2 Kings 25:1-11

Nebuchadnezzar Besieges Jerusalem

1 1Now in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, 2Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it and 3built a siege wall all around it.
2 So the city was under siege until the eleventh * year of King Zedekiah.
3 On the ninth day of the fourth month 4the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
4 5Then the city was broken into, and all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls beside 6the king's garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. And they went by way of the Arabah.
5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho and all his army was scattered from him.
6 Then 7they captured the king and 8brought him to the king of Babylon at 9Riblah, and he passed sentence on him.
7 10They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then 11put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon.

Jerusalem Burned and Plundered

8 12Now on the seventh day of the 13fifth month, which was the nineteenth * year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
9 14He burned the house of the LORD, 15the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire.
10 So all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard 16broke down the walls around Jerusalem.
11 Then 17the 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, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away into exile.

2 Kings 25:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 25

In this chapter is an account of the siege, taking, and burning of the city of Jerusalem, and of the carrying captive the king and the inhabitants to Babylon, 2Ki 25:1-12, as also of the pillars and vessels of the temple brought thither, 2Ki 25:13-17 and of the putting to death several of the principal persons of the land, 2Ki 25:18-22, and of the miserable condition of the rest under Gedaliah, whom Ishmael slew, 2Ki 25:23-26, and the chapter, and so the history, is concluded with the kindness Jehoiachin met with from the king of Babylon, after thirty seven years' captivity, 2Ki 25:27-30.

&c.] Of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. From hence to the end of 2Ki 25:7, the account exactly agrees with Jer 52:4-11. 18182-941226-1348-2Ki25.2

Cross References 17

  • 1. 2 Chronicles 36:17-20; Jeremiah 39:1-7
  • 2. Jeremiah 21:2; Jeremiah 34:1, 2; Ezekiel 24:2
  • 3. Ezekiel 21:22
  • 4. 2 Kings 6:24, 25; Lamentations 4:9, 10
  • 5. Ezekiel 33:21
  • 6. Nehemiah 3:15
  • 7. Jeremiah 34:21, 22
  • 8. Jeremiah 32:4
  • 9. 2 Kings 23:33
  • 10. Jeremiah 39:6, 7
  • 11. Ezekiel 12:13
  • 12. Jeremiah 52:12
  • 13. Jeremiah 39:8-12
  • 14. 1 Kings 9:8; 2 Chronicles 36:19; Psalms 74:3-7
  • 15. Amos 2:5
  • 16. 2 Kings 14:13; Nehemiah 1:3
  • 17. 2 Chronicles 36:20

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Lit "against it"
  • [b]. So some ancient mss and versions; M.T. "he"
  • [c]. Lit "they spoke judgment with him"
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