Bible Strands
Jeremiah 52:8
but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records the immediate aftermath of Jerusalem’s breach as King Zedekiah and his fleeing forces attempt to escape toward the Arabah.
The words — The Hebrew employs וַ/יִּרְדְּפ֤וּ (va/i.yir.de.Fu), literally “and they pursued,” and וַ/יַּשִּׂ֥יגוּ (va/i.ya.Si.gu), literally “and they overtook,” to describe the Chaldean forces closing in on Zedekiah.
The thread — This event fulfills the prior declarations that Zedekiah would not escape the Chaldeans but would be delivered to them (Jeremiah 21:7; 32:4; 34:21). The account directly follows the city’s breach and the royal guard’s flight (Jeremiah 52:7) and immediately precedes the king’s capture and judgment at Riblah (Jeremiah 52:9).
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human flight from judgment cannot outrun the stated outcome, as the pursuers and the desertion of allies complete the sequence of events already outlined.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 34:21 And I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives, to the army of the king of Babylon that had withdrawn from you.
- Jeremiah 21:7 ‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’
- Jeremiah 32:4 Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the hands of the Chaldeans, but he will surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye.
- Jeremiah 38:23 All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. And you yourself will not escape their grasp, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down.”
- Isaiah 30:16 “No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee! “We will ride swift horses,” but your pursuers will be faster.
- Jeremiah 37:18 Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people, that you have put me in prison?
- Jeremiah 39:5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.
- Lamentations 4:19 Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.
- Ezekiel 12:12 And at dusk the prince among them will lift his bags to his shoulder and go out. They will dig through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land.
- Ezekiel 17:20 I will spread My net over him and catch him in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there for the treason he committed against Me.