And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king’s presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city: (2 Kings 25:19)
Evidently royal counselors, and as such in a large measure responsible for the policy that brought the nation to its present plight.
The principal scribe.
An important officer of the general staff.
Threescore men.
Probably men who had distinguished themselves as ringleaders of the rebellion.
An officer.
Likely the royal officer commanding the garrison. In a Babylonian court almanac of the year 570 B.C. that names the chief officers of the realm, Nebuzaradan appears as Nabu-zêri-iddinam. His archaic title, “chief baker,” equivalent to the Hebrew term “chief butcher,” designates him as “lord chancellor.”