Jerusalem is Captured
July 19, 2019
Commentary
Many scholars believe Jeremiah 52 was written about twenty-five years after the rest of the book. While the author is not identified, the chapter closely parallels 2 Kings 24:18–25:30. Whoever wrote it, the Holy Spirit guided its inclusion in Scripture. This final chapter serves as a historical record, showing how God’s warnings were fulfilled.
The chapter summarizes the reign of Judah’s last king. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. Like Jehoiakim before him, he did evil in the sight of the Lord (vv. 1-2). Instead of humbling himself and obeying God’s word, he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. As a result, Babylon laid siege to Jerusalem during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign (vv. 3-4). The city remained surrounded for many months. The famine became so severe that there was no food left. Eventually, the Babylonians broke through the city wall (vv. 5-7).
That night, Zedekiah and his soldiers attempted to escape. However, the Babylonian army pursued them and captured him near Jericho after his soldiers scattered. He was taken to Riblah, where Nebuchadnezzar judged him and pronounced sentence. He was forced to watch the execution of his sons. His eyes were put out; he was bound with bronze chains and kept in prison until his death (vv. 8-11).
Jerusalem’s fall marked the tragic end of Judah’s kingdom. In the nine-teenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, the city was captured (v. 12). Soon afterward, the Babylonians burned the temple of the Lord, the king’s palace, and buildings of Jerusalem (v. 13). They tore down the city walls (v. 14) and carried most of the people into exile (v. 15). Only the poorest people were left behind to care for the vineyards and fields (v. 16). Through these events, God demonstrated that His warnings are certain and that persistent disobedience brings judgment.
Application
I am reminded that God’s warnings are given for my good and should not be ignored. Am I humbly obeying His word or resisting His direction? Are there areas where I keep delaying repentance? Do I think I can escape the consequences of my sin? What steps can I take today to follow God more faithfully and trust His wisdom?
Jeremiah 52:1–11 (NET)
1 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah, from Libnah. 2 He did what displeased the Lord just as Jehoiakim had done.
3 What follows is a record of what happened to Jerusalem and Judah because of the Lord’s anger when he drove them out of his sight. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and set up camp outside it. They built siege ramps all around it. He arrived on the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year that Zedekiah ruled over Judah. 5 The city remained under siege until Zedekiah’s eleventh year. 6 By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city was so severe the residents had no food. 7 They broke through the city walls, and all the soldiers tried to escape. They left the city during the night. They went through the gate between the two walls that is near the king’s garden. (The Babylonians had the city surrounded.) Then they headed for the rift valley. 8 But the Babylonian army chased after the king. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and his entire army deserted him. 9 They captured him and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the territory of Hamath and he passed sentence on him there. 10 The king of Babylon had Zedekiah’s sons put to death while Zedekiah was forced to watch. He also had all the nobles of Judah put to death there at Riblah. 11 He had Zedekiah’s eyes put out and had him bound in chains. Then the king of Babylon had him led off to Babylon and he was imprisoned there until the day he died.
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