2 Kings 25
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Nebuchadnezzar’s Siege of Jerusalem
25 In the ninth year(A) of Zedekiah’s reign,(B) on the tenth day of the tenth month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon advanced against Jerusalem with his entire army.(C) They laid siege to the city and built a siege wall against it all round.(D) 2 The city was under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.
3 By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that the common people had no food.(E) 4 Then the city was broken into,(F) and all the warriors fled(G) at night by way of the city gate between the two walls near the king’s garden,(H) even though the Chaldeans surrounded the city. As the king made his way along the route to the Arabah,(I) 5 the Chaldean army pursued him and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. Zedekiah’s entire army left him and scattered.(J) 6 The Chaldeans seized the king(K) and brought him up to the king of Babylon(L) at Riblah,(M) and they passed sentence on him. 7 They slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes. Finally, the king of Babylon blinded Zedekiah, bound him in bronze chains, and took him to Babylon.(N)
Jerusalem Destroyed
8 On(O) the seventh day of the fifth month – which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon – Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guards, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.(P) 9 He burned the Lord’s temple,(Q) the king’s palace,(R) and all the houses of Jerusalem; he burned down(S) all the great houses. 10 The whole Chaldean army with the captain of the guards tore down the walls(T) surrounding Jerusalem. 11 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guards, deported the rest of the people who remained in the city, the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population.(U) 12 But the captain of the guards left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and farmers.(V)
13 Now(W) the Chaldeans broke into pieces the bronze pillars(X) of the Lord’s temple, the water carts, and the bronze basin,[a](Y) which were in the Lord’s temple, and carried the bronze to Babylon.(Z) 14 They also took the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes, and all the bronze articles used in the priests’ service.(AA) 15 The captain of the guards took away the firepans and sprinkling basins – whatever was gold or silver.(AB)
16 As for the two pillars, the one basin, and the water carts that Solomon had made for the Lord’s temple, the weight of the bronze of all these articles was beyond measure.(AC) 17 One pillar was 8 metres[b] tall and had a bronze capital on top of it. The capital, encircled by a grating and pomegranates of bronze, stood 1.35 metres[c] high. The second pillar was the same, with its own grating.(AD)
18 The captain of the guards(AE) also took away Seraiah(AF) the chief priest, Zephaniah(AG) the priest of the second rank, and the three doorkeepers. 19 From the city he took a court official[d] who had been appointed over the warriors; five trusted royal assistants[e](AH) found in the city; the secretary of the commander of the army, who enlisted the people of the land for military duty; and sixty men from the common people[f] who were found within the city. 20 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guards, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.(AI) 21 The king of Babylon put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah went into exile from its land.(AJ)
Gedaliah Made Governor
22 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah(AK) son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, over the rest of the people he left in the land of Judah.(AL) 23 When all the commanders of the armies – they and their men – heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.(AM) The commanders included Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite – they and their men.(AN) 24 Gedaliah swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, ‘Don’t be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.’(AO)
25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down Gedaliah, and he died. Also, they killed the Judeans and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.(AP) 26 Then all the people, from the youngest to the oldest, and the commanders of the army, left and went to Egypt, for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.(AQ)
Jehoiachin Pardoned
27 On(AR) the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he pardoned King Jehoiachin(AS) of Judah and released him[g] from prison.(AT) 28 He spoke kindly(AU) to him and set his throne over the thrones of the kings who were with him in Babylon.(AV) 29 So Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes, and he dined regularly in the presence of the king of Babylon for the rest of his life.(AW) 30 As for his allowance, a regular allowance(AX) was given to him by the king, a portion for each day, for the rest of his life.
2 Kings 25
King James Version
25 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.
2 And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.
4 And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.
5 And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.
6 So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.
7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.
8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:
9 And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire.
10 And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.
11 Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away.
12 But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.
13 And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the Lord, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.
14 And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.
15 And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.
16 The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord; the brass of all these vessels was without weight.
17 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.
18 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:
19 And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city:
20 And Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:
21 And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.
22 And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.
23 And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
24 And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell 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 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.
26 And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.
27 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;
28 And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;
29 And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.
30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.
2 Kings 25
English Standard Version
Fall and Captivity of Judah
25 (A)And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, (B)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. (C)And they built siegeworks all around it. 2 So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 3 On the ninth day of the fourth month (D)the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. 4 Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by (E)the king's garden, and (F)the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the (G)Arabah. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. 6 Then they captured the king (H)and brought him up to the king of Babylon at (I)Riblah, and they passed sentence on him. 7 They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, (J)and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains and took him to Babylon.
8 (K)In the fifth month, on (L)the seventh day of the month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 9 (M)And he burned the house of the Lord (N)and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. 10 And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, (O)broke down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 (P)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, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile. 12 But the captain of the guard left (Q)some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen.
13 (R)And the pillars (S)of bronze that were in the house of the Lord, and (T)the stands and (U)the bronze sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon. 14 (V)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 fire pans 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 that Solomon had made for the house of the Lord, (W)the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight. 17 (X)The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits,[a] and on it was a capital of bronze. The height of the capital was three cubits. A latticework and pomegranates, all of bronze, were all around the capital. And the second pillar had the same, with the latticework.
18 (Y)And the captain of the guard took (Z)Seraiah the chief priest and (AA)Zephaniah 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 (AB)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 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at (AC)Riblah. 21 And the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at (AD)Riblah in the land of Hamath. (AE)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 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed (AF)Gedaliah the son of (AG)Ahikam, son of Shaphan, governor. 23 (AH)Now when all the captains and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came with their men to Gedaliah at (AI)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. 24 And Gedaliah swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid because of the Chaldean officials. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.” 25 (AJ)But in the seventh month, (AK)Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down Gedaliah and put him to death along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. 26 (AL)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 Chaldeans.
Jehoiachin Released from Prison
27 (AM)And in the thirty-seventh year of (AN)the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously (AO)freed[b] Jehoiachin 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 Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life (AP)he dined regularly at the king's table, 30 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 25:17 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
- 2 Kings 25:27 Hebrew reign, lifted up the head of
2 Kings 25
New King James Version
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. 2 So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 3 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.
4 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. 5 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. 6 So they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon (F)at Riblah, and they pronounced judgment on him. 7 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.
8 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. 9 (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
- 2 Kings 25:4 Lit. he
- 2 Kings 25:4 Or Arabah, the Jordan Valley
- 2 Kings 25:7 blinded
- 2 Kings 25:17 About 27 feet
- 2 Kings 25:19 Lit. those seeing the king’s face
- 2 Kings 25:23 Jezaniah, Jer. 40:8
- 2 Kings 25:27 Lit. Man of Marduk
- 2 Kings 25:29 Food
- 2 Kings 25:30 Lit. allowance
- 2 Kings 25:30 Lit. allowance
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The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
