²³ But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant^(A) with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy^(B) them or banish them from his presence.^(C)

²⁷ And since the Lord had not said he would blot out^(A) the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved^(B) them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

²⁴ God heard their groaning and he remembered^(A) his covenant^(B) with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. ²⁵ So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned^(C) about them.

¹⁶ I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.^{(A) 17} Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land,^(B) for I am giving it to you.”^(C)

²⁰ It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust^(A) them from his presence.^(B)

The Fall of Jerusalem^(C)(D)(E)

Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

¹⁸ So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.^(A) Only the tribe of Judah was left,