2 Kings 24:20-25:7
New American Standard Bible
20 For it was (A)due to the anger of the Lord that this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He cast them out of His presence. And (B)Zedekiah revolted against the king of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar Besieges Jerusalem
25 (C)Now in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, (D)Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it, and (E)built a siege wall all around [a]it. 2 So the city was under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 3 On the ninth day of the fourth month (F)the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. 4 (G)Then the city was broken into, and all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls that were beside (H)the king’s garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. And [b]they went by way of the Arabah. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. 6 Then (I)they captured the king and (J)brought him up to the king of Babylon at (K)Riblah, and he [c]passed sentence on him. 7 And (L)they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then (M)put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles, and brought him to Babylon.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 25:1 Lit against it
- 2 Kings 25:4 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT he
- 2 Kings 25:6 Lit spoke judgment with him
2 Kings 24:20-25:7
New Living Translation
20 These things happened because of the Lord’s anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah, until he finally banished them from his presence and sent them into exile.
The Fall of Jerusalem
Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
25 So on January 15,[a] during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls. 2 Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign.
3 By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign,[b] the famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone. 4 Then a section of the city wall was broken down. Since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians,[c] the soldiers waited for nightfall and escaped[d] through the gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden. Then they headed toward the Jordan Valley.[e]
5 But the Babylonian[f] troops chased the king and overtook him on the plains of Jericho, for his men had all deserted him and scattered. 6 They captured the king and took him to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah. 7 They made Zedekiah watch as they slaughtered his sons. Then they gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.
Footnotes
- 25:1 Hebrew on the tenth day of the tenth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. A number of events in 2 Kings can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Babylonian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. This day was January 15, 588 B.c.
- 25:3 Hebrew By the ninth day of the [fourth] month [in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign] (compare Jer 39:2; 52:6 and the notes there). This day was July 18, 586 B.c.; also see note on 25:1.
- 25:4a Or the Chaldeans; also in 25:13, 25, 26.
- 25:4b As in Greek version (see also Jer 39:4; 52:7); Hebrew lacks escaped.
- 25:4c Hebrew the Arabah.
- 25:5 Or Chaldean; also in 25:10, 24.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
