In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.
This chapter consists of two parts: the first describes the capture of Jerusalem, the removal of the people to Babylon, and the fate of Zedekiah, and that of Jeremiah; the second, the assurance of safety to Ebed-melech.
Ninth year ... tenth month - and on the tenth day of it (Jeremiah 52:4; 2 Kings 25:1-4. From Jeremiah 39:2, "eleventh year ... fourth month ... ninth day," we know the siege lasted one and a half years, excepting the suspension of it caused by Pharaoh. Nebuchadnezzar was present in the beginning of the siege, but was at Riblah at its close (Jeremiah 39:3; Jeremiah 39:6: cf. Jeremiah 38:17, note).