2 Kings25
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it round about.
2So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
3On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.
4Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about); and the king went by the way of the Arabah.
5But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.
6Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.
7And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
8Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem.
9And he burnt the house of Jehovah, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burnt he with fire.
10And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.
11And the residue of the people that were left in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away captive.
12But the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.
13And the pillars of brass that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Jehovah, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.
14And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.
15And the firepans, and the basins, that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.
16The two pillars, the one sea, and the bases, which Solomon had made for the house of Jehovah, the brass of all these vessels was without weight.
17The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of brass was upon it; and the height of the capital was three cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the capital round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with network.
18And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:
19and out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war; and five men of them that saw the king’s face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the city.
20And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.
21And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.
22And as for the people that were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor.
23Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
24And Gedaliah sware to them and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not because of the servants of the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
25But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, so that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah.
26And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces, arose, and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
27And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;
28and he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,
29and changed his prison garments. And Jehoiachin did eat bread before him continually all the days of his life:
30and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him of the king, every day a portion, all the days of his life.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Kings 25.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Jerusalem besieged, Zedekiah taken. (1–7). The temple burnt, The people carried into captivity. (8–21). The rest of the Jews flee into Egypt, Evil-merodach relieves the captivity of Jehoiachin. (22–30).
vv1-7
Jerusalem was so fortified, that it could not be taken till famine rendered the besieged unable to resist. In the prophecy and Lamentations of Jeremiah, we find more of this event; here it suffices to say, that the impiety and misery of the besieged were very great. At length the city was taken by storm. The king, his family, and his great men escaped in the night, by secret passages. But those deceive themselves who think to escape God's judgments, as much as those who think to brave them. By what befell Zedekiah, two prophecies, which seemed to contradict each other, were both fulfilled. Jeremiah prophesied that Zedekiah should be brought to Babylon, Jer 32:5; 34:3; Ezekiel, that he should not see Babylon, Eze 12:13. He was brought thither, but his eyes being put out, he did not see it.
vv8-21
The city and temple were burnt, and, it is probable, the ark in it. By this, God showed how little he cares for the outward pomp of his worship, when the life and power of religion are neglected. The walls of Jerusalem were thrown down, and the people carried captive to Babylon. The vessels of the temple were carried away. When the things signified were sinned away, what should the signs stand there for? It was righteous with God to deprive those of the benefit of his worship, who had preferred false worships before it; those that would have many altars, now shall have none. As the Lord spared not the angels that sinned, as he doomed the whole race of fallen men to the grave, and all unbelievers to hell, and as he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, we need not wonder at any miseries he may bring upon guilty nations, churches, or persons.
vv22-30
The king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah to be the governor and protector of the Jews left their land. But the things of their peace were so hidden from their eyes, that they knew not when they were well off. Ishmael basely slew him and all his friends, and, against the counsel of Jeremiah, the rest went to Egypt. Thus was a full end made of them by their own folly and disobedience; see Jeremiah chap. 40 to 45 Jehoiachin was released out of prison, where he had been kept 37 years. Let none say that they shall never see good again, because they have long seen little but evil: the most miserable know not what turn Providence may yet give to their affairs, nor what comforts they are reserved for, according to the days wherein they have been afflicted. Even in this world the Saviour brings a release from bondage to the distressed sinner who seeks him, bestowing foretastes of the pleasures which are at his right hand for evermore. Sin alone can hurt us; Jesus alone can do good to sinners.
Key Words
תְּשִׁיעִי: ninth
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
עֲשִׂירִי: tenth; by abbreviation, tenth month or (feminine) part
חֹדֶשׁ: the new moon; by implication, a month
עָשׂוֹר: ten; by abbreviated form ten strings, and so a decachord
נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר: Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon
מֶלֶךְ: a king
בָּבֶל: Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
2 Kings 25Prophesied Zedekiah would be brought to Babylon but not see it; fulfilled when his eyes were put out.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophesied Zedekiah would be taken to Babylon, seemingly contradicting Ezekiel 12:13 but precisely fulfilled.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account of the temple destruction, with chronological details reconciling the seventh and tenth days.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel details of the deportation by Nebuzaradan and the sparing of the poor.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Explicitly prophesied the carrying away of the remaining brass pillars and temple vessels to Babylon.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel in Babylon receives the exact date of the start of the siege of Jerusalem.
Supported by JFB
Famine conditions so severe that women boiled their own children, as foretold by Moses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel historical account of Evil-merodach releasing Jehoiachin from prison in Babylon.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Gedaliah appointed as governor, opening the narrative of the remnant left behind.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Detailed account of Ishmael's conspiracy, murder of Gedaliah, and the tragic dispersion.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The remnant flees to Egypt in fear of the Chaldeans, disobeying Jeremiah's warnings.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Mosaic covenant curse of extreme famine and cannibalism during sieges is fulfilled.
Supported by JFB
Riblah established as the military headquarters where Judean kings face judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Detailed description of the construction of the two bronze pillars (Jachin and Boaz) now destroyed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms the execution of Judean leadership at Riblah and the finality of Judah's exile.
Supported by Matthew Poole