The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And [this] Seraiah [was] a quiet prince.
Ver. 59. The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah.] This is now the last part, viz., a type used for confirmation of this long time preceding prophecy, uttered at Jerusalem haply in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, which was the first of Nebuchadnezzar, and now to be read at Babylon in the fourth year of Zedekiah, which was seven years before the destruction of Jerusalem, and above sixty years before the destruction of Babylon. God loveth to foresignify, but Babylon would not be warned, which was a just both desert and presage of her ruin.
When he went with Zedekiah.] In company with him, say some, out of the Jews' chronicle. At which time Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him king, took an oath of him to be true to him, which he afterward brake, and was punished accordingly. 2Ch 36:13 Others think that Seraiah went not with Zedekiah, but for him, and from him, with a present to Nebuchadnezzar, that he might keep his favour, or that he might he reconciled unto him after his revolt from him. 2Ki 24:20
And this Seraiah was a great prince.] One that opposed the rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, or a peace maker at court, or the great chamberlain. Heb., A prince of rest; or, Prince of Menucha, a place so called, Jdg 20:43 or a quiet, honest, and humble prince; otherwise he would not have been thus commanded by a poor prophet, especially in a matter of so great danger, as it might have proved if publicly noticed.