Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights the devastating sweep of exile, taking not only those who resisted until the bitter end but also the deserters who sought safety with the enemy. It's a stark reminder that even those who switched sides weren't ultimately spared, showing that the conqueror's policy was to remove all potential threats or sources of future rebellion.
Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jerusalem has fallen and King Zedekiah has been captured, the captain of the Babylonian guard, Nebuzaradan, oversees the final stages of the city's devastation. This verse describes the mass deportation of all remaining inhabitants, including those who surrendered to the Babylonians during the siege and those who were simply left in the conquered city, to exile in Babylon. This systematic removal of the population was a common policy of ancient empires to prevent rebellion and consolidate power.
When Jerusalem fell, who was rounded up and sent to Babylon? It wasn't just the soldiers or the leaders.
Jeremiah 39:9 paints a stark picture of a city utterly devastated and its people scattered. Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, didn't just take the remnants left in the city after the siege; he also took:
Who was this Nebuzaradan, and what does his title tell us about his role in this brutal act?
Nebuzaradan held a title that sounds chilling: 'captain of the guard.' While sometimes translated more gently as 'commander of the royal bodyguard,' the original Hebrew actually points to something more grim, often understood as 'chief of the slaughterers' or 'chief of the executioners.'
This wasn't a mere administrator; he was a man of decisive, often violent, authority within the Babylonian military. He arrived the initial breach of the city, sent by Nebuchadnezzar to oversee the systematic destruction and the removal of the populace. His role was to execute the king's will, which in this case meant carrying out a massive forced migration.
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Understand the original words
galah · Hebrew Noun
A state of forced removal from one’s homeland to a foreign land, often as a judgment from God for covenant disobedience. It represents alienation, loss, and the discipline of God’s people.
This verse highlights the systematic nature of Babylonian conquest, where not only the defenders but also those who switched sides or simply remained were exiled. This policy aimed to remove all potential threats and fully subjugate the conquered territory.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Deportations
Assyrian kings like Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser, and Esar-haddon began systematic deportations of conquered populations to break resistance and resettle territories. This established a precedent for later Babylonian policy.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, then crown prince, defeated the Egyptians and Babylonians captured key figures and resources from Judah, including members of the royal family and educated elite.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
After a brief rebellion, Jerusalem was besieged and surrendered. King Jehoiachin and many skilled workers were exiled to Babylon, showing the growing Babylonian dominance over Judah.
589-587 BC
Siege of Jerusalem
Zedekiah's rebellion led to a prolonged and devastating siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's forces. The city endured extreme hardship, famine, and continued Egyptian ineffectiveness.
July 587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's army breached Jerusalem's walls after the siege. King Zedekiah was captured, his sons executed before his eyes, and his eyes were gouged out before he was taken to Babylon.
August 587 BC— this verse
Exile of Remnant and Deserters
Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, oversaw the final stages of Jerusalem's destruction and the deportation of the remaining population to Babylon. This included those who had deserted to the Babylonians and those who stubbornly remained in the city.
c. 582 BC
Third Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar conducted a final, smaller deportation from Judah, rounding up more exiles from various locations in the land.
This passage describes the same event of exile to Babylon, highlighting Nebuzaradnezzar's direct order and Nebuzaradan's role in carrying it out, emphasizing the systematic nature of the deportation.
Jeremiah 52:15This verse reiterates the exile of the remaining population to Babylon, including those who had deserted to the enemy and those left behind in the city, underscoring the comprehensive scope of the judgment.
2 Kings 17:6This passage from the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel shows a similar policy of exile used by Assyrian kings, where the population was deported and replaced, demonstrating a historical pattern of conquest that Jeremiah's prophecy reflects.
Deuteronomy 28:64This passage from the Law of Moses prophesies the scattering of Israel among the nations as a consequence of disobedience, directly foreshadowing the exile described in Jeremiah 39:9.
calvinJeremiah 39:9: "Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained."
Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained.
Residuum vero populi qui superstites erant…
pooleJeremiah 39:9: "Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained."
This Nebuzar-adan was in that place which we call the provost-marshal , with them it was called the captain of the guard; and here are two sorts of prisoners reckoned up whom he carried away: 1. Such as, after the armies were come into Judea, had yielded themselves.…
This verse highlights the devastating sweep of exile, taking not only those who resisted until the bitter end but also the deserters who sought safety with the enemy. It's a stark reminder that even those who switched sides weren't ultimately spared, showing that the conqueror's policy was to remove all potential threats or sources of future rebellion.
After Jerusalem has fallen and King Zedekiah has been captured, the captain of the Babylonian guard, Nebuzaradan, oversees the final stages of the city's devastation. This verse describes the mass deportation of all remaining inhabitants, including those who surrendered to the Babylonians during the siege and those who were simply left in the conquered city, to exile in Babylon. This systematic removal of the population was a common policy of ancient empires to prevent rebellion and consolidate power.
After Jerusalem has fallen and King Zedekiah has been captured, the captain of the Babylonian guard, Nebuzaradan, oversees the final stages of the city's devastation. This verse describes the mass deportation of all remaining inhabitants, including those who surrendered to the Babylonians during the siege and those who were simply left in the conquered city, to exile in Babylon. This systematic removal of the population was a common policy of ancient empires to prevent rebellion and consolidate power.
"Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained." — This verse highlights the devastating sweep of exile, taking not only those who resisted until the bitter end but also the deserters who sought safety with the enemy. It's a stark reminder that even…
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Last reviewed October 2026