II Kings Chapter 25
Please read: II Kings 25 –
The year that is marked as the year that the southern kingdom was taken captive is 586 B.C. However, there were many long months of captivity prior to that, as the people were held captive within the city walls of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans or Babylonians. The Chaldeans were originally a tribal group that lived south of Babylon but were taken over by the Babylonians. From that time forward the two names were used interchangeably.
The Chaldeans used the ancient tactic of surrounding a city so that it’s citizens could neither go in or go out, causing the captives to eventually starve to death. As the people surrendered, they were taken in groups to Babylon. This was the judgement of God that He had warned them about many times.
Where was Judah’s king through all of this? King Jehoiachin had already been taken captive by the Babylonians. A new king had been set up in Jerusalem, King Zedekiah, but he was captured during an escape attempt on one particular evening. He and others who attempted to escape quickly split up and scattered once outside the city walls. Zedekiah and his family had crossed quite a long distance before being captured. They had made it to the city limits of Jericho. They were taken captive to Babylon where Zedekiah was treated brutally by the Babylonians.
“It seems ironic that here, at the very spot where Israel first set foot on the Promised Land, the last of the Davidic kings was captured and his monarchy shattered. Here, where Israel experienced her first victory as the walls of Jericho fell before unarmed men who trusted God, was the scene of her last defeat.” [Dilday]
Let's Reflect
1. While you do not see the date of 586 B.C. written in this chapter, there are definite markers of time recorded that tell us exactly when the judgement of God was carried out upon the people of Judah. By the reign of which king, is the record of time given?
2. What was the last thing that King Zedekiah saw before the Babylonians put his eyes out?
3. We read previously about all the care, resources and labor that went into building the temple of God. What did the Babylonians do to the temple as well as other great buildings of the kingdom?
4. Besides all of the looting and fires set to destroy the city, what does verse 10 tell us they also destroyed? This destruction would stay this way for many years until the exiles were released and returned to Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah.
5. Almost the entire population of Judah was taken captive. What happened to most of these captives once they reached Babylon? See verse 21.
6. There no longer was a king in Jerusalem. The Babylonian king did set up a man of Judah to serve as governor of the few remaining people. What was his name?
7. This governor tried to reassure the people that they would be fine as long as they just cooperated with Babylon. His fellow men of Jerusalem did not care for his opinion, and they did what to the governor?
8. Some years had passed and the new king of Babylon decided to show favor to King Jehoiachin who had been held captive all this time. What favor did the king bestow on King Jehoiachin? This was the start of the remnant being saved by God. God had promised that He would not completely wipe out His chosen people. The twelve tribes of Israel had lost their promised land through idolatry and sin, but God would make a way for them to once again return home.
