25:1 the ninth year of his reign The Hebrew text does not include the name of the king, reading only “of his reign.” Jeremiah 39:1 makes clear that this refers to Zedekiah’s reign (circa 597–586 BC). See Jer 39:1 and note.

25:2 came under siege According to Ezekiel, the Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem with siege works and battering rams (see Ezek 4:2 and note).

25:4 the gate between the wall Located in the southeast wall of the city of David. This reference to a double wall suggests that this gate was in the part of the city where Hezekiah built a double wall to protect the Siloam Pool (Isa 22:11; 2 Chr 32:5).

the Arabah Refers to the arid wilderness around the Dead Sea.

25:6 at Riblah See note on 2 Kings 23:33.

25:7 They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah To eliminate competition to the throne (see Judg 9:5; 2 Kgs 10:1–14).

they blinded the eyes of Zedekiah A brutal but common punishment for rebellious slaves in the ancient Near East.

brought him to Babylon Jeremiah 52:11 indicates that Zedekiah was imprisoned until he died.

25:8 In the fifth month See 2 Kings 24:12 and note.

25:11 the commander of the imperial guard deported Refers to the second wave of deportations in 586 bc (the first was reported in 24:14–16).

25:12 the vineyards and for tilling Fieldworkers were left to supply agricultural goods for the empire.

25:13 The bronze pillars Described in 1 Kgs 7:15–37.

25:14 the vessels of bronze Described in 1 Kgs 7:40–47. Nebuchadnezzar had taken the vessels of gold to Babylon with the first wave of captives (2 Kgs 24:13).

25:18 Zephaniah the second priest Zephaniah was in charge of maintaining the order of the temple (Jer 21:1; 29:25).

25:21 was removed from its land This summary statement suggests that the narrative aims to explain how Judah arrived in exile.

25:22 Gedaliah See note on Jer 39:14. From a prominent Jerusalem family, Gedaliah’s grandfather had been a scribe during Josiah’s reign (2 Kings 22:3). Ahikam, his father, was among those sent to inquire of Yahweh through Huldah (22:12), and he was responsible for saving the life of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 26:24).

25:23 at Mizpah With the destruction of Jerusalem, Judah’s administrative center shifts roughly seven miles north to the city of Mizpah.

25:25 the Judeans and with the Chaldeans Ishmael and his men attack those who are assisting Gedaliah and thereby supporting the Babylonian Empire, regardless of nationality.

25:27 Evil-Merodach Nebuchadnezzar’s successor.

25:28 the kings who were with him in Babylon Refers to deposed kings of other nations that Babylon had destroyed.