SCRIPTURE: 2 KINGS 25
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM (vs. 1-26)
Because Zedekiah rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the king and his whole army marched against Jerusalem. He encamped outside the city and built siege work all around it. There was a famine there was no food for the people to eat. The city wall was broken and the whole army fled at night towards the Arabah. But the Babylonian army pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered and he was captured and taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah. The king killed all the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. He also put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
On the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan, the commander of the imperial guard of Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and set fire to the temple of the Lord and the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. They broke down the walls around Jerusalem and carried all the exile leaving the poorest behind to work the vineyard and fields.
The Babylonians broke up everything in the temple and carried the bronze to Babylon. They took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service. They also took away the censers and sprinkling bowls – all that were made of pure gold or silver. They also took the bronze from the two pillars which Solomon had made. The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers. He also took the officer in charge of the fighting men and five royal advisers including the secretary who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land and sixty of his men. He brought them to the king of Babylon and the king had them executed in the land of Hamath. (vs. 13-21)
Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah to be over the people he had left behind in Judah However, Ishmael came with ten men and assassinated Gedaliah and also the men of Judah and the Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah. All the people then fled to Egypt for fear of the Babylonians.
JEHOIACHIN RELEASED (vs. 27-30)
When Evil-Merodach became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiakim from prison and gave him a seat of honor. He was also given a regular allowance and ate regularly at the king’s table as long as he lived.
THOUGHTS:
The Babylonians invaded Jerusalem. The king was captured, the city and temple were destroyed and the people were taken into captivity. That was the judgment being given to the people of Judah.
The people of Judah were being carried off to a foreign land as humiliated slaves because they failed to follow God. There will always be serious consequences if we do not follow God’s command.