1 Jr 21.1-10;34.1-5;Ez 24.2.In Zedekiah’s ninth year as king, on the tenth day of the tenth month,25.1 tenth month: Tebeth, the tenth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-December to mid-January.King Nebuchadnezzarof Babylonialed his entire army to attack Jerusalem. The troops set up camp outside the city and built ramps up to the city walls.
2,3 After a year and a half, all the food in Jerusalemwas gone. Then on the ninth day of the fourth25.2,3 fourth: This word is not in the Hebrew text here, but see the parallel in Jeremiah 52.5,6.month, 4 Ez 33.21.the Babylonian troops broke through the city wall.25.4 wall: Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 b.c.That same night, Zedekiah and his soldiers tried to escape through the gate near the royal garden, even though they knew the enemy had the city surrounded. They headed toward the desert, 5 but the Babylonian troops caught up with them near Jericho. They arrested Zedekiah, but his soldiers scattered in every direction.
6 Zedekiah was taken to Riblah, where Nebuchadnezzarput him on trial and found him guilty. 7 Ez 12.13.Zedekiah’s sons were killed right in front of him. His eyes were then poked out, and he was put in chains and dragged off to Babylon.
8 About a month later,25.8 About a month later: Hebrew "On the seventh day of the fifth month."in Nebuchadnezzar’s nineteenth year as king, Nebuzaradan, who was his official in charge of the guards, arrived in Jerusalem. 9 1 K 9.8.Nebuzaradan burned down the Lord's temple, the king’s palace, and every important building in the city, as well as all the houses. 10 Then he ordered the Babylonian soldiers to break down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 He led away as prisoners the people left in the city, including those who had become loyal to Nebuchadnezzar. 12 Only some of the poorest people were left behind to work the vineyards and the fields.
13 1 K 7.15-26;2 Ch 3.15-17;1 K 7.23-26;2 Ch 4.2-5.The Babylonian soldiers took the two bronze columns that stood in front of the temple, the ten movable bronze stands, and the large bronze bowl called the Sea. They broke them into pieces so they could take the bronze to Babylonia. 14 1 K 7.45;2 Ch 4.16.They carried off the bronze things used for worship at the temple, including the pans for hot ashes, and the shovels, snuffers, and also the dishes for incense, 15 as well as the fire pans and the sprinkling bowls. Nebuzaradan ordered his soldiers to take everything made of gold or silver.
16 The pile of bronze from the columns, the stands, and the large bowl that Solomonhad made for the temple was too large to be weighed. 17 Each column had been eight meters tall with a bronze cap over one meter high. These caps were decorated with bronze designs—some of them like chains and others like pomegranates.25.17 pomegranates: A bright red fruit that looks like an apple.
18 Next, Nebuzaradan arrested Seraiahthe chief priest, Zephaniahhis assistant, and three temple officials. 19 Then he arrested one of the army commanders, the king’s five personal advisors, and the officer in charge of gathering the troops for battle. He also found 60 more soldiers who were still in Jerusalem. 20 Nebuzaradanled them all to Riblah21 near Hamath, where Nebuchadnezzarhad them killed.
Most of the people of Judah had been carried away as captives from their own country.
Gedaliah Is Made Ruler of the People Left in Judah
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Jericho is the city opposite which Israel crossed the Jordan and which was set apart for destruction, with Rahab and those in her house spared. Hiel of Bethel rebuilt it in Ahab’s time (Joshua 6:17).
At Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon pronounced sentence on Zedekiah and had Zedekiah’s sons and all the nobles of Judah put to death (Jeremiah 39:6).
Zedekiah, son of Josiah, was the last king of Judah; he rebelled against Babylon, saw his sons killed, had his eyes put out, and was taken captive (2 Kings 25:7).
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba, reigned over Israel, asked God for wisdom to govern the people, and built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 12:24).
At Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon pronounced sentence on Zedekiah and had Zedekiah’s sons and all the nobles of Judah put to death (Jeremiah 39:6).
Hamath is a land where Riblah was located, the place where Zedekiah was brought to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who pronounced sentence on him (Jeremiah 39:5).