2 Kings 25 - 1 Chronicles 2
Easy-to-Read Version
25 So King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and all his army came to fight against Jerusalem. This happened on the 10th day of the tenth month of Zedekiah’s ninth year as king. Nebuchadnezzar put his army around Jerusalem to stop people from going in and out of the city. Then he built a wall of dirt around the city. 2 His army stayed around Jerusalem until Zedekiah’s eleventh year as king of Judah. 3 The famine was getting worse and worse in the city. By the 9th day of the fourth month, there was no more food for the common people in the city.
4 Nebuchadnezzar’s army finally broke through the city wall. That night King Zedekiah and all his soldiers ran away. They used the secret gate that went through the double walls. It was by the king’s garden. The enemy soldiers were all around the city, but Zedekiah and his men escaped on the road to the desert. 5 The Babylonian army chased King Zedekiah and caught him near Jericho. All of Zedekiah’s soldiers left him and ran away.
6 The Babylonians took King Zedekiah to the king of Babylon at Riblah. The Babylonians decided to punish Zedekiah. 7 They killed Zedekiah’s sons in front of him. Then they put out Zedekiah’s eyes. They put chains on him and took him to Babylon.
Jerusalem Is Destroyed
8 Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem on the 7th day of the fifth month of his nineteenth year as king of Babylon. The captain of Nebuchadnezzar’s best soldiers was Nebuzaradan. 9 Nebuzaradan burned the Lord’s Temple, the king’s palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem. He destroyed even the largest houses.
10 Then the Babylonian army that was with Nebuzaradan pulled down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 Nebuzaradan captured all the people who were still left in the city. He took all the people as prisoners, even those who had tried to surrender. 12 He let only the poorest of the common people stay there. He let them stay so that they could take care of the grapes and other crops.
13 The Babylonian soldiers broke into pieces all the bronze things in the Lord’s Temple. They broke the bronze columns, the bronze carts, and the large bronze tank[a] that were in the Lord’s Temple. Then they took all of that bronze to Babylon. 14 The Babylonians also took the pots, the shovels, the tools for trimming the lamps, the spoons, and all the bronze dishes that were used in the Temple. 15 Nebuzaradan took all the firepans and bowls. He took all the things made of gold for the gold. And he took everything made of silver for the silver. 16-17 So Nebuzaradan took the large bronze tank and the 2 bronze columns. (Each column was about 31 feet[b] tall. The capitals on the columns were over 5 feet[c] tall. They were made from bronze and had a design like a net and pomegranates. Both columns had the same kind of design.) He also took the carts that Solomon made for the Lord’s Temple. The bronze from these things was too heavy to be weighed.
The People of Judah Taken as Prisoners
18 From the Temple, Nebuzaradan took Seraiah the high priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three men who guarded the entrance.
19 From the city Nebuzaradan took one official who was in charge of the army and five of the king’s advisors[d] who were still in the city. He took one secretary of the commander of the army who was in charge of counting the common people and choosing some of them to be soldiers and 60 people who just happened to be in the city.
20-21 Then Nebuzaradan took all these people to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the area of Hamath. The king of Babylon killed them there at Riblah. And the people of Judah were led away as prisoners from their land.
Gedaliah, Governor of Judah
22 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon left some people in the land of Judah. There was a man named Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan. Nebuchadnezzar made Gedaliah governor over the people in Judah.
23 The army captains were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth from Netophah, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite. These army captains and their men heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, so they went to Mizpah to meet with him. 24 Gedaliah made promises to these officers and their men. He said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the Babylonian officers. Stay here and serve the king of Babylon. Then everything will be all right with you.”
25 Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama was from the king’s family. In the seventh month, Ishmael and ten of his men attacked Gedaliah and killed all the men of Judah and Babylonians who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah. 26 Then the army officers and all the people ran away to Egypt. Everyone, from the least important to the most important, ran away because they were afraid of the Babylonians.
27 Later, Evil Merodach became the king of Babylon. He let King Jehoiachin of Judah out of prison. This happened in the 37th year after Jehoiachin was captured. This was on the 27th day of the twelfth month from the time that Evil Merodach began to rule. 28 Evil Merodach was kind to Jehoiachin. He gave him a more important place to sit than the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 Evil Merodach let Jehoiachin stop wearing prison clothes. And every day for the rest of his life, he ate at the same table with the king. 30 And each day, for as long as Jehoiachin lived, the king gave him enough money to pay for whatever he needed.
Family History From Adam to Noah
1 The first generations of people were Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah.[e]
4 The sons of Noah were Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Japheth’s Descendants
5 The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
6 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath,[f] and Togarmah.
7 The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
Ham’s Descendants
8 The sons of Ham were Cush,[g] Mizraim,[h] Put, and Canaan.
9 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca.
The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
10 Nimrod, a descendant of Cush, grew up to become the strongest and bravest soldier in the world.
11 Mizraim was the father of the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh, 12 Pathrus, Casluh, and Caphtor. (The Philistines came from Casluh.)
13 Canaan was the father of Sidon. Sidon was his first child. Canaan was also the father of the Hittites, 14 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 16 Arvadites, Zemarites, and the people from Hamath.
Shem’s Descendants
17 Shem’s sons were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. Aram’s sons were[i] Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.[j]
18 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah. Shelah was the father of Eber.
19 Eber had two sons. One son was named Peleg,[k] because the people on the earth were divided into different languages during his lifetime. Peleg’s brother was named Joktan. 20 (Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22 Ebal,[l] Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these men were Joktan’s sons.)
24 Shem’s descendants were Arphaxad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26 Serug, Nahor, Terah, 27 and Abram. (Abram is also called Abraham.)
Abraham’s Family
28 Abraham’s sons were Isaac and Ishmael. 29 These are their descendants:
Ishmael’s first son was Nebaioth. His other sons were Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were Ishmael’s sons.
32 Abraham also had sons by Keturah, his slave woman. They were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
Jokshan’s sons were Sheba and Dedan.
33 Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah.
These men were the descendants of Keturah.
Isaac’s Descendants
34 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac’s sons were Esau and Israel.
35 Esau’s sons were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
36 Eliphaz’s sons were Teman, Omar, Zepho,[m] Gatam, and Kenaz. Also Eliphaz and Timna had a son named Amalek.
37 Reuel’s sons were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
The Edomites
38 Seir’s sons were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
39 Lotan’s sons were Hori and Homam.[n] Lotan had a sister named Timna.
40 Shobal’s sons were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
Zibeon’s sons were Aiah and Anah.
41 Anah’s son was Dishon.
Dishon’s sons were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.
42 Ezer’s sons were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
Dishan’s sons were Uz and Aran.
The Kings of Edom
43 There were kings in Edom long before there were kings in Israel. These are the names of the kings of Edom:
Bela was the son of Beor. The name of Bela’s city was Dinhabah.
44 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah became the new king. Jobab came from Bozrah.
45 When Jobab died, Husham became the new king. Husham was from the country of the Temanites.
46 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad became the new king. Hadad defeated Midian in the country of Moab. Hadad’s city was named Avith.
47 When Hadad died, Samlah became the new king. Samlah was from Masrekah.
48 When Samlah died, Shaul became the new king. Shaul was from Rehoboth by the Euphrates River.
49 When Shaul died, Baal Hanan son of Acbor became the new king.
50 When Baal Hanan died, Hadad became the new king. Hadad’s city was named Pau.[o] Hadad’s wife was named Mehetabel. Mehetabel was Matred’s daughter. Matred was Mezahab’s daughter. 51 Then Hadad died.
The leaders of Edom were Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 54 Magdiel, and Iram. This is a list of the leaders of Edom.
Israel’s Sons
2 Israel’s sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Judah’s Sons
3 Judah’s sons were Er, Onan, and Shelah. Bathshua[p] from Canaan was their mother. The Lord killed Er, the first son, because he saw that he was evil. 4 Judah’s daughter-in-law Tamar gave birth to Perez and Zerah.[q] So Judah had five sons.
5 Perez’s sons were Hezron and Hamul.
6 Zerah had five sons. They were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Darda.
7 Zimri’s son was Carmi. Carmi’s son was Achar.[r] Achar was the man who brought many troubles to Israel. Achar kept the things he took in battle, but he was supposed to give them all to God.
8 Ethan’s son was Azariah.
9 Hezron’s sons were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.[s]
Ram’s Descendants
10 Ram was Amminadab’s father, and Amminadab was Nahshon’s father. Nahshon was the leader of the people of Judah.[t] 11 Nahshon was Salmon’s father. Salmon was Boaz’s father. 12 Boaz was Obed’s father. Obed was Jesse’s father. 13 Jesse was Eliab’s father. Eliab was Jesse’s first son. Jesse’s second son was Abinadab. His third son was Shimea. 14 Nethanel was Jesse’s fourth son. Jesse’s fifth son was Raddai. 15 Ozem was Jesse’s sixth son, and David was his seventh son. 16 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s three sons were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. 17 Abigail was Amasa’s mother. Amasa’s father was Jether. Jether was from the Ishmaelites.
Caleb’s Descendants
18 Caleb was Hezron’s son. Caleb had children with his wife Azubah. Azubah was the daughter of Jerioth.[u] Azubah’s sons were Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. 19 When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath. Caleb and Ephrath had a son. They named him Hur. 20 Hur was Uri’s father. Uri was Bezalel’s father.
21 Later when Hezron was 60 years old, he married Makir’s daughter. Makir was the father of Gilead. Hezron had sexual relations with Makir’s daughter, and she gave birth to Segub. 22 Segub was Jair’s father. Jair had 23 cities in the country of Gilead. 23 But Geshur and Aram took Jair’s villages. Among them were Kenath and the small towns around it. There were 60 small towns in all. All these towns belonged to the sons of Makir, the father of Gilead.
24 After Hezron died in the town of Caleb Ephrathah, his wife Abijah had his son, who was named Ashhur. Ashhur was the father of Tekoa.
Jerahmeel’s Descendants
25 Jerahmeel was Hezron’s first son. Jerahmeel’s sons were Ram, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. Ram was Jerahmeel’s first son. 26 Jerahmeel had another wife named Atarah. Onam’s mother was Atarah.
27 Jerahmeel’s first son, Ram, had sons. They were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.
28 Onam’s sons were Shammai and Jada. Shammai’s sons were Nadab and Abishur.
29 Abishur’s wife was named Abihail. They had two sons. Their names were Ahban and Molid.
30 Nadab’s sons were Seled and Appaim. Seled died without having children.
31 Appaim’s son was Ishi. Ishi’s son was Sheshan. Sheshan’s son was Ahlai.
32 Jada was Shammai’s brother. Jada’s sons were Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without having children.
33 Jonathan’s sons were Peleth and Zaza. This was the list of Jerahmeel’s children.
34 Sheshan did not have sons. He only had daughters. Sheshan had a servant from Egypt named Jarha. 35 Sheshan let his daughter marry Jarha. They had a son. His name was Attai.
36 Attai was Nathan’s father. Nathan was Zabad’s father. 37 Zabad was Ephlal’s father. Ephlal was Obed’s father. 38 Obed was Jehu’s father. Jehu was Azariah’s father. 39 Azariah was Helez’s father. Helez was Eleasah’s father. 40 Eleasah was Sismai’s father. Sismai was Shallum’s father. 41 Shallum was Jekamiah’s father, and Jekamiah was Elishama’s father.
Other Descendants of Caleb
42 Caleb was Jerahmeel’s brother. Caleb had some sons. His first son was Mesha. Mesha was Ziph’s father. There was also Caleb’s son Mareshah. Mareshah was the father of Hebron.
43 Hebron’s sons were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema. 44 Shema was Raham’s father. Raham was Jorkeam’s father. Rekem was Shammai’s father. 45 Shammai’s son was Maon. Maon was Beth Zur’s father.
46 Caleb’s slave woman was named Ephah. Ephah was the mother of Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was Gazez’s father.
47 Jahdai’s sons were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.
48 Maacah was another slave woman of Caleb. Maacah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah. 49 Maacah was also the mother of Shaaph and Sheva. Shaaph was Madmannah’s father. Sheva was the father of Macbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Acsah.
50 This is a list of Caleb’s descendants: Hur was Caleb’s first son. He was born to Ephrathah. Hur’s sons were Shobal, the founder[v] of Kiriath Jearim, 51 Salma, the founder of Bethlehem, and Hareph, the founder of Beth Gader.
52 Shobal was the founder of Kiriath Jearim. This is a list of Shobal’s descendants: Haroeh, half the people in Manahti, 53 and the tribes from Kiriath Jearim. These are the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. The Zorathites and the Eshtaolites came from the Mishraites.
54 This is a list of Salma’s descendants: the people from Bethlehem, Netophah, Atroth Beth Joab, half the people from Manahti, the Zorites, 55 and the families of scribes who lived at Jabez, Tirath, Shimeath, and Sucah. These scribes are the Kenites who came from Hammath. Hammath was the founder of Beth Recab.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 25:13 tank A very large container for water.
- 2 Kings 25:16 31 feet Literally, “18 cubits” (9.33 m).
- 2 Kings 25:16 5 feet Literally, “3 cubits” (1.55 m).
- 2 Kings 25:19 king’s advisors Literally, “men who saw the king’s face.”
- 1 Chronicles 1:1 This list of names gives the name of a man, followed by his descendants.
- 1 Chronicles 1:6 Riphath Or “Diphath.”
- 1 Chronicles 1:8 Cush That is, Ethiopia.
- 1 Chronicles 1:8 Mizraim That is, Egypt.
- 1 Chronicles 1:17 Aram’s sons were This is found in one Hebrew copy and some copies of the ancient Greek version. It is also found in the standard Hebrew text of Gen. 10:23, but not here.
- 1 Chronicles 1:17 Meshech Or “Mash.” See Gen. 10:23.
- 1 Chronicles 1:19 Peleg This name means “division.”
- 1 Chronicles 1:22 Ebal Or “Obal.” See Gen. 10:28.
- 1 Chronicles 1:36 Zepho Or “Zephi.”
- 1 Chronicles 1:39 Homam Or “Heman.” See Gen. 36:22.
- 1 Chronicles 1:50 Pau Or “Pai.”
- 1 Chronicles 2:3 Bathshua This name means “the daughter of Shua.” See Gen. 38:2.
- 1 Chronicles 2:4 Judah had sexual relations with his own daughter-in-law, Tamar, and caused her to be pregnant. See Gen. 38:12-30.
- 1 Chronicles 2:7 Achar Or “Achan.” See Josh. 7:11.
- 1 Chronicles 2:9 Caleb Literally, “Kelubai.”
- 1 Chronicles 2:10 Nahshon … Judah Nahshon was leader of the tribe of Judah at the time the Israelites came out of Egypt. See Num. 1:7; 2:3; 7:12.
- 1 Chronicles 2:18 Or “Caleb had children with Azubah his wife and with Jerioth.”
- 1 Chronicles 2:50 founder Literally, “father.” The person who started the city.
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