(9) Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard.--Here again the title in the Hebrew--Bab-tab-bachim--takes a form like that of Rab-saris and Rab-shaken, and means literally, "chief of the slaughterers" The title is given to Potiphar in Genesis 37:36, and probably answered to our "commander of the king's body-guard." The name has been interpreted as "the prince-lord, or the worshipper, of Nebo," but the etymology of the last three syllables is uncertain, He does not appear as taking part with the other generals in the siege of Jerusalem, but comes on the capture of the city, arriving a month afterwards (Jeremiah 52:12) to direct, even in its minute details, the work of destruction (2Kings 25:9). The defenders and deserters were involved in the same doom of exile. It need scarcely be said that, as in the case of the conquests of Tiglath-pileser (2Kings 15:29), Shalmaneser (2Kings 17:6), Esar-haddon (2Kings 17:24), and Sennacherib (2Kings 18:32), this wholesale deportation was part of the systematic policy of the great Assyrian and Babylonian monarchs. So Darius carried off the Paeonians from Thrace (Herod. v. 14). To distribute the lands of the exiles thus dispossessed among "the poor of the people," was, it was thought, likely to enlist their interests on the side of the conqueror; and, by keeping up the cultivation of the soil, secured the payment of tribute.

Verse 9. - Nebuzar-adan; i.e. Nabu-zira-iddina, "Nebo gave a seed."

39:1-10 Jerusalem was so strong, that the inhabitants believed the enemy could never enter it. But sin provoked God to withdraw his protection, and then it was as weak as other cities. Zedekiah had his eyes put out; so he was condemned to darkness who had shut his eyes against the clear light of God's word. Those who will not believe God's words, will be convinced by the event. Observe the wonderful changes of Providence, how uncertain are earthly possessions; and see the just dealings of Providence: but whether the Lord makes men poor or rich, nothing will profit them while they cleave to their sins.Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard,.... The Targum is,

"the captain of those that kill;''

of the soldiers, of the militia. Some render it, the captain of the "cooks"; others, of the "butchers" (l); but no doubt it was a military office he bore; he was captain of the forces that were left in Jerusalem, after the other part went in pursuit of the king and those with him; or the captain of a company, being sent by the king of Babylon to execute a commission of his: the same

carried away into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city; that were left of the pestilence, famine, and sword; and who were found in it when it was taken:

and those that fell away, that fell to him; that fell to the Chaldean army during the siege of the city; and those that betook themselves to Nebuzaradan, and voluntarily surrendered themselves to him afterwards:

with the rest of the people that remained; in other cities in the land of Judah.

(l) "praefectus coquorum"; so some in Vatablus; "magister laniorum", Pagninus, Montanus.