2 Kings25
New American Standard
1Now in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it, and built a siege wall all around it.
2So the city was under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
3On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
4Then the city was broken into, and all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls that were beside the king’s garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. And they went by way of the Arabah.
5But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him.
6Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and he passed sentence on him.
7And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles, and brought him to Babylon.
8Now on the seventh day of the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguards, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
9And he burned the house of the Lord, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire.
10So all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the bodyguards tore down the walls around Jerusalem.
11Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguards, led into exile the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the people.
12But the captain of the bodyguards left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and farmers.
13Now the Chaldeans smashed to pieces the bronze pillars which were in the house of the Lord, and the stands and the bronze Sea which were in the house of the Lord, and carried the bronze to Babylon.
14And they took away the pots, the shovels, the shears, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils which were used in temple service.
15The captain of the bodyguards also took away the firepans and the basins, what was fine gold and what was fine silver.
16The two pillars, the one Sea, and the stands which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord—the bronze of all these articles was too heavy to weigh.
17The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a bronze capital was on it; the height of the capital was three cubits, with latticework and pomegranates on the capital all around, all of bronze. And the second pillar was like these, same features with latticework.
18Then the captain of the bodyguards took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest, with the three doorkeepers.
19And from the city he took one official who was overseer of the men of war, and five of the king’s advisers who were found in the city; and the scribe of the captain of the army who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city.
20Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguards took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.
21Then the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah went into exile from its land.
22Now as for the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan over them.
23When all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, namely, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
24And Gedaliah swore to them and their men and said to them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans; live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.”
25But it happened in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck Gedaliah down so that he died along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.
26Then all the people, from the small to the great, and the captains of the forces set out and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
27Now it came about in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison;
28and he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon.
29So Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes, and had his meals in the king’s presence regularly all the days of his life;
30and as his allowance, a regular allowance was given to him by the king, a portion for each day, 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