4-7)

Why is this so interesting? Because we can learn more about this story in the Book of Mormon..

In Omni 1:15-16, we read; “…it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out of Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon. And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand of the Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them…” (Omni 1:15-16)

We also learn from another book in the Book of Mormon that “Mulek” one of Zedekiah’s sons was actually not slain and fled with this same group of people that we know now as the Americas. (see Heleman 6:10 and 8:21)

Chapter 40: Gedaliah, Governor of the Jews

                Jeremiah puts himself under the jurisdiction of Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, who has been made the governor of Judah. Johanan acquaints the governor of a conspiracy against him, but no one believes him. Jeremiah is freed.