2 Kings Chapter 25

At a Glance

  • Chapter 25 records the dramatic fulfillment of the Babylonian siege and the fall of Jerusalem.
  • Historically, this is the climactic moment of Judah’s sin and punishment within the Deuteronomistic history.
  • - Destruction as judgment and consequence: The temple and city’s fall symbolize the depth of covenant breach.
  • - The end of an era and diaspora memory: Exile carries the narrative forward into a new spiritual and communal reality for Israel.
  • - The sovereignty of God over nations: Babylon is depicted as a tool in divine governance, not merely a conquering empire.

Chapter Overview

Chapter 25 records the dramatic fulfillment of the Babylonian siege and the fall of Jerusalem. It opens with the final phase of Nebuchadnezzar’s campaign: the city’s siege for months, famine, and the inhabitants’ collapse under pressure. The narrative is brutally concrete: the king Zedekiah attempts escape, the royal line is captured, and Nebuchadnezzar’s judgment intensifies as he destroys the city’s walls, burns the temple, and demolishes the royal and noble houses. The fall culminates in the destruction of the temple, the exile of the people, and the desecration of sacred spaces—the pillars, the brazen sea, and the vessels associated with worship in Solomon’s temple. The chapter closes with the grim aftermath: the poor remain to tend the land, while the upper echelons are carried away to Babylon.

Historically, this is the climactic moment of Judah’s sin and punishment within the Deuteronomistic history. The genre combines court record, prophetic warning, and theological interpretation to show that the covenant’s breach has tangible, devastating consequences. It also sets the stage for the broader Jewish exile tradition and shapes memory, liturgy, and hope in subsequent biblical literature.

Key Themes

- Destruction as judgment and consequence: The temple and city’s fall symbolize the depth of covenant breach.

- The end of an era and diaspora memory: Exile carries the narrative forward into a new spiritual and communal reality for Israel.

- The sovereignty of God over nations: Babylon is depicted as a tool in divine governance, not merely a conquering empire.

- The fragility of wealth and place: The loss of the temple vessels and the city’s glory underscores that ultimate security lies in obedience, not structures.

- Mercy alongside judgment (implied): The text’s restraint in detailing the fates of all, and the continuation of life for some, hints at ongoing divine mercy amidst judgment.

Modern Application

- The chapter challenges readers to consider how communities respond to catastrophe. In times of collapse—whether personal, communal, or national—where is one’s ultimate trust? The text calls for repentance and a recommitment to the God who remains sovereign.

- It invites reflection on how religious life persists after disaster: rituals, memory, and faith communities adapt, preserving identity even when physical temples are gone. The exile experience becomes a catalyst for reimagined worship and new forms of communal life.

- The theme of divine discipline can translate into personal growth: hardship may be a catalyst for turning again toward God, seeking justice, and reordering priorities.

Cross-References: 2 Kings 23 (Josiah’s reform and temple destruction as a prelude), 2 Chronicles 36 (parallel account), Lamentations (post-exile laments), Daniel (exile narrative and faithfulness).

Recommended Personas: Daniel (faithful exile perspective), Jeremiah (prophetic lament and judgment), Ezekiel (vision of exile life), Nehemiah (rebuilding after ruin), Jesus (fulfillment of temple imagery in New Covenant sense).

Chapter Text

1

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

2

And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

3

And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

4

And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king’s garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.

5

And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.

6

So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.

7

And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

8

And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:

9

And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s house burnt he with fire.

10

And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.

11

Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away.

12

But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.

13

And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

14

And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.

15

And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.

16

The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD; the brass of all these vessels was without weight.

17

The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.

18

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:

19

And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king’s presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city:

20

And Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:

21

And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.

22

And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.

23

And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

24

And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you.

25

But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.

26

And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.

27

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

28

And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;

29

And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

30

And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

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