BABYLON, Part Three

Chapter 24:8-20, YEAR: 597 B.C., Jehoiachin was eighteen when his reign begin. Son of Jehoiakim, followed in his father’s evil doings and reigned only three months. Nebuchadnezzar stuck again. This time he took the rest of the temple treasures, treasures from the royal palace, all gold articles Solomon had made for the Temple. He took all of Jerusalem: all fighting men and artisans–for a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest of the land were left. Also taken to Babylon, was the entire force of fighting men strong and fit for war. Nebuchadnezaar made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle king, changed his name to Zedekiah.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. Reigned in Jerusalem for eleven years. He did evil in the site of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end He cast them from His site.

Chapter 25, II kings, year 586 B. C. The year of the fall of Jerusalem.
Zedekiah rebelled against the King of Babylon. So, in the ninth year, tenth day, tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar and his whole army came against Jerusalem. Camped outside the walls til the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign. Finally, by the ninth day of the month four, the famine was so severe there was no food for the people of the city. Wall was broken in, the army came in during the night, near the king’s garden. Zedekiah had fled, was separated from his soldiers, and captured. He was taken before Nebuchadnezzar, saw his son’s killed before him, had his own eyes put out and was put in bronze shackles and taken back to Babylon.

II kings 25:8-30 Nebuaradan commander of the imperial guard was sent back to finish up Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. He burnt down the Temple, the royal palace, all the walls were broke down. All the people left were taken captive, even the ones that had pledge alliance to Nebuchadnezzar. Again the poorest of the people were left to tend the vineyards and fields. They took all the bronze pillars and all that were made of pure silver or gold. He even took the pots, shovels, wick trimmers and dishes made of bronze from the temple. He took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers, officers in charge of the fighting men, five royal advisers, secretary of conscripting and sixty of his men captive. Nebuzaradan took them all back to Riblah where Nebuchadnezzar was. There the King had them all put to death.

Gedaliah was put in charge by Nebuchadnezzar over those left in the land. When Ishmael heard that Gedaliah was in charge he went there. Gedaliah took an oath to assure them they had nothing to fear if they would serve the king. Ishmael, who was of royal blood, assassinated Gedaliah, and the men of Judah and the Babylonians. At this point, all the people for the greatest to the lowest including the army officer fled to Egypt out of fear of the Babylonians.

In the thirty-seventh year of Jehoiachin’s exile, Nebuchadnezzar released him, set him up higher than the other kings there with Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiachin was given a daily allowance by the king, put on his new clothes and set at the king's table for the rest of his life.

*KING JAMES AND THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION** H H HALLEY’S HANDBOOK OF THE BIBLE. Can be used by copyright law, if not taken word for word.