13 Now(A) the Chaldeans broke into pieces the bronze pillars(B) of the Lord’s temple, the water carts, and the bronze basin,[a](C) which were in the Lord’s temple, and carried the bronze to Babylon.(D) 14 They also took the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes, and all the bronze articles used in the priests’ service.(E) 15 The captain of the guards took away the firepans and sprinkling basins—whatever was gold or silver.(F)

16 As for the two pillars, the one basin, and the water carts that Solomon had made for the Lord’s temple, the weight of the bronze of all these articles was beyond measure.(G) 17 One pillar was twenty-seven feet[b] tall and had a bronze capital on top of it. The capital, encircled by a grating and pomegranates of bronze, stood five feet[c] high. The second pillar was the same, with its own grating.(H)

18 The captain of the guards(I) also took away Seraiah(J) the chief priest, Zephaniah(K) the priest of the second rank, and the three doorkeepers. 19 From the city he took a court official[d] who had been appointed over the warriors; five trusted royal aides[e](L) found in the city; the secretary of the commander of the army, who enlisted the people of the land for military duty; and sixty men from the common people[f] who were found within the city. 20 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guards, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.(M) 21 The king of Babylon put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah went into exile from its land.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. 25:13 Lit sea
  2. 25:17 Lit 18 cubits
  3. 25:17 Lit three cubits
  4. 25:19 Or eunuch
  5. 25:19 Lit five men who look on the king’s face
  6. 25:19 Lit the people of the land

13 The Babylonians broke(A) up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried the bronze to Babylon. 14 They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes(B) and all the bronze articles(C) used in the temple service. 15 The commander of the imperial guard took away the censers and sprinkling bowls—all that were made of pure gold or silver.(D)

16 The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the movable stands, which Solomon had made for the temple of the Lord, was more than could be weighed. 17 Each pillar(E) was eighteen cubits[a] high. The bronze capital on top of one pillar was three cubits[b] high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its network, was similar.

18 The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah(F) the chief priest, Zephaniah(G) the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers.(H) 19 Of those still in the city, he took the officer in charge of the fighting men, and five royal advisers. He also took the secretary who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land and sixty of the conscripts who were found in the city. 20 Nebuzaradan the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21 There at Riblah,(I) in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed.(J)

So Judah went into captivity,(K) away from her land.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 25:17 That is, about 27 feet or about 8.1 meters
  2. 2 Kings 25:17 That is, about 4 1/2 feet or about 1.4 meters