Then the city was broken up,.... Either its gates were broke open, some one or other of them; or a breach was made in the walls of it, through which the Chaldean army entered:and all the men of war fled; the soldiers, with their officers, not being able to stand before the army of the king of Babylon:and went forth out of the city by night; at which time, very probably, the attack was made, and the gates of the city forced open, or the walls broke down; Josephus says it was taken in the middle of the night:by the way of the gate between the two walls, which [was] by the king's garden; See Gill on "Jer 39:4";now the Chaldeans [were] by the city round about; as part of their army entered into it, the other part surrounded it; or, however, were placed at the gates and avenues all around, that none might escape:and they went by the way of the plain; that is, the men of war or soldiers that fled, together with King Zedekiah, his family and princes; see Jer 39:4.
Antiqu. l. 10. c. 8. sect. 2. Ed.