Nebuchadnezzar Besieges Jerusalem
(2 Chronicles 36:15–21; Jeremiah 39:1–10)
1So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built† a siege wall all around it. 2And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.
3By the ninth day of the fourth month,† the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. 4Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans† had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden.
They headed toward the Arabah,† 5but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him. 6The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him. 7And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.
The Temple Destroyed
8On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.
every significant building: The Babylonians destroyed important religious...
every significant building: The Babylonians destroyed important religious and government buildings to prevent further rebellion. They also tore down the city's walls, leaving Jerusalem defenseless.
9He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. 10And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.
The Babylonians exiled most of the population, including...
The Babylonians exiled most of the population, including some who willingly joined them (Jeremiah 39:9; 52:15).
They left the poorest people behind because they were unlikely to cause trouble and could work the vineyards and fields.
The Babylonians exiled most of the population, including some who willingly joined them (Jeremiah 39:9; 52:15).
They left the poorest people behind because they were unlikely to cause trouble and could work the vineyards and fields.
11Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the population. 12But the captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.
The Babylonians dismantled the temple furnishings made by...
The Babylonians dismantled the temple furnishings made by Huram of Tyre and other bronze items (see 1 Kings 7:13–50) for their own use. Transporting these valuable items to Babylon was a major task. They took everything valuable (see also Jeremiah 52:17–23).
13Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried the bronze to Babylon. 14They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes, and all the articles of bronze used in the temple service. 15The captain of the guard also took away the censers and sprinkling bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.
16As for the two pillars, the Sea, and the movable stands that Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure. 17Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall.† The bronze capital atop one pillar was three cubits high,† with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its network, was similar.
Captives Carried to Babylon
Instead of deporting important citizens and officials like...
Instead of deporting important citizens and officials like during the Babylonian invasion of 597 BC (2 Kings 24:14), Nebuchadnezzar executed these leaders. He even had religious leaders killed.
Seraiah, the high priest, was killed. But his son Jehozadak was exiled (1 Chronicles 6:15). This allowed the priestly line to continue in captivity and later return to Jerusalem, starting in 538 BC (Ezra 1:1–2:20).
Instead of deporting important citizens and officials like during the Babylonian invasion of 597 BC (2 Kings 24:14), Nebuchadnezzar executed these leaders. He even had religious leaders killed.
Seraiah, the high priest, was killed. But his son Jehozadak was exiled (1 Chronicles 6:15). This allowed the priestly line to continue in captivity and later return to Jerusalem, starting in 538 BC (Ezra 1:1–2:20).
18The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers. 19Of those still in the city, he took a court official who had been appointed over the men of war, as well as five royal advisors. He also took the scribe of the captain of the army, who had enlisted the people of the land, and sixty men who were found in the city.
20Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death. So Judah was taken into exile, away from its own land.
Gedaliah Governs in Judah
Two short sections describe what happened next. The...
Two short sections describe what happened next. The first explains how the land was reorganized (2 Kings 25:22–26). The second tells how King Jehoiachin was later treated kindly (2 Kings 25:27–30).
22Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over the people he had left behind in the land of Judah.
Gedaliah's family had experience in civic matters, so...
Gedaliah's family had experience in civic matters, so people initially accepted his role as governor (see also Jeremiah 40:1–12). A seal impression found at Lachish shows Gedaliah's importance as the officer "over the house" (see study note on 1 Kings 4:6).
The prophet Jeremiah, along with army commanders, went to Mizpah to support Gedaliah (Jeremiah 40:6). This Mizpah was a border town in Benjamin and was known in Israelite history as a place for religious gatherings (1 Samuel 7:5–6).
The men mentioned here held significant positions. Ishmael came from a royal family (2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 36:12). Johanan was a loyal supporter of Gedaliah (Jeremiah 40:13–16). The name Jezaniah appears on items found during excavations at Tell-en-Nasbeh.
Gedaliah's family had experience in civic matters, so people initially accepted his role as governor (see also Jeremiah 40:1–12). A seal impression found at Lachish shows Gedaliah's importance as the officer "over the house" (see study note on 1 Kings 4:6).
The prophet Jeremiah, along with army commanders, went to Mizpah to support Gedaliah (Jeremiah 40:6). This Mizpah was a border town in Benjamin and was known in Israelite history as a place for religious gatherings (1 Samuel 7:5–6).
The men mentioned here held significant positions. Ishmael came from a royal family (2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 36:12). Johanan was a loyal supporter of Gedaliah (Jeremiah 40:13–16). The name Jezaniah appears on items found during excavations at Tell-en-Nasbeh.
23When all the commanders of the armies and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah† son of the Maacathite, as well as their men. 24And Gedaliah took an oath before them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”
The Murder of Gedaliah
25In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down and killed Gedaliah, along with the Judeans and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. 26Then all the people small and great, together with the commanders of the army, arose and fled to Egypt for fear of the Chaldeans.
Jehoiachin Released from Prison
Evil-merodach (Babylonian, Amel-marduk, meaning "man of Marduk") took...
Evil-merodach (Babylonian, Amel-marduk, meaning "man of Marduk") took over after Nebuchadnezzar II died and ruled briefly from 561 to 560 BC.
he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin: Babylonian records detail the food Jehoiachin received in prison. The mention of Jehoiachin living comfortably might suggest hope that God would protect and bring back a repentant people to their land (see 1 Kings 8:46–53; Isaiah 35:8–10; 51:11; Jeremiah 29:10–14; Zephaniah 3:20).
Evil-merodach (Babylonian, Amel-marduk, meaning "man of Marduk") took over after Nebuchadnezzar II died and ruled briefly from 561 to 560 BC.
he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin: Babylonian records detail the food Jehoiachin received in prison. The mention of Jehoiachin living comfortably might suggest hope that God would protect and bring back a repentant people to their land (see 1 Kings 8:46–53; Isaiah 35:8–10; 51:11; Jeremiah 29:10–14; Zephaniah 3:20).
27On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he released† King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 28And he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.
29So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life. 30And the king provided Jehoiachin a daily portion for the rest of his life.