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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 king of Babylon came, he and all his military force, against Jerusalem, and he camped against it and (C)built a siege wall all around [a]it. So the city came under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. On the ninth day of the fourth month (D)the famine was so strong 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 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 military force of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho and all his military force was scattered from him. Then (G)they seized the king and (H)brought him up to the king of Babylon at (I)Riblah, and they spoke their judgment on him. (J)And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; then he (K)blinded the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon.

Jerusalem Burned

(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 guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. (N)And he burned the house of Yahweh, (O)the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire. 10 So all the military force of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard (P)tore down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 Then (Q)the rest of the people who were left in the city and the defectors who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took away into exile. 12 But the captain of the guard left some of (R)the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen.

13 (S)Now the bronze pillars which were in the house of Yahweh, and the stands and (T)the bronze sea which were in the house of Yahweh, the Chaldeans shattered and carried the [c]bronze to Babylon. 14 (U)They also took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the bronze vessels which were used to minister. 15 The captain of the guard also took away the firepans and the bowls, 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 Yahweh—(V)the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight. 17 (W)The height of the one pillar was eighteen [d]cubits, and a bronze capital was on it; the height of the capital was three [e]cubits, with a network and pomegranates on the capital all around, all of bronze. And the second pillar was like these with network.

18 Then the captain of the guard took (X)Seraiah the chief priest and (Y)Zephaniah the second priest, with the three [f]doorkeepers of the temple. 19 And from the city he took one official who was overseer of the men of war, and (Z)five [g]of the king’s advisers who were found in the city; and the [h]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. 20 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and led 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 Appointed Judah’s 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)Then all the commanders of the military forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor. So they came to Gedaliah to (AE)Mizpah, namely, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men. 24 Then 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 be well with you.”

25 (AF)But it happened in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal seed, came [i]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, both small and great, and the commanders of the military forces arose and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

27 (AH)Now it happened 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, (AJ)lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison; 28 and he (AK)spoke to him good words, and he set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So [j]Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes and [k](AL)had his meals in [l]the king’s presence continually all the days of his life; 30 and for his (AM)allowance, a continual allowance was given 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 ancient mss and versions; M.T. he
  3. 2 Kings 25:13 Lit bronze of them
  4. 2 Kings 25:17 A cubit was approx. 18 in. or 45 cm
  5. 2 Kings 25:17 A cubit was approx. 18 in. or 45 cm
  6. 2 Kings 25:18 Lit keepers of the door
  7. 2 Kings 25:19 Lit men of those seeing the king’s face
  8. 2 Kings 25:19 Or scribe, a captain
  9. 2 Kings 25:25 Lit and ten men with him
  10. 2 Kings 25:29 Lit he
  11. 2 Kings 25:29 Lit ate bread
  12. 2 Kings 25:29 Lit his presence

25 So in the ninth(A) year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar(B) king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works(C) all around it. The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

By the ninth day of the fourth[a] month the famine(D) in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. Then the city wall was broken through,(E) and the whole army fled at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians[b] were surrounding(F) the city. They fled toward the Arabah,[c] but the Babylonian[d] army pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered,(G) and he was captured.(H)

He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah,(I) where sentence was pronounced on him. They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.(J)

On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire(K) to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down.(L) 10 The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls(M) around Jerusalem. 11 Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile(N) the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon.(O) 12 But the commander left behind some of the poorest people(P) of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

13 The Babylonians broke(Q) 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(R) and all the bronze articles(S) 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.(T)

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(U) was eighteen cubits[e] high. The bronze capital on top of one pillar was three cubits[f] 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(V) the chief priest, Zephaniah(W) the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers.(X) 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,(Y) in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed.(Z)

So Judah went into captivity,(AA) away from her land.(AB)

22 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah(AC) son of Ahikam,(AD) the son of Shaphan, to be over the people he had left behind in Judah. 23 When all the army officers and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, Jaazaniah the son of the Maakathite, and their men. 24 Gedaliah took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid of the Babylonian officials,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.”

25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood, came with ten men and assassinated(AE) Gedaliah and also the men of Judah and the Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah.(AF) 26 At this, all the people from the least to the greatest, together with the army officers, fled to Egypt(AG) for fear of the Babylonians.

Jehoiachin Released(AH)

27 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin(AI) king of Judah from prison. He did this on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month. 28 He spoke kindly(AJ) to him and gave him a seat of honor(AK) higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table.(AL) 30 Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 25:3 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text (see Jer. 52:6); Masoretic Text does not have fourth.
  2. 2 Kings 25:4 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 13, 25 and 26
  3. 2 Kings 25:4 Or the Jordan Valley
  4. 2 Kings 25:5 Or Chaldean; also in verses 10 and 24
  5. 2 Kings 25:17 That is, about 27 feet or about 8.1 meters
  6. 2 Kings 25:17 That is, about 4 1/2 feet or about 1.4 meters

25 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, the tenth day of the month, that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came, he and all his army against Jerusalem: and they surrounded it: and raised works round about it.

And the city was shut up and besieged till the eleventh year of king Sedecias,

The ninth day of the month: and a famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

And a breach was made into the city: and all the men of war fled in the night between the two walls by the king's garden, (now the Chaldees besieged the city round about,) and Sedecias fled by the way that leadeth to the plains of the wilderness.

And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all the warriors that were with him were scattered, and left him:

So they took the king, and brought him to the king of Babylon to Reblatha, and he gave judgment upon him.

And he slew the sons of Sedecias before his face, and he put out his eyes, and bound him with chains, and brought him to Babylon.

In the fifth month, the seventh day of the month, that is, the nineteenth year of the king of Babylon, came Nabuzardan commander of the army, a servant of the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem.

And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and the houses of Jerusalem, and every house he burnt with fire.

10 And all the army of the Chaldees, which was with the commander of the troops, broke down the walls of Jerusalem round about.

11 And Nabuzardan the commander of the army, carried away the rest of the people that remained in the city, and the fugitives that had gone over to the king of Babylon, and the remnant of the common people.

12 But of the poor of the land he left some dressers of vines and husbandmen.

13 And the pillars of brass that were in the temple of the Lord, and the bases, and the sea of brass which was in the house of the Lord, the Chaldees broke in pieces, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.

14 They took away also the pots of brass, and the mazers, and the forks, and the cups, and the mortars, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered.

15 Moreover also the censers, and the bowls, such as were of gold in gold, and such as were of silver in silver, the general of the army took away.

16 That is, two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made in the temple of the Lord: the brass of all these vessels was without weight.

17 One pillar was eighteen cubits high, and the chapiter of brass which was upon it was three cubits high: and the network, and the pomegranates that were upon the chapiter of the pillar, were all of brass: and the second pillar had the like adorning.

18 And the general of the army took Seraias the chief priest, and Sophonias the second priest, and three doorkeepers.

19 And out of the city one eunuch, who was captain over the men of war: and five men of them that had stood before the king, whom he found in the city, and Sopher the captain of the army who exercised the young soldiers of the people of the land: and threescore men of the common people, who were found in the city.

20 These Nabuzardan the general of the army took away, and carried them to the king of Babylon to Reblatha.

21 And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Reblatha in the land of Emath: so Juda was carried away out of their land.

22 But over the people that remained in the land of Juda, which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had left, he gave the government to Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan.

23 And when all the captains of the soldiers had heard this, they and the men that were with them, to wit, that the king of Babylon had made Godolias governor, they came to Godolias to Maspha, Ismael the son of Nathanias, and Johanan the son of Caree, and Saraia the son of Thanehumeth the Netophathite, and Jezonias the son of Maachathi, they and their men.

24 And Godolias swore to them and to their men, saying: Be not afraid to serve the Chaldees: stay 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 Ismael the son of Nathanias, the son of Elisama of the seed royal came, and ten men with him: and smote Godolias so that he died: and also the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him in Maspha.

26 And all the people both little and great, and the captains of the soldiers, rising up went to Egypt, fearing the Chaldees.

27 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Joachin king of Juda, in the twelfth month the seven and twentieth day of the month: Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Joachin king of Juda out of prison.

28 And he spoke kindly to him: and he set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon.

29 And he changed his garments which he had in prison, and he ate bread always before him, all the days of his life.

30 And he appointed him a continual allowance, which was also given him by the king day by day, all the days of his life.