2 Kings 25:16-26

16 The two pillars, the one sea, and the stands which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD -¹the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight.

17 ²The height of the one pillar was eighteen * cubits, and a bronze capital was on it; the height of the capital was three cubits, with a network and pomegranates on the capital all around, all of bronze. And the second pillar was like these with network.

18 Then the captain of the guard took ³Seraiah the chief priest and ⁴Zephaniah the second priest, with the three officers of the temple.

19 From the city he took one official who was overseer of the men of war, and ⁵five 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.

20 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at ⁶Riblah.

21 Then the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. ⁷So Judah was led away into exile from its land.

Gedaliah Made Governor

22 Now as for the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed ⁸Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan over them.

23 ⁹When all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to ¹⁰Mizpah, namely, 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.

24 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 be well with you."

25 ¹¹But it came about 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.

26 ¹²Then all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces arose and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

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2 Kings 25:16-26 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

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 12

1. 1 Kings 7:47
2. 1 Kings 7:15-22
3. 1 Chronicles 6:14; Ezra 7:1
4. Jeremiah 21:1; Jeremiah 29:25, 29
5. Esther 1:14
6. 2 Kings 23:33
7. Deuteronomy 28:64; 2 Kings 23:27
8. Jeremiah 39:14; Jeremiah 40:7-9
9. Jeremiah 40:7-9
10. Joshua 18:26
11. Jeremiah 41:1, 2
12. Jeremiah 43:4-7

Footnotes 7

[a]. I.e. One cubit equals approx 18 in.
[b]. I.e. One cubit equals approx 18 in.
[c]. Lit "keepers of the door"
[d]. Lit "men of those seeing the king's face"
[e]. Or "scribe, a captain"
[f]. Lit "seed"
[g]. Lit "and ten men with him"