Chapter 39
This chapter starts a section called "During Judah's Fall" in the outline. This chapter is also a recounting of events - a historical account - of the time around the fall.
Ninth year of Zedekiah, 10th month, is the time stamp. This is when Neb's siege started. Year 11, month 4, day 9, "...a breach was made in the city." Per the MSB note, this siege lasted 30 m months, with Jerusalem surrounded, not people or supplies allowed in or out. The idea was to weaken the city with hunger, thirst, and disease so that it could be easily conquered - or least so that loss of life would be minimal. The invaders had to have supplies themselves, however, so they were likely looting and pillaging and laying waste anything and everything in Judah, Jerusalem, and who knows where else. Could have been upwards of 100,000 men in that army, plus all the "hangers on". It is not clear to me if we are strictly chronological here, such that Jeremiah was captive in the court of the guard for this entire time. It would seem that the city was already surrounded when chapter 38 takes place...but perhaps the invaders were marching on Jerusalem, but not yet surrounding it completely. Hard to say exactly, and I am not sure it makes just a while lot of difference anyway.
The officials of Nebuchadnezzar come and sit in "the middle gate". The city was fallen. So Z and his guys sneaked out, and make a run for it but they were caught. Once again, Zedekiah leaves his family at the mercy of the invaders, and tries to save himself. Z was brought before Nebuchadnezzar, eye to eye, as prophesied. This is in vs 5, and occurs at Riblah. So some time passes here between the time of the breach and the audience with Nebuchadnezzar. Hours, days, or weeks I don't think we can tell from these verses. But surely Jerusalem was being destroyed, people were being brutally killed in that city, women were being raped...just pure absolute horror was taking place in the city, while Zedekiah ran for his life. Nebuchadnezzar passes sentence on Zedekiah. All his sons, very likely his wives, and all the nobles of Jerusalem - all people that he likely knew personally - are killed before his eyes. No details, but they didn't have firing squads. They had swords. This would have been appalling to watch. And then they blind Zedekiah, such that the last thing he ever sees on earth are the deaths of everyone he loves, and everyone he knows. And we think we know what horror is. Then Nebuchadnezzar puts Zedekiah in chains to take him to Babylon. Zedekiah lives, but is blind. And he lives with the memory of what his cowardice cost his family and friends.
All who remained in Jerusalem were taken captive to Babylon, with those who had surrendered. Some very poor people were left, and given vineyards and fields by the captain of the guard as they withdrew.
This same captain, Nebuzarradan, is ordered to treat Jeremiah well, perhaps because Neb learns that Jeremiah was preaching surrender for the entire time and considers him an ally. Jeremiah goes home and lives among his people. God sends word to the Ethiopian through Jeremiah that the city's end will be seen by him, but he will be spared. (I left out that the Chaldean's burned the city and broke down the walls. This message to Ebed-Melech seems to be a "flashback" to before those things occurred.