The Fall of Jerusalem Recounted
(Psalm 74:1–23; Psalm 79:1–13; 2 Kings 24:18–20; 2 Chronicles 36:11–14)

1Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal (father-in-law is protection) daughter of Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed); she was from Libnah (pavement).

2And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}, just as Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up) had done. 3For because of the anger of the LORD {YHWH}, all this happened in Jerusalem (city of peace) and Judah (praised), until He finally banished them from His presence.

And Zedekiah also (YHWH is righteous) rebelled against the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing).

4So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) marched against Jerusalem (city of peace) with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. 5And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s (YHWH is righteous) eleventh year.

6By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. 7Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans (the Babylonians)a had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled the city by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden.

They headed toward the Arabah (the Jordan Valley),b 8but the army of the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) in the plains of Jericho (city of palms), and his whole army deserted him.

9The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) at Riblah (fertility) in the land of Hamath (fortress), where he pronounced judgment on Zedekiah.

10There at Riblah (fertility) the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) before his eyes, and he also killed all the officials of Judah (praised). 11Then he put out Zedekiah’s (YHWH is righteous) eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon (confusion by mixing), where he kept him in custody until his dying day.

The Temple Destroyed
(2 Kings 25:8–17)

12On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s (may Nebo protect the crown) reign over Babylon (confusion by mixing), Nebuzaradan (Nebo has given seed) captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem (city of peace). 13He burned down the house of the LORD {YHWH}, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem (city of peace)—every significant building. 14And the whole army of the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) under the captain of the guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem (city of peace).

15Then Nebuzaradan (Nebo has given seed) captain of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) and the rest of the craftsmen. 16But Nebuzaradan (Nebo has given seed) captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.

17Moreover, the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) broke up the bronze pillars and {YHWH} stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried all the bronze to Babylon (confusion by mixing). 18They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes, and all the articles of bronze used in the temple service. 19The captain of the guard also took away the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and drink offering bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.

20As for the two pillars, the Sea, the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands that King Solomon (peace) had made for the house of the LORD {YHWH}, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure. 21Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference <27 ft high x 18 ft around / 8.2 m x 5.5 m around>;c each was hollow, four fingers thick <2.9 in / 7.4 cm>.d 22The bronze capital atop one pillar was five cubits high <7.5 ft / 2.3 m>,e with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. 23Each capital had ninety-six pomegranates on the sides {ruachah}, and a total of a hundred pomegranates were above the surrounding network.

Captives Carried to Babylon
(2 Kings 25:18–21)

24The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah (YHWH is ruler) the chief priest, Zephaniah (YHWH has treasured) the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers. 25Of those still in the city, he took a court official who had been appointed over the men of war, as well as seven trusted royal advisers. 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.

26Nebuzaradan (Nebo has given seed) captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) at Riblah (fertility). 27There at Riblah (fertility) in the land of Hamath (fortress), the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) struck them down and put them to death. So Judah (praised) was taken into exile, away from its own land.

28These are the people Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) carried away:

in the seventh year, 3,023 Jews;

29in Nebuchadnezzar’s (may Nebo protect the crown) eighteenth year, 832 people from Jerusalem (city of peace);

30in Nebuchadnezzar’s (may Nebo protect the crown) twenty-third year, Nebuzaradan (Nebo has given seed) captain of the guard carried away 745 Jews.

So in all, 4,600 people were taken away.

Jehoiachin Released from Prison
(2 Kings 25:27–30)

31On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin (YHWH establishes) king of Judah (praised), in the first year of the reign of Evil-merodach (man of Merodach) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing), he pardoned \he lifted up the head of/f Jehoiachin king of Judah and released him from prison. 32And he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon (confusion by mixing).

33So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life. 34And the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) provided Jehoiachin a daily portion for the rest of his life, until the day of his death.