2 Kings 25: Jerusalem falls, the temple is burned, Gedaliah is killed, and Jehoiachin is released
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What happens?
In Zedekiah's ninth year Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem; when the famine is severe the city is broken into, the king goes by the way of the Arabah and is caught in the plains of Jericho, his sons are killed before his eyes, his eyes are put out, and he is taken in chains to Babylon. Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard burns Yahweh's house, the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem, breaks down the walls, carries the rest of the people into exile, takes the bronze of the temple to Babylon, and brings the chief priest and other leaders to Riblah, where the king of Babylon puts them to death. Gedaliah is made governor over those left in the land, but Ishmael kills him and the people flee to Egypt; in the thirty-seventh year of Jehoiachin's exile, Evil-merodach king of Babylon releases him from prison, and Jehoiachin eats bread before him all the days of his life.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the whole chapter. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. The only words spoken are Gedaliah's to the captains and their men, in verse 24. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1In the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it around it.
In plain English: In the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against Jerusalem, he and all his army, and camped against it. They built siege walls (this Bible: forts) against it all around.
Good to know: to tells the fall of Jerusalem in nearly the same words, and to tells it more briefly. The dates are the text's own.
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2So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
In plain English: So the city was under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
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3On the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.
In plain English: On the ninth day of the month (this Bible: of the fourth month; see the note) the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread (or: food) for the people of the land.
Good to know: The Hebrew here says only "on the ninth of the month", and the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has no date at all. The words "the fourth month" are in : "In the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was severe in the city".
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4Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city around it); and the king went by the way of the Arabah.
In plain English: Then the city was broken into, and all the men of war fled (see the note) by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden, while the Chaldeans were all around the city. And he (this Bible: the king) went by the way of the Arabah.
Good to know: The Hebrew has no word for "fled" and no word for "the king" here: word for word, "and all the men of war by night by the way of the gate ... and he went by the way of the Arabah". has "all the men of war fled, and went out of the city by night", and verse 5 here says the Chaldeans "pursued the king".
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5But the Chaldean army pursued the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.
In plain English: But the army of the Chaldeans chased the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him.
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6Then they captured the king and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they passed judgment on him.
In plain English: Then they seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and they passed judgment on him (literally: spoke judgment with him).
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7They killed Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, then put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
In plain English: They killed Zedekiah's sons before his eyes. Then he (this Bible: they) put out Zedekiah's eyes, bound him with bronze chains (this Bible: fetters) and brought him to Babylon.
Good to know: and add that the king of Babylon "also killed all the princes of Judah in Riblah", and that he put Zedekiah "in prison until the day of his death".
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8Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
In plain English: In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, in the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard (see the note), a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
The Hebrew word: "Guard" is tabbachim, from tabbach, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner); also a cook". This Bible says "guard" in 30 of the 32 verses that use it, as for Potiphar, "the captain of the guard", in .
Good to know: These are the text's own dates. has "in the tenth day of the month". The text does not explain how they fit together.
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9He burned Yahweh’s house, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He burned every great house with fire.
In plain English: He burned Yahweh's house, the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house (or: the house of every great man) he burned with fire.
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10All the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem.
In plain English: All the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.
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11Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive the rest of the people who were left in the city and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon—all the rest of the multitude.
In plain English: Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile the rest of the people who were left in the city, and those who had gone over (literally: fallen) to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the crowd (this Bible: multitude).
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12But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields.
In plain English: But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and farmers (this Bible: to work the vineyards and fields).
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13The Chaldeans broke up the pillars of bronze that were in Yahweh’s house and the bases and the bronze sea that were in Yahweh’s house, and carried the bronze pieces to Babylon.
In plain English: The Chaldeans broke in pieces the bronze pillars that were in Yahweh's house, and the stands (this Bible: bases) and the bronze sea that were in Yahweh's house, and carried their bronze to Babylon.
Good to know: Solomon's making of the two bronze pillars, the sea and the stands is told in , and .
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14They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the vessels of bronze with which they ministered.
In plain English: They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the dishes (this Bible: spoons), and all the bronze objects (this Bible: vessels) used in the service (this Bible: with which they ministered).
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15The captain of the guard took away the fire pans, the basins, that which was of gold, for gold, and that which was of silver, for silver.
In plain English: The captain of the guard took away the fire pans and the basins: what was of gold, for its gold, and what was of silver, for its silver (literally: which were gold, gold, and which were silver, silver).
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16The two pillars, the one sea, and the bases, which Solomon had made for Yahweh’s house, the bronze of all these vessels was not weighed.
In plain English: As for the two pillars, the one sea and the stands that Solomon had made for Yahweh's house, the bronze of all these objects was not weighed (literally: there was no weight to it).
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17The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of bronze was on it. The height of the capital was three cubits, with network and pomegranates on the capital around it, all of bronze; and the second pillar with its network was like these.
In plain English: One pillar was eighteen cubits high, and on it was a bronze capital. The capital was three cubits high, with network and pomegranates all around the capital, all of bronze. The second pillar, with its network, was like these.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers. and give the height of a capital as "five cubits". The text does not explain how the numbers fit together.
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18The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold;
In plain English: The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest and the three doorkeepers (this Bible: keepers of the threshold).
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19and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and five men of those who saw the king’s face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the army, who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city.
In plain English: From the city he took an official (or: a eunuch; this Bible: an officer) who was in charge of the men of war, and five men of those who saw the king's face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the commander of the army (or: the scribe of the commander of the army), who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers. has "seven men of those who saw the king's face" and "the scribe of the captain of the army". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "five men" and "the secretary of the commander-in-chief" here.
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20Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.
In plain English: Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.
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21The king of Babylon attacked them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.
In plain English: The king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried into exile out of its land.
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22As for the people who were left 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, governor.
In plain English: Over the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan (this Bible: made Gedaliah governor).
Good to know: Gedaliah's father Ahikam the son of Shaphan is one of the men Josiah sent to ask Yahweh in . to tells the story of Gedaliah at length.
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23Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
In plain English: When all the commanders of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah: Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
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24Gedaliah swore to them and to their men, and said to them, “Don’t be afraid because of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”
In plain English: Gedaliah swore an oath to them and to their men, and said to them, "Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you."
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25But in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal offspring came, and ten men with him, and struck Gedaliah so that he died, with the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah.
In plain English: But in the seventh month Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family (literally: of the seed of the kingdom), came with ten men, and they struck Gedaliah so that he died, and also the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.
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26All the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces arose and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
In plain English: Then all the people, from the least to the greatest (this Bible: both small and great), and the commanders of the forces got up and went to Egypt, for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
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27In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison,
In plain English: In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year he became king, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison (literally: lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of the prison house; see the note).
The Hebrew words: "Released" is word for word "lifted up the head", with nasa, to lift, and rosh, head. Joseph uses the same words in : "Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office"; see the note on .
What changes: Read as "released", Evil-merodach let Jehoiachin out of prison. Read word for word as "lifted up the head", he also raised him to honor, as verses 28 to 30 go on to tell.
Good to know: tells the same, with both words: he "lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and released him from prison", and gives "the twenty-fifth day of the month". These are the text's own dates. The dictionary gives the king's name as "Evil-Merodak, a Babylonian king".
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28and he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon,
In plain English: He spoke kindly to him (literally: spoke good things with him) and set his throne (or: seat) above the thrones of the kings who were with him in Babylon.
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29and changed his prison garments. Jehoiachin ate bread before him continually all the days of his life;
In plain English: He changed his prison clothes, and Jehoiachin ate bread before him always (this Bible: continually), all the days of his life.
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30and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him from the king, every day a portion, all the days of his life.
In plain English: For his allowance, a regular allowance was given to him by the king, a portion for each day (literally: the matter of a day in its day), all the days of his life.
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