Jeremiah 39:4
And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֡י
H1961
וַיְהִ֡י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 23
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
רָ֠אָם
saw
H7200
רָ֠אָם
saw
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
3 of 23
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ
And it came to pass that when Zedekiah
H6667
צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ
And it came to pass that when Zedekiah
Strong's:
H6667
Word #:
4 of 23
tsidkijah, the name of six israelites
יְהוּדָ֜ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֜ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
6 of 23
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
וְכֹ֣ל׀
H3605
וְכֹ֣ל׀
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
7 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אַנְשֵׁ֣י
them and all the men
H582
אַנְשֵׁ֣י
them and all the men
Strong's:
H582
Word #:
8 of 23
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה
of war
H4421
הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה
of war
Strong's:
H4421
Word #:
9 of 23
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
וַֽ֠יִּבְרְחוּ
then they fled
H1272
וַֽ֠יִּבְרְחוּ
then they fled
Strong's:
H1272
Word #:
10 of 23
to bolt, i.e., figuratively, to flee suddenly
וַיֵּצֵ֖א
and he went out
H3318
וַיֵּצֵ֖א
and he went out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
11 of 23
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
לַ֤יְלָה
by night
H3915
לַ֤יְלָה
by night
Strong's:
H3915
Word #:
12 of 23
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
13 of 23
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הָעִיר֙
out of the city
H5892
הָעִיר֙
out of the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
14 of 23
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
דֶּ֥רֶךְ
by the way
H1870
דֶּ֥רֶךְ
by the way
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
15 of 23
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
בֵּ֣ין
H996
בֵּ֣ין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
19 of 23
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
וַיֵּצֵ֖א
and he went out
H3318
וַיֵּצֵ֖א
and he went out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
21 of 23
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
Cross References
Amos 2:14Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:2 Chronicles 32:5Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
Historical Context
The 'king's garden' was located in the Kidron Valley at the southeastern corner of Jerusalem, providing a natural escape route away from the main Babylonian forces positioned at the northern gates. The double-wall system (likely the old Jebusite fortification) created a narrow passage. Ancient military tactics anticipated such escape attempts and positioned forces accordingly.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Zedekiah's flight illustrate the futility of resisting God's declared judgment?
- When have you attempted to 'escape' God's correction rather than submit to His wisdom?
- What does Zedekiah's failure teach about trusting political solutions over prophetic truth?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
When Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them... then they fled (וַיִּבְרָח, vayyivrach)—After 18 months of defiant resistance, Zedekiah's courage collapsed at the crucial moment. The verb barach (בָּרַח) denotes panicked flight, not strategic retreat. He escaped by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls—a secretive escape route through the southeast passage toward the Kidron Valley.
This flight fulfilled Ezekiel's symbolic prophecy: the prince would 'dig through the wall' and flee in darkness (Ezekiel 12:5-12). Zedekiah's cowardice contrasts sharply with Jeremiah's counsel to surrender and live (38:17-23). He chose political preservation over prophetic wisdom and lost everything. The way of the plain (עֲרָבָה, arabah) toward Jericho proved not an escape but the path to judgment.