2 Kings 25

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Read 2 Kings 25

25 So 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 whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians were surrounding the city. They fled toward 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.

He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where sentence was pronounced on him. They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.

On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. 10 The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon. 12 But the commander left behind some of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

13 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 the bronze to Babylon. 14 They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service. 15 The commander of the imperial guard took away the censers and sprinkling bowls—all that were made of pure gold or silver.

16 The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the movable stands, which Solomon had made for the temple of the Lord, was more than could be weighed. 17 Each pillar was eighteen cubits high. The bronze capital on top of one pillar was three cubits high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its network, was similar.

18 The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers. 19 Of those still in the city, he took the officer in charge of the fighting men, and five royal advisers. He also took the secretary who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land and sixty of the conscripts who were found in the city. 20 Nebuzaradan the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21 There at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed.

So Judah went into captivity, away from her land.

22 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to be over the people he had left behind in Judah. 23 When all the army officers 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, Jaazaniah the son of the Maakathite, and their men. 24 Gedaliah took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid of the Babylonian officials,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.”

25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood, came with ten men and assassinated Gedaliah and also the men of Judah and the Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah. 26 At this, all the people from the least to the greatest, together with the army officers, fled to Egypt for fear of the Babylonians.

Jehoiachin Released

27 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. He did this on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month. 28 He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. 30 Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived.

Go Deeper

As we wrap up this journey through 2 Kings, we read about the execution of judgment fulfilling the warnings to each corrupt king of Israel throughout this book. There is famine, war, and murder leading to complete destruction of Judah. The people of Judah are either murdered or driven out, and all hope is lost. How can a tribe that starts out so faithful end in such corruption? This chapter gives us a look into why walking with the Lord is so important to not only us as individuals but corporately as well.

Prophets spent years warning against corruption, but the capture and destruction of Judah happened just as the prophets forewarned. Walking in obedience with the Lord allows us to enjoy His blessings and use our gifts and passions to bring others closer to the Lord. We are able to encourage each other in our faith, and help each other when we fall short. The people of Judah all chose to walk in disobedience, leading to collective destruction and fear.

The end of this chapter reminds us of the Hope that we have in the Lord, and the restoration He brings because of His love for us. Jehoiachin was released from prison, but the love and care poured out on the former king of Judah offers a promise of abundance and prosperity. He was released from bondage and given a seat at the king’s table. This is a beautifully described scene of hope we can look forward to as Christians. Our disobedience will never be greater than the Lord’s love for us.

​Jehoiachin’s redemption is an example of individual love that the Lord has for him: a seat at the king’s table above others, fresh garments and food, and he was given an allowance according to his daily needs. The Lord cares about us personally, he does not compare us to our past but instead invites us into a future of obedience with him. Disobedience in Judah began when the people did not trust that the Lord was providing for their daily needs. This chapter reminds us that our God is just, and He alone brings hope no matter how far we are walking in disobedience.

Questions

  1. Do you believe that the Lord is providing for your daily needs?
  2. Are you listening to the people in your life trying to point you to obedience with the Lord?
  3. In what area of your life can you be more obedient to the Lord’s plan for you?

By the Way

Jericho was the city the Israelites first entered in the Promised Land. Joshua 6 tells the story of the Israelites marching around the city for seven days, and on the last day they blew trumpets and shouted as the walls fell down. Jericho was the scene of Israel’s very first victory after obeying the Lord, and it was also Israel’s defeat from many years of disobeying the Lord.

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3 thoughts on “2 Kings 25”

  1. Love is what I see in all of this. God so LOVES you and me that He made the way to Himself so that we can never be separated. Romans 8 38 For I am convinced (beyond any doubt) that neither death, not life, nor angels,nor principalities, nor things to come, nor powers, not height, nor depth, nor any other created thing can separate us from the (unlimited) love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
    It is the overwhelming, neverending, relentless, unfailing, faithful, steadfast, loyal, pursuing, abounding, completely complete, undeserved generous and waiting LOVE!!! WOOHOO!!!

    God thank You for Your desire to want me in Your family. Thank You for pursuing me. Thank You for that deep deep desire I have to pursue You! God thank You for Your love help me to share You with those I meet. Give me Your words to speak. In Jesus name amen. WOOHOO!!!!

  2. Ella Snodgrass

    One commentary I read sums up 2 Kings this way:
    “Second Kings is an illustration of what happens when we make anything more important than God, when we make ruinous alliances, when our consciences become desensitized to right and wrong, and when we are unable to discern God’s purpose for our lives.”
    This book was a tedious & hard read but how powerful were the truths contained within its narratives. May we be quick to acknowledge our sins, returning to God who woos, waits, and welcomes the wanderer back home.

  3. Bittersweet end to our study in Kings…
    Some points of reference to dig deeper into:
    -Jeremiah 42 tells the story of what happened to the Israelites that fled wrongly to Egypt and their consequences for going.
    -Timothy Keller just finished a short 3-sermon series over Esther (765-767) that in some ways are parallel to palace life. Today’s was titled “Rest from our enemies” —which can relate to Jehoiachin and the rest he received from King Awel-Marduk. (Ps 23:5)

    Overall, this was an intense study, but very powerful lessons to leave us with!

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