[:en]SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 52
“But the Babylonian army pursued King Zedekiah and overtook him in the plains of Jeremiah. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, and he was captured. He was taken to the king of Babylon at riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the officials of Judah. Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon, where he put him in prison till the day of his death.” (Jeremiah 52:8-11)
“The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried all the bronze to Babylon” (Jeremiah 52:17)
“In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Evil-merodach become king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah and freed him from prison on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the others who were with him in Babylon.” (Jeremiah 52:31-32)
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM (vs. 1-30)
This chapter fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning Jerusalem. Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king of Jerusalem. He reign for 11 years and did evil in God’s eyes. He rebelled against God by not surrendering to Babylon. Instead, he led his sons, leaders, and soldiers to flee. As a consequence, they were captured. All the leaders and soldiers were put to death. The kind of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and put him in prison at Babylon till his death.
God’s temple was plundered and burned. The walls were broken down. They carried away all bronze to Babylon. They also took among all things made of pure gold or silver used in temple service. Nebuzaradan, commander of the imprisoned guard executed the chief priests Seraiah and Zephaniah, 3 doorkeepers, officers in charge of the fighting men, 7 royal advisers, the secretary who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land together with his 60 men. 4,600 people were carried into exile.
JEHOIACHIN RELEASED (vs. 31-34)
When Evil-Merodach became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin, king of Judah from prison. He gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. He ate regularly at the king’s table and was given a regular allowance until he died.[:]