2 Kings 25

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 25 of 25

1 And it happened in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth of the month, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and camped against it, and built a siege mound all around it.

2 And the city entered into siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

3 On the ninth of the month, when the famine was severe in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land,

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Chapter Summary

Jerusalem is besieged. Zedekiah taken, his sons slain, his eyes put out. Nebuzaradan defaces the city, plunders and carries away the remnant and the treasures. The nobles are slain at Riblah. Gedaliah being slain, the remnant flee into Egypt.

Key Hebrew Words

מָצוֹר siege H4692 · TWOT 1898a
רָעָב famine H7458 · TWOT 2183a
גָּלָה carry into exile H1540 · TWOT 350
נְחֹ֫שֶׁת bronze H5178 · TWOT 1350a
שָׂרַף burn H8313 · TWOT 2292
בֶּ֫גֶד garment H899 · TWOT 198a

People & Context

Nebuchadnezzar

king of Babylon who besieges Jerusalem, captures Zedekiah, and destroys the city

Zedekiah

last king of Judah; captured fleeing, his sons slain before him, then blinded and exiled to Babylon

Nebuzaradan

chief of Babylon's executioners who burns the temple, breaks the walls, and deports the people

Gedaliah

son of Ahikam appointed governor over the remnant in Judah, then assassinated at Mizpah

Ishmael

son of Nethaniah of royal seed who murders Gedaliah and the men with him

Evil-merodach

king of Babylon who releases Jehoiachin from prison and exalts him above the other kings

Timeline

Final Siege of Jerusalem Begins

Nebuchadnezzar and his army attack Jerusalem again in Zedekiah's 9th year, building a siege mound around it.

2 Kings 25:1-2
Famine and Zedekiah's Escape

By Zedekiah's 11th year, famine breaks the city. Zedekiah and his soldiers flee by night toward the Arabah.

2 Kings 25:3-4
Zedekiah Captured and Blinded

The Chaldean army catches Zedekiah near Jericho. They slaughter his sons before him, blind him, and carry him in fetters to Babylon.

2 Kings 25:5-7

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