Jehoiakim’s Rebellion and Death

24 During(A) Jehoiakim’s reign,(B) King Nebuchadnezzar(C) of Babylon(D) attacked.(E) Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, and then he turned and rebelled against him. The Lord sent Chaldean, Aramean,(F) Moabite,(G) and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim. He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken through his servants the prophets.(H) Indeed, this happened to Judah at the Lord’s command to remove them from his presence.(I) It was because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all he had done,(J) and also because of all the innocent blood he had shed. He had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood,(K) and the Lord was not willing to forgive.

The rest of the events of Jehoiakim’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(L) Jehoiakim rested with his ancestors, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place.(M)

Now the king of Egypt did not march out of his land again,(N) for the king of Babylon took everything that had belonged to the king of Egypt,(O) from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.(P)

Judah’s King Jehoiachin

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem.(Q) He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight just as his father had done.

Deportations to Babylon

10 At that time(R) the servants of King Nebuchadnezzar(S) of Babylon marched up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. 11 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it. 12 King Jehoiachin of Judah, along with his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials,[a] surrendered to the king of Babylon.(T)

So the king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of his reign. 13 He also carried off from there all the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king’s palace, and he cut into pieces all the gold articles that King Solomon of Israel had made(U) for the Lord’s sanctuary, just as the Lord had predicted.(V) 14 He deported all Jerusalem and all the commanders and all the best soldiers(W)—ten thousand captives(X) including all the craftsmen and metalsmiths.(Y) Except for the poorest people of the land,(Z) no one remained.

15 Nebuchadnezzar deported Jehoiachin to Babylon. He took the king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.(AA) 16 The king of Babylon brought captive into Babylon all seven thousand of the best soldiers and one thousand craftsmen and metalsmiths—all strong and fit for war. 17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s[b] uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.(AB)

Judah’s King Zedekiah

18 Zedekiah(AC) was twenty-one years old when he became king,(AD) and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal(AE) daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 19 Zedekiah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight just as Jehoiakim had done.(AF) 20 Because of the Lord’s anger,(AG) it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he finally banished them from his presence.(AH) Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.(AI)

Footnotes

  1. 24:12 Or eunuchs
  2. 24:17 Lit his

Warning against Falling Away

Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God,(A) teaching about ritual washings,[a] laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.(B) And we will do this if God permits.

For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit,(C) who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because,[b] to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.(D) For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned.(E)

Even though we are speaking this way, dearly loved friends, in your case we are confident of things that are better and that pertain to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love[c] you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.(F) 11 Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, 12 so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.(G)

Inheriting the Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: 14 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.[d](H) 15 And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. 17 Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,(I) 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.(J) 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.(K) 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner,(L) because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.(M)

Footnotes

  1. 6:2 Or about baptisms
  2. 6:6 Or while
  3. 6:10 Other mss read labor of love
  4. 6:14 Gn 22:17

Judgment of the Nations

Yes, in those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,(A)
I will gather all the nations(B)
and take them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.[a](C)
I will enter into judgment with them there(D)
because of my people, my inheritance Israel.
The nations have scattered the Israelites
in foreign countries(E)
and divided up my land.(F)
They cast lots for my people;(G)
they bartered a boy for a prostitute
and sold a girl for wine to drink.(H)

And also: Tyre,(I) Sidon, and all the territories of Philistia(J)—what are you to me? Are you paying me back or trying to get even with me? I will quickly bring retribution on your heads.(K) For you took my silver and gold and carried my finest treasures(L) to your temples. You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks(M) to remove them far from their own territory. Look, I am about to rouse them up from the place where you sold them;(N) I will bring retribution on your heads. I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah,(O) and they will sell them to the Sabeans,[b](P) to a distant nation, for the Lord has spoken.

Proclaim this among the nations:(Q)
Prepare for holy war;(R)
rouse the warriors;(S)
let all the men of war advance and attack!
10 Beat your plows into swords
and your pruning knives into spears.(T)
Let even the weakling say, “I am a warrior.”
11 Come quickly,[c] all you surrounding nations;
gather yourselves.(U)
Bring down your warriors there, Lord.(V)

12 Let the nations be roused
and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
for there I will sit down
to judge all the surrounding nations.(W)
13 Swing the sickle
because the harvest is ripe.(X)
Come and trample the grapes
because the winepress is full;(Y)
the wine vats overflow
because the wickedness of the nations is extreme.(Z)

14 Multitudes, multitudes(AA)
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near(AB)
in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and moon will grow dark,
and the stars will cease their shining.(AC)
16 The Lord will roar from Zion(AD)
and make his voice heard from Jerusalem;(AE)
heaven and earth will shake.(AF)
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,(AG)
a stronghold for the Israelites.(AH)

Israel Blessed

17 Then you will know
that I am the Lord your God,(AI)
who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.(AJ)
Jerusalem will be holy,(AK)
and foreigners will never overrun it again.(AL)
18 In that day
the mountains will drip with sweet wine,(AM)
and the hills will flow with milk.(AN)
All the streams of Judah will flow with water,(AO)
and a spring will issue from the Lord’s house,(AP)
watering the Valley of Acacias.[d](AQ)
19 Egypt will become desolate,
and Edom a desert wasteland,
because of the violence done to the people of Judah(AR)
in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20 But Judah will be inhabited forever,(AS)
and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21 I will pardon their bloodguilt,[e](AT)
which I have not pardoned,
for the Lord dwells in Zion.

Footnotes

  1. 3:2 = The Lord Will Judge
  2. 3:8 Probably the south Arabian kingdom of Sheba (modern Yemen)
  3. 3:11 LXX, Syr, Tg read Gather yourselves and come; Hb obscure
  4. 3:18 Or Shittim
  5. 3:21 LXX, Syr read I will avenge their blood

Psalm 143

A Cry for Help

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer.
In your faithfulness listen to my plea,
and in your righteousness answer me.(A)
Do not bring your servant into judgment,(B)
for no one alive is righteous in your sight.(C)

For the enemy has pursued me,
crushing me to the ground,
making me live in darkness
like those long dead.(D)
My spirit is weak within me;
my heart is overcome with dismay.(E)

I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all you have done;
I reflect on the work of your hands.(F)
I spread out my hands to you;
I am like parched land before you.(G)Selah

Answer me quickly, Lord;
my spirit fails.(H)
Don’t hide your face from me,
or I will be like those
going down to the Pit.(I)
Let me experience
your faithful love in the morning,
for I trust in you.(J)
Reveal to me the way I should go
because I appeal to you.(K)
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;
I come to you for protection.[a](L)
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.(M)
May your gracious Spirit
lead me on level ground.(N)

11 For your name’s sake, Lord,
let me live.
In your righteousness deliver me from trouble,(O)
12 and in your faithful love destroy my enemies.
Wipe out all those who attack me,
for I am your servant.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 143:9 One Hb ms, LXX; some Hb mss read I cover myself to you

Bible Gateway Recommends

CSB Tony Evans Study Bible, Black Bonded Leather, Index
CSB Tony Evans Study Bible, Black Bonded Leather, Index
Retail: $89.99
Our Price: $30.49
Save: $59.50 (66%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB Baby's New Testament with Psalms, Blue Imitation Leather
CSB Baby's New Testament with Psalms, Blue Imitation Leather
Retail: $7.99
Our Price: $6.29
Save: $1.70 (21%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB Share Jesus Without Fear New Testament, Black LeatherTouch
CSB Share Jesus Without Fear New Testament, Black LeatherTouch
Retail: $12.99
Our Price: $9.99
Save: $3.00 (23%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB Nurse's Bible, Navy LeatherTouch
CSB Nurse's Bible, Navy LeatherTouch
Retail: $24.99
Our Price: $18.99
Save: $6.00 (24%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB She Reads Truth Bible--LeatherTouch, rose gold
CSB She Reads Truth Bible--LeatherTouch, rose gold
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars