The Fates of Zedekiah, Jeremiah, and Ebed-Melech: This section narrates the fall of the city of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians, and then focuses in on the fate of three specific people: Zedekiah, Jeremiah, and Ebed-Melech. The section concerning the latter breaks up the story of the Babylonian’s treatment of the prophet. The lesson of all three vignettes is that God repays those who obey him as well as those who do not.

Much of this chapter is paralleled to Jeremiah 52:4–16 and 2 Kings 25:1–12. It is interesting to note that Jeremiah 39:4–13 is not found in the Septuagint. It seems that the Masoretic Text places these verses here to bring the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning Judah (which ends here) to a fitting climax.

39:1–10 For years, Jeremiah has been warning Judah and its lead…