seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
2 Kings 25:1 So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. 2 The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
3 By the ninth day of the fourth[a] month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. 4 Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians(b) were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah,[c] 5 but the Babylonian[d] army pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, 6 and he was captured.
He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where sentence was pronounced on him. 7 They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
3 By the ninth day of the fourth[a] month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. 4 Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians(b) were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah,[c] 5 but the Babylonian[d] army pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, 6 and he was captured.
He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where sentence was pronounced on him. 7 They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
a. 2 Kings 25:3 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text (see Jer. 52:6); Masoretic Text does not have fourth.
b. 2 Kings 25:4 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 13, 25 and 26
c. 2 Kings 25:4 Or the Jordan Valley
d. 2 Kings 25:5 Or Chaldean; also in verses 10 and 24
There was nothing to eat.... absolutely nothing.... The Bible says there was "no food for the people to eat". It doesn't say only this or that.... it says...."no food".
The army left! It says the whole army fled at night while the enemy was surrounding the city. This is Jerusalem. This is where God let Solomon build His temple for His people to worship Him. Now not even the army will stay. The only people left in Jerusalem would be the people too weak or old or poor to flee.
The last thing Zedekiah's eyes would ever see was the murder of his own sons. They cut out his eyes.
I got the commentary from Bible-studys.org.
“Ninth year”: Responding to Zedekiah’s rebellion (24:20), Nebuchadnezzar sent his whole army to lay siege against the city of Jerusalem. The siege began in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign (Jan. 588 B.C.). The “siege wall” was comprised of either wood towers higher than the walls of the city or a dirt rampart encircling the city.
Zedekiah’s foolish rebellion, had apparently been encouraged by the Egyptian Pharaoh Apries (compare Ezek. 17:15-17), who came to the throne of Egypt (in 588 B.C.), having succeeded his father Psamtik II (594-588 B.C.).
This is speaking of the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah. He has now rebelled and brought the fury of Nebuchadnezzar down on the city and on him in particular. It appears that they circled the city where no one could go in or out. The attack was first against all the land of Judah and the outer lying cities. They were not well fortified and fell immediately. Jerusalem was another story. This city is walled and better prepared to withstand such a siege. Notice, this time, the king of Babylon comes himself. In fact, the greater part of the Babylonian army comes against Jerusalem.
Zedekiah’s foolish rebellion, had apparently been encouraged by the Egyptian Pharaoh Apries (compare Ezek. 17:15-17), who came to the throne of Egypt (in 588 B.C.), having succeeded his father Psamtik II (594-588 B.C.).
This is speaking of the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah. He has now rebelled and brought the fury of Nebuchadnezzar down on the city and on him in particular. It appears that they circled the city where no one could go in or out. The attack was first against all the land of Judah and the outer lying cities. They were not well fortified and fell immediately. Jerusalem was another story. This city is walled and better prepared to withstand such a siege. Notice, this time, the king of Babylon comes himself. In fact, the greater part of the Babylonian army comes against Jerusalem.
This siege brought about terrible circumstances inside of Jerusalem. No food could come in from the farms.
The faces of the people grew black from the famine. They were nothing but skin over bones. This is one of the worst famines in recorded history. The famine was so great that parents ate their children and a third part of the city died from the famine. Jeremiah was in this city during this terrible famine. It took flour to make bread and there was not any to be had.
“The city was broken up”: The two walls near the king’s garden were probably located at the extreme southeast corner of the city, giving direct access to the Kidron Valley. This gave Zedekiah and his soldiers an opportunity to flee for their lives to the east.
This is saying that the king and his men escaped during the night. The city wall was broken into by the army on the north and Zedekiah broke out on the south. They stayed between the two walls as far as they could and then broke through the gate and ran away from the battle in Jerusalem.
The army pursued after Zedekiah and his men as soon as they knew they had fled. They would not let up following them because they knew Nebuchadnezzar would hold them responsible for capturing them. It seemed as soon as they had gotten out away into the plain, the men of war scattered and ran for their lives. They caught Zedekiah near Jericho.
The faces of the people grew black from the famine. They were nothing but skin over bones. This is one of the worst famines in recorded history. The famine was so great that parents ate their children and a third part of the city died from the famine. Jeremiah was in this city during this terrible famine. It took flour to make bread and there was not any to be had.
“The city was broken up”: The two walls near the king’s garden were probably located at the extreme southeast corner of the city, giving direct access to the Kidron Valley. This gave Zedekiah and his soldiers an opportunity to flee for their lives to the east.
This is saying that the king and his men escaped during the night. The city wall was broken into by the army on the north and Zedekiah broke out on the south. They stayed between the two walls as far as they could and then broke through the gate and ran away from the battle in Jerusalem.
The army pursued after Zedekiah and his men as soon as they knew they had fled. They would not let up following them because they knew Nebuchadnezzar would hold them responsible for capturing them. It seemed as soon as they had gotten out away into the plain, the men of war scattered and ran for their lives. They caught Zedekiah near Jericho.
“Riblah”: Located on the Orontes River about 180 miles north of Jerusalem, Riblah was Nebuchadnezzar’s military headquarters for his invasion of Judah. This location was ideally situated as a field headquarters for military forces because ample provision could be found nearby (23:33). The captured traitor Zedekiah was brought to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, where he was blinded after witnessing the death of his sons. The execution of the royal heirs ensured the impossibility of a future claim to the throne or rebellion from his descendants. The blinding made his own future rebellion or retaliation impossible. Jeremiah had warned Zedekiah that he would see Nebuchadnezzar, while Ezekiel had said he would not see Babylon. Both prophecies were accurately fulfilled.
During the nearly two year siege of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar had moved back into Riblah and set his headquarters up there. He could live more comfortably while this siege was taking place. Now his army has brought the king of Judah to him for judgment.
One of the most terrible things a person could experience is seeing your own children killed. These sons could be no more than youngsters since Zedekiah was 32 years old. They were killed, not for their offences, but for those of their father. Zedekiah saw them killed and then they put his eyes out. This form of cruel punishment is not unusual in this part of the world. He was chained feet and hands and humiliated even more in that he must be led to his captivity.
During the nearly two year siege of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar had moved back into Riblah and set his headquarters up there. He could live more comfortably while this siege was taking place. Now his army has brought the king of Judah to him for judgment.
One of the most terrible things a person could experience is seeing your own children killed. These sons could be no more than youngsters since Zedekiah was 32 years old. They were killed, not for their offences, but for those of their father. Zedekiah saw them killed and then they put his eyes out. This form of cruel punishment is not unusual in this part of the world. He was chained feet and hands and humiliated even more in that he must be led to his captivity.
Horrible... just horrible.
