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25 And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnez′zar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and laid siege to it; and they built siegeworks against it round about. So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedeki′ah. On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. Then a breach was made in the city; the king with all the men of war fled[a] by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king’s garden, though the Chalde′ans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah. But the army of the Chalde′ans pursued the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him. Then they captured the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, who passed sentence upon him. They slew the sons of Zedeki′ah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedeki′ah, and bound him in fetters, and took him to Babylon.

In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month—which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnez′zar, king of Babylon—Nebu′zarad′an, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And he burned the house of the Lord, and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. 10 And all the army of the Chalde′ans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 And the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the multitude, Nebu′zarad′an the captain of the guard carried into exile. 12 But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen.

13 And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the Lord, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chalde′ans broke in pieces, and carried the bronze to Babylon. 14 And they took away the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service, 15 the firepans also, and the bowls. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver. 16 As for the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands, which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord, the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight. 17 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and upon it was a capital of bronze; the height of the capital was three cubits; a network and pomegranates, all of bronze, were upon the capital round about. And the second pillar had the like, with the network.

18 And the captain of the guard took Serai′ah the chief priest, and Zephani′ah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold; 19 and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men of war, and five men of the king’s council who were found in the city; and the secretary 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 Nebu′zarad′an the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21 And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.

Gedaliah Made Governor of Judah

22 And over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnez′zar king of Babylon had left, he appointed Gedali′ah the son of Ahi′kam, son of Shaphan, governor. 23 Now when all the captains of the forces in the open country[b] and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedali′ah governor, they came with their men to Gedali′ah at Mizpah, namely, Ish′mael the son of Nethani′ah, and Joha′nan the son of Kare′ah, and Serai′ah the son of Tanhu′meth the Netoph′athite, and Ja-azani′ah the son of the Ma-ac′athite. 24 And Gedali′ah swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid because of the Chalde′an officials; dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.” 25 But in the seventh month, Ish′mael the son of Nethani′ah, son of Elish′ama, of the royal family, came with ten men, and attacked and killed Gedali′ah and the Jews and the Chalde′ans who were with him at Mizpah. 26 Then all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces arose, and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chalde′ans.

Jehoiachin Released from Prison

27 And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoi′achin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-mer′odach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoi′achin king of Judah from prison; 28 and he spoke kindly to him, and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoi′achin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table; 30 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, every day a portion, as long as he lived.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 25:4 Gk Compare Jer 39.4; 52.7: Heb lacks the king and fled
  2. 2 Kings 25:23 With Jer 40.7: Heb lacks in the open country

Sitio de Jerusalén

25 (A)Y en el noveno año de su reinado, en el décimo mes, el día diez del mes, vino Nabucodonosor, rey de Babilonia, él y todo su ejército contra Jerusalén(B), acampó contra ella y construyó un muro de asedio alrededor de ella(C). La ciudad estuvo sitiada hasta el undécimo año del rey Sedequías. A los nueve días del mes cuarto el hambre era tan grande en la ciudad que no había alimento para la población(D). Y al ser abierta una brecha en la ciudad(E), todos los hombres de guerra huyeron de noche por el camino de la puerta entre las dos murallas, junto al jardín del rey(F), estando los caldeos alrededor de la ciudad, y se fueron por el camino del Arabá. Pero el ejército de los caldeos persiguió al rey y lo alcanzó en los llanos de Jericó, y todo su ejército se dispersó de su lado. Entonces capturaron al rey y lo trajeron al rey de Babilonia(G) en Ribla, y este lo sentenció(H). Y degollaron a los hijos de Sedequías en su presencia, y a Sedequías le sacó los ojos, lo ató con cadenas de bronce y lo llevó a Babilonia(I).

Cautiverio de Judá

En el mes quinto, a los siete días del mes, en el año diecinueve de Nabucodonosor, rey de Babilonia, vino a Jerusalén Nabuzaradán, capitán de la guardia(J), siervo del rey de Babilonia(K). Y quemó la casa del Señor, la casa del rey y todas las casas de Jerusalén; prendió fuego a toda casa grande(L). 10 Todo el ejército de los caldeos que estaba con el capitán de la guardia derribó las murallas alrededor de Jerusalén(M); 11 y al resto del pueblo que había quedado en la ciudad, a los desertores que se habían pasado al rey de Babilonia y al resto de la multitud, los llevó en cautiverio Nabuzaradán, capitán de la guardia(N). 12 Pero el capitán de la guardia dejó a algunos de los más pobres del país para que fueran viñadores y labradores(O).

13 Los caldeos hicieron pedazos las columnas de bronce que estaban en la casa del Señor, y las basas y el mar(P) de bronce que estaban en la casa del Señor, y llevaron el bronce a Babilonia(Q). 14 También se llevaron las ollas, las palas, las despabiladeras, las cucharas, y todos los utensilios de bronce que se usaban en el servicio del templo(R). 15 El capitán de la guardia se llevó además los incensarios y los tazones, lo que era de oro puro y lo que era de plata pura. 16 En cuanto a las dos columnas, el mar y las basas que Salomón había hecho para la casa del Señor; no era posible calcular el peso del bronce de todos estos objetos(S). 17 (T)La altura de una columna era de 18 codos (8.1 metros), y tenía sobre ella un capitel de bronce; la altura del capitel era de 3 codos (1.35 metros), con una obra de malla y granadas alrededor del capitel, todo de bronce. Y la segunda columna era igual con obra de malla.

18 Entonces el capitán de la guardia tomó al sumo sacerdote Seraías(U) y al segundo sacerdote Sofonías(V) y a los tres oficiales del templo[a]. 19 Y de la ciudad prendió a un oficial que estaba encargado de los hombres de guerra, y a cinco hombres de los consejeros del rey que se hallaban en la ciudad(W), y al escriba del capitán del ejército, que alistaba a la gente del país, y a sesenta hombres del pueblo de la tierra que se hallaban en la ciudad. 20 Nabuzaradán, capitán de la guardia, los tomó y se los llevó al rey de Babilonia en Ribla(X). 21 Entonces el rey de Babilonia los hirió y les dio muerte en Ribla, en la tierra de Hamat. Así Judá fue llevado al cautiverio, lejos de[b] su tierra(Y).

22 Y en cuanto al pueblo que quedó en la tierra de Judá, al que Nabucodonosor, rey de Babilonia, había dejado, puso sobre ellos a Gedalías, hijo de Ahicam, hijo de Safán(Z). 23 (AA)Cuando todos los jefes de tropas, ellos y sus hombres, oyeron que el rey de Babilonia había nombrado gobernador a Gedalías, vinieron a este en Mizpa(AB): Ismael, hijo de Netanías, Johanán, hijo de Carea, Seraías, hijo de Tanhumet el netofatita, y Jaazanías, hijo del maacateo, ellos y sus hombres. 24 Gedalías les hizo un juramento, a ellos y a sus hombres, y les dijo: «No teman a los siervos de los caldeos; habiten en la tierra y sirvan al rey de Babilonia, y les irá bien».

25 Pero sucedió que en el séptimo mes, Ismael, hijo de Netanías, hijo de Elisama, de la familia[c] real, vino con diez hombres e hirió a Gedalías, y este murió junto con los judíos y los caldeos que estaban con él en Mizpa(AC). 26 Entonces todo el pueblo, desde el menor hasta el mayor, y los jefes de las tropas se levantaron y se fueron a Egipto(AD), porque temían a los caldeos.

Joaquín honrado en Babilonia

27 (AE)En el año treinta y siete del cautiverio de Joaquín, rey de Judá, en el mes duodécimo, a los veintisiete días del mes(AF), Evil Merodac, rey de Babilonia, en el año en que comenzó a reinar, sacó[d] de la prisión a Joaquín, rey de Judá(AG); 28 y le habló con benevolencia y puso su trono por encima de los tronos de los reyes(AH) que estaban con él en Babilonia. 29 Le cambió sus vestidos de prisión, y comió siempre en la presencia del rey, todos los días de su vida(AI); 30 y para su sustento, se le dio de continuo una ración de parte del rey, una porción para cada día, todos los días de su vida(AJ).

Footnotes

  1. 25:18 Lit. guardianes del umbral.
  2. 25:21 Lit. de sobre.
  3. 25:25 Lit. simiente.
  4. 25:27 Lit. levantó la cabeza.

The Fall and Captivity of Judah(A)

25 Now it came to pass (B)in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around. So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. By the ninth day of the (C)fourth month the famine had become so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.

Then (D)the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled at night by way of the gate between two walls, which was by the king’s garden, even though the Chaldeans were still encamped all around against the city. And (E)the king[a] went by way of the [b]plain. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his army was scattered from him. So they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon (F)at Riblah, and they pronounced judgment on him. Then they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, (G)put[c] out the eyes of Zedekiah, bound him with bronze fetters, and took him to Babylon.

And in the fifth month, (H)on the seventh day of the month (which was (I)the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), (J)Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. (K)He burned the house of the Lord (L)and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, (M)he burned with fire. 10 And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard (N)broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around.

11 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive (O)the rest of the people who remained in the city and the defectors who had deserted to the king of Babylon, with the rest of the multitude. 12 But the captain of the guard (P)left some of the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers. 13 (Q)The bronze (R)pillars that were in the house of the Lord, and (S)the carts and (T)the bronze Sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and (U)carried their bronze to Babylon. 14 They also took away (V)the pots, the shovels, the trimmers, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils with which the priests ministered. 15 The firepans and the basins, the things of solid gold and solid silver, the captain of the guard took away. 16 The two pillars, one Sea, and the carts, which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord, (W)the bronze of all these articles was beyond measure. 17 (X)The height of one pillar was [d]eighteen cubits, and the capital on it was of bronze. The height of the capital was three cubits, and the network and pomegranates all around the capital were all of bronze. The second pillar was the same, with a network.

18 (Y)And the captain of the guard took (Z)Seraiah the chief priest, (AA)Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers. 19 He also took out of the city an officer who had charge of the men of war, (AB)five men of [e]the king’s close associates who were found in the city, the chief recruiting officer 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 So Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, took these and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21 Then the king of Babylon struck them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. (AC)Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land.

Gedaliah Made Governor of Judah(AD)

22 Then he made Gedaliah the son of (AE)Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor over (AF)the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left. 23 Now when all the (AG)captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Careah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and [f]Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. 24 And Gedaliah took an oath before them and their men, and said to them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.”

25 But (AH)it happened in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck and killed Gedaliah, the Jews, as well as the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. 26 And all the people, small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose (AI)and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

Jehoiachin Released from Prison(AJ)

27 (AK)Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that [g]Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, (AL)released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. 28 He spoke kindly to him, and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments, and he (AM)ate [h]bread regularly before the king all the days of his life. 30 And as for his [i]provisions, there was a [j]regular ration given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 25:4 Lit. he
  2. 2 Kings 25:4 Or Arabah, the Jordan Valley
  3. 2 Kings 25:7 blinded
  4. 2 Kings 25:17 About 27 feet
  5. 2 Kings 25:19 Lit. those seeing the king’s face
  6. 2 Kings 25:23 Jezaniah, Jer. 40:8
  7. 2 Kings 25:27 Lit. Man of Marduk
  8. 2 Kings 25:29 Food
  9. 2 Kings 25:30 Lit. allowance
  10. 2 Kings 25:30 Lit. allowance

25 At nangyari nang ikasiyam na taon ng kaniyang paghahari sa ikasangpung buwan, nang ikasangpung araw ng buwan, na si Nabucodonosor na hari sa Babilonia ay naparoon, siya at ang buo niyang hukbo, laban sa Jerusalem, at humantong laban doon; at nagsipagtayo sila ng mga kuta sa palibot laban doon.

Sa gayo'y nakubkob ang bayan hanggang sa ikalabing isang taon ng haring Sedecias.

Nang ikasiyam na araw ng ikaapat na buwan, ang kagutom ay lumala sa bayan, na anopa't walang tinapay sa bayan ng lupain.

Nang magkagayo'y gumawa ng isang butas sa kuta ng bayan, at ang lahat na lalaking mangdidigma ay nagsitakas sa gabi sa daan ng pintuang-bayan sa pagitan ng dalawang kuta, na nasa siping ng halamanan ng hari (ang mga Caldeo nga ay nangasa tapat ng palibot ng bayan;) at ang hari ay yumaon sa daan ng Araba.

Nguni't hinabol ng hukbo ng mga Caldeo ang hari, at inabutan nila siya sa mga kapatagan ng Jerico: at ang buo niyang hukbo ay nangalat sa kaniya.

Nang magkagayo'y kinuha nila ang hari at dinala nila siya sa hari sa Babilonia sa Ribla; at sila'y nangagbigay ng kahatulan sa kaniya.

At kanilang pinatay ang mga anak ni Sedecias, sa harap ng kaniyang mga mata, at inukit ang mga mata ni Sedecias at siya'y nilagyan ng damal, at dinala siya sa Babilonia.

Nang ikalimang buwan nga, nang ikapitong araw ng buwan, na siyang ikalabing siyam na taon ng haring Nabucodonosor, na hari sa Babilonia, ay naparoon sa Jerusalem si Nabuzaradan na punong kawal ng bantay, na lingkod ng hari sa Babilonia.

At kaniyang sinunog ang bahay ng Panginoon, at ang bahay ng hari; at ang lahat na bahay sa Jerusalem, sa makatuwid baga'y bawa't malaking bahay, ay sinunog niya ng apoy.

10 At ibinagsak ang mga kuta ng Jerusalem sa palibot, ng buong hukbo ng mga Caldeo, na kasama ng punong kawal ng bantay.

11 At ang nalabi na mga tao na naiwan sa bayan, at yaong nagsihiwalay, na nagsihilig sa hari sa Babilonia, at ang labi sa karamihan, ay dinalang bihag ni Nabuzaradan na punong kawal ng bantay.

12 Nguni't iniwan ng punong kawal ng bantay ang mga pinakadukha sa lupain upang maging maguubas at magbubukid.

13 At ang mga haliging tanso na nangasa bahay ng Panginoon, at ang mga tungtungan at ang dagatdagatan na tanso na nasa bahay ng Panginoon, ay dinurog ng mga Caldeo, at dinala ang tanso sa Babilonia.

14 At ang mga palayok, at ang mga pala, at ang mga gunting, at ang mga kutchara, at ang lahat na kasangkapan na tanso na kanilang ipinangangasiwa, ay kanilang dinala.

15 At ang mga apuyan, at ang mga mangkok; na ang sa ginto, ay ginto, at ang sa pilak ay pilak, pinagdadala ng punong kawal ng bantay.

16 Ang dalawang haligi, ang dagatdagatan, at ang mga tungtungan, na ginawa ni Salomon sa bahay ng Panginoon; ang tanso ng lahat ng kasangkapang ito ay walang timbang.

17 Ang taas ng isang haligi ay labing walong siko, at isang kapitel na tanso ang nasa dulo niyaon; at ang taas ng kapitel ay tatlong siko, na may yaring lambat at mga granada sa kapitel sa palibot, lahat ay tanso; at mayroong gaya ng mga ito ang ikalawang haligi na may yaring lambat.

18 At kinuha ng punong kawal ng bantay si Saraias na dakilang saserdote, at si Sophonias na ikalawang saserdote, at ang tatlong tagatanod-pinto:

19 At sa bayan ay kumuha siya ng isang pinuno na inilagay sa mga lalaking mangdidigma: at limang lalake sa kanila na nakakita ng mukha ng hari na nangasumpungan sa bayan: at ang kalihim, ang punong kawal ng hukbo, na humusay ng bayan ng lupain; at anim na pung lalake ng bayan ng lupain, na nangasumpungan sa bayan.

20 At kinuha sila ni Nabuzaradan na punong kawal ng bantay, at dinala sila sa hari sa Babilonia sa Ribla.

21 At sinaktan sila ng hari sa Babilonia, at pinatay sila sa Ribla, sa lupain ng Hamath. Sa gayo'y dinala ang Juda na bihag mula sa kaniyang lupain.

22 At tungkol sa bayan na naiwan sa lupain ng Juda, na iniwan ni Nabucodonosor na hari sa Babilonia, ay sa mga yaon ginawa niyang tagapamahala si Gedalias na anak ni Ahicam, na anak ni Saphan.

23 Nang mabalitaan nga ng lahat ng pinuno ng mga hukbo, nila, at ng kanilang mga lalake, na ginawang tagapamahala si Gedalias ng hari sa Babilonia, ay nagsiparoon sila kay Gedalias sa Mizpa, sa makatuwid bagay si Ismael na anak ni Nathanias, at si Johanan na anak ni Carea, at si Saraia na anak ni Tanhumet, na Netofatita, at si Jaazanias na anak ng Maachateo, sila at ang kanilang mga lalake.

24 At si Gedalias ay sumampa sa kanila at sa kanilang mga lalake, at nagsabi sa kanila, Kayo'y huwag mangatakot ng dahil sa mga lingkod ng mga Caldeo: magsitahan kayo sa lupain, at kayo'y magsipaglingkod sa hari sa Babilonia, at ikabubuti ninyo.

25 Nguni't nangyari nang ikapitong buwan, na si Ismael na anak ni Nathanias, na anak ni Elisama, na mula sa lahing hari, at sangpung lalake na kasama niya, ay naparoon, at sinaktan si Gedalias, na anopa't namatay, at ang mga Judio at ang mga Caldeo, na mga kasama niya sa Mizpa.

26 At ang buong bayan, maliit at gayon din ang malaki, at ang mga pinuno ng hukbo, ay nagsitindig, at nagsiparoon sa Egipto; sapagka't sila'y nangatakot sa mga Caldeo.

27 At nangyari nang ikatatlongpu't pitong taon ng pagkabihag ni Joachin na hari sa Juda, nang ikalabing dalawang buwan, nang ikadalawangpu't pitong araw ng buwan, na si Evil-merodach na hari sa Babilonia, nang taon na siya'y magpasimulang maghari, ay itinaas ang ulo ni Joachin na hari sa Juda sa bilangguan;

28 At siya'y nagsalita na may kagandahang loob sa kaniya, at inilagay ang kaniyang luklukan sa itaas ng luklukan ng mga hari na kasama niya sa Babilonia.

29 At kaniyang pinalitan ang kaniyang damit na pagkabihag. At kumain si Joachin ng tinapay sa harap niya na palagi sa lahat ng kaarawan ng kaniyang buhay.

30 At tungkol sa kaloob sa kaniya, may palaging kaloob na ibinibigay sa kaniya ang hari, bawa't araw isang bahagi ng pagkain, lahat ng mga araw ng kaniyang buhay.

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