25 西底迦執政第九年十月十日,巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領全軍攻打耶路撒冷,在城外安營,修築圍城的高臺。 城一直被圍困到西底迦執政第十一年。 那年四月九日,城裡饑荒非常嚴重,百姓無糧可吃。 城被攻破,城裡的所有士兵便在夜間穿過御花園,從兩城牆中間的門逃往亞拉巴。當時迦勒底人仍四面包圍著城。 迦勒底軍隊追趕西底迦,在耶利哥平原追上了他,他的軍隊都四散而逃。 迦勒底人擒住西底迦,把他押到利比拉見巴比倫王,在那裡審判他。 巴比倫王在西底迦面前殺了他的眾子,又剜去他的雙眼,把他用銅鏈鎖著押往巴比倫。

聖殿被毀

巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒執政第十九年五月七日,他的臣僕——護衛長尼布撒拉旦來到耶路撒冷, 放火焚燒耶和華的殿、王宮及城內所有的房屋。他燒毀了所有重要建築。 10 他率領的迦勒底軍隊拆毀了耶路撒冷四圍的城牆。 11 護衛長尼布撒拉旦擄去城裡剩下的百姓、投降巴比倫王的人以及其他人, 12 只留下一些最貧窮的人,讓他們照料葡萄園、耕種田地。

13 迦勒底人打碎耶和華殿中的銅柱、盆座和銅海,把銅運往巴比倫, 14 並帶走了盆、鏟、蠟剪、碟子及一切獻祭用的銅器。 15 護衛長還帶走了火鼎、碗等一切金銀器具。

16 所羅門為耶和華的殿所造的兩根銅柱、一個銅海和一些盆座,用的銅多得無法計算。 17 銅柱高八米,柱頂有柱冠,高一點三五米。柱冠周圍裝飾著銅網和銅石榴。兩根柱子都一樣。

18 護衛長尼布撒拉旦擄走祭司長西萊雅、副祭司長西番亞和三名殿門守衛, 19 還從城中拿住一名統管士兵的將領、王的五個親信、一名負責招兵的書記和六十名平民。 20 護衛長尼布撒拉旦把他們帶到利比拉去見巴比倫王, 21 巴比倫王在那裡處死了他們。猶大人就這樣被擄去,離開了家園。

基大利做猶大省長

22 巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒任命基大利治理猶大的餘民。基大利是沙番的孫子、亞希甘的兒子。 23 猶大眾將領和他們的下屬聽到巴比倫王委任基大利治理猶大的消息後,便都到米斯巴見基大利。他們是尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利、加利亞的兒子約哈難、尼陀法人單戶篾的兒子西萊雅、瑪迦人雅撒尼亞。 24 基大利向他們和他們的下屬發誓,說:「你們不用害怕那些迦勒底官員。你們住在這地方服侍巴比倫王,就會平安無事。」 25 七月,王室後裔以利沙瑪的孫子、尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利帶著十個人在米斯巴刺殺了基大利以及跟他一起的猶大人和迦勒底人。 26 因為害怕迦勒底人報復,猶大眾人不論貴賤,都和眾將領一起逃往埃及。

約雅斤獲釋

27 巴比倫王以未·米羅達在他執政的元年十二月二十七日,即猶大王約雅斤被擄後第三十七年,施恩釋放了約雅斤, 28 並好言相待,使他的地位高過被擄到巴比倫的其他各王。 29 約雅斤脫去了囚衣,終生與巴比倫王一起吃飯。 30 在他有生之年,巴比倫王供應他每天的需用。

西底家背叛巴比伦王(A)

25 西底家作王第九年十月十日,巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领他的全军来攻打耶路撒冷;他们在城外安营,又在四围筑垒攻城。 于是,城被围困,直到西底家王第十一年。

圣城沦陷,人民被掳(B)

四月九日,城里饥荒非常严重,甚至那地的人民都断了粮食。 城终于被攻破了,所有的战士就在夜间从靠近王的花园的两墙中间的那门,逃跑出城。那时迦勒底人在四围攻城;他们就往亚拉巴的方向逃走。 迦勒底人的军队追赶王,在耶利哥的原野上把他追上了;他的全军都离开他四散了。 他们把王擒住,把他解到利比拉巴比伦王那里;他们就宣判他的罪。 他们又在西底家眼前杀了他的众子,并且把西底家的眼睛弄瞎,然后用铜炼锁住他,把他带到巴比伦去。

五月七日,就是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒第十九年,巴比伦王的大臣,护卫长尼布撒拉旦来到耶路撒冷。 他放火焚烧耶和华的殿和王宫,以及耶路撒冷一切房屋;一切高大的房屋,他都放火烧了。 10 跟随护卫长的迦勒底人全军拆毁了耶路撒冷周围的城墙。 11 至于城中剩下的人民,和已经向巴比伦王投降的人,以及剩下的民众,护卫长尼布撒拉旦都掳了去。 12 至于那地最贫穷的人,护卫长把他们留下,去修理葡萄园和耕种田地。

圣殿被掠(C)

13 耶和华殿的铜柱,以及耶和华殿的铜座和铜海,迦勒底人都打碎了,把铜运到巴比伦去。 14 他们又把锅、铲子、烛剪、碟子和敬拜用的一切铜器都拿去了。 15 此外,火鼎和碗,无论是金的或是银的,护卫长都拿去了。 16 所罗门为耶和华殿所做的两根铜柱、一个铜海和十个铜座,这一切器皿的铜,重得无法可称。 17 铜柱每根高八公尺,柱上有铜柱头;柱头高一公尺三公寸,柱头四周有网子和石榴都是铜的;另一根柱子同样也有网子。

18 护卫长拿住祭司长西莱雅、副祭司长西番亚和三个守门的; 19 又从城里拿住一个管理军兵的官长,并且在城里搜获常见王面的五个人,和一个负责召募当地人民的军长书记,又在城中搜获六十个当地的人民。 20 护卫长尼布撒拉旦把他们拿住,带到利比拉巴比伦王那里。 21 巴比伦王击杀他们,在哈马地的利比拉把他们处死。这样,犹大人被掳,离开了他们的国土。

立基大利作省长(D)

22 至于在犹大地剩下来的人民,就是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒留下来的,巴比伦王委派沙番的孙子、亚希甘的儿子基大利管理他们。 23 众将领和他们的士兵,听见巴比伦王委派了基大利,他们就来到米斯巴去见基大利;其中有尼探雅的儿子以实玛利、加利亚的儿子约哈难、尼陀法人单户篾的儿子西莱雅、玛迦人的儿子雅撒尼亚,以及他们的士兵。 24 基大利向他们和他们的士兵起誓,又对他们说:“你们不必惧怕迦勒底的官员,只管住在这地,服事巴比伦王,就可以平安无事。”

基大利被杀(E)

25 但在七月的时候,王裔以利沙玛的孙子、尼探雅的儿子以实玛利,带了十个人和他一起,他们袭击基大利,把他杀死,和他一起在米斯巴的犹大人和迦勒底人,也被杀死。 26 因此,众民无论大小,以及众将领都起来逃往埃及去,因为他们惧怕迦勒底人。

巴比伦王善待约雅斤(F)

27 犹大王约雅斤被掳后第三十七年,就是巴比伦王以未.米罗达登基的那一年,十二月二十七日,他恩待(“恩待”原文作“使抬起头来”)犹大王约雅斤,把他从狱中领出来, 28 并且安慰他,使他的地位高过和他一起在巴比伦的众王。 29 又换下他的囚衣,赐他终生常在王面前吃饭。 30 他的生活费用,在他一生的年日中,每日不断由王供应。

Nebuchadnezzar Besieges Jerusalem

25 (A)Now in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, (B)Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it, and (C)built a siege wall all around [a]it. So the city was under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. On the ninth day of the fourth month (D)the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. (E)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 (F)the king’s garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. And [b]they went by way of the Arabah. 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. Then (G)they captured the king and (H)brought him up to the king of Babylon at (I)Riblah, and he [c]passed sentence on him. And (J)they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then (K)put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles, and brought him to Babylon.

Jerusalem Burned and Plundered

(L)Now on the seventh day of the (M)fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguards, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And (N)he burned the house of the Lord, (O)the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire. 10 So all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the bodyguards (P)tore down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguards, led into exile (Q)the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the [d]people. 12 But the captain of the bodyguards left some of (R)the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and farmers.

13 (S)Now the Chaldeans smashed to pieces the bronze pillars which were in the house of the Lord, and the stands and (T)the bronze [e]Sea which were in the house of the Lord, and carried the [f]bronze to Babylon. 14 (U)And they took away the pots, the shovels, the [g]shears, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils [h]which were used in temple service. 15 The captain of the bodyguards also took away the firepans and the basins, what was fine gold and what was fine silver. 16 The two pillars, the one Sea, and the stands which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord[i](V)the bronze of all these articles was too heavy to weigh. 17 (W)The height of the one pillar was [j]eighteen cubits, and a bronze capital was on it; the height of the capital was [k]three cubits, with latticework and pomegranates on the capital all around, all of bronze. And the second pillar was like these, same features with latticework.

18 Then the captain of the bodyguards took (X)Seraiah the chief priest and (Y)Zephaniah the second priest, with the three [l]doorkeepers. 19 And from the city he took one official who was overseer of the men of war, and (Z)five [m]of the king’s advisers who were found in the city; and the [n]scribe of 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. 20 Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguards took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at (AA)Riblah. 21 Then the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. (AB)So Judah went into exile from its land.

Gedaliah Made Governor

22 Now as for the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed (AC)Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan over them. 23 (AD)When all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah at (AE)Mizpah, namely, 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. 24 And Gedaliah swore to them and 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 for you.”

25 (AF)But it happened in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal [o]family, came [p]with ten men and struck Gedaliah down so that he died along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. 26 (AG)Then all the people, from the small to the great, and the captains of the forces set out and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

27 (AH)Now it came about in the thirty-seventh year of (AI)the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, [q](AJ)released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison; 28 and he (AK)spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So [r]Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes, and [s](AL)had his meals in [t]the king’s presence regularly all the days of his life; 30 and as his (AM)allowance, a regular allowance was given to him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 25:1 Lit against it
  2. 2 Kings 25:4 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT he
  3. 2 Kings 25:6 Lit spoke judgment with him
  4. 2 Kings 25:11 Lit multitude
  5. 2 Kings 25:13 I.e., a very large basin
  6. 2 Kings 25:13 Lit bronze of them
  7. 2 Kings 25:14 I.e., wick trimmers
  8. 2 Kings 25:14 Lit with which they served
  9. 2 Kings 25:16 Lit there was no weight for the bronze of
  10. 2 Kings 25:17 About 27 ft. or 8 m
  11. 2 Kings 25:17 About 4.5 ft. or 1.3 m
  12. 2 Kings 25:18 Lit keepers of the threshold
  13. 2 Kings 25:19 Lit men of those seeing the king’s face
  14. 2 Kings 25:19 Or scribe, a captain
  15. 2 Kings 25:25 Lit seed
  16. 2 Kings 25:25 Lit and ten men with him
  17. 2 Kings 25:27 Lit raised the head of
  18. 2 Kings 25:29 Lit he
  19. 2 Kings 25:29 Lit ate bread
  20. 2 Kings 25:29 Lit his presence