Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.
Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters—The comprehensive list emphasizes that the entire community fled: men (Hebrew gevarim, גְּבָרִים, strong men/warriors), women (nashim, נָשִׁים), children (taph, טַף, little ones/infants), and even the king's daughters (benot ha-melekh, בְּנוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ). These royal daughters were likely Zedekiah's daughters, spared when their father was blinded and his sons executed before him (39:6-7, 52:10). Nebuzar-adan the captain of Babylon's guard had left them with Gedaliah (the only mention of this detail).
The mention of these princesses carries theological weight: they represented the Davidic line's continuation, a remnant of royal seed. Yet even they were swept into Egypt's apostasy, reversing God's promises to David's house. The comprehensive nature of the flight—every demographic group—meant no faithful remnant remained in Judah. God's command to remain in the land (42:10) was universally rejected.
Tragically, the list includes Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. Despite delivering God's word forbidding the Egyptian flight, Jeremiah himself was forcibly taken to Egypt. The faithful prophet was compelled to share the judgment of the rebellious community. This prefigures Christ, who though sinless, bore the judgment of the guilty (Isaiah 53:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Historical Context
The 'king's daughters' were Zedekiah's offspring. When Nebuchadnezzar captured Zedekiah in 586 BC, he executed Zedekiah's sons before blinding him (2 Kings 25:7), but the text doesn't mention daughters. Apparently, they were spared and left in Judah with Gedaliah. Their presence raised messianic hope—through these royal daughters, the Davidic line might continue. Yet by fleeing to Egypt, they abandoned the covenant land and disappeared from biblical history. The Davidic line's continuation came through the Babylonian exiles (Jeconiah's line in Matthew 1:12), not this Egyptian remnant. Jeremiah's forced journey to Egypt fulfilled what God had shown him in youth: he would be prophet to many nations (1:5), but not by choice. Tradition (not Scripture) claims Jeremiah was eventually stoned to death in Egypt by the rebellious Jews. Baruch accompanied him, suffering the consequences of the people's rebellion despite his own faithfulness.
Questions for Reflection
How does Jeremiah's forced participation in the community's judgment illustrate that faithfulness doesn't always shield us from corporate consequences?
What does the disappearance of 'the king's daughters' from biblical history teach about how disobedience can forfeit promised blessings?
In what ways might we find ourselves swept along with a disobedient community despite personal faithfulness?
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Analysis & Commentary
Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters—The comprehensive list emphasizes that the entire community fled: men (Hebrew gevarim, גְּבָרִים, strong men/warriors), women (nashim, נָשִׁים), children (taph, טַף, little ones/infants), and even the king's daughters (benot ha-melekh, בְּנוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ). These royal daughters were likely Zedekiah's daughters, spared when their father was blinded and his sons executed before him (39:6-7, 52:10). Nebuzar-adan the captain of Babylon's guard had left them with Gedaliah (the only mention of this detail).
The mention of these princesses carries theological weight: they represented the Davidic line's continuation, a remnant of royal seed. Yet even they were swept into Egypt's apostasy, reversing God's promises to David's house. The comprehensive nature of the flight—every demographic group—meant no faithful remnant remained in Judah. God's command to remain in the land (42:10) was universally rejected.
Tragically, the list includes Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. Despite delivering God's word forbidding the Egyptian flight, Jeremiah himself was forcibly taken to Egypt. The faithful prophet was compelled to share the judgment of the rebellious community. This prefigures Christ, who though sinless, bore the judgment of the guilty (Isaiah 53:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21).