ירמיהו, פרק נ״ב, פסוק ח׳

The final, desperate moments of the king's escape end in sudden capture and complete abandonment by his own forces. According to ancient tradition, Zedekiah attempted to flee through a long, hidden cave that eventually opened into the plains of Jericho. His capture there was highly unexpected. The Chaldean soldiers were actually chasing a deer that happened to run directly over the cave. Following the animal to the cave's exit, the pursuers were stunned to discover the king stepping out at that exact moment, allowing them to seize him immediately [מצודת דוד].

In this moment of extreme crisis, the king found himself entirely alone as his army scattered and deserted him [מצודת ציון]. This sudden abandonment happened because his soldiers were much faster and could easily secure their own escape, choosing to leave their king behind to face his fate. Zedekiah, on the other hand, was unable to flee with the same speed. He was not a trained warrior, and his progress was severely slowed down because he was traveling surrounded by his family members [ביאור שטיינזלץ].