³ For because of the anger of the Lord it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence.

And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

^13 (A)He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. ^(B)He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord, the God of Israel.

¹² “Say now to ^(A)the rebellious house, ^(B)Do you not know what these things mean? Tell them, behold, ^(C)the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took her king and her princes and brought them to him to Babylon. ^13 (D)And he took one of the royal offspring^{[a] (E)}and made a covenant with him, ^(F)putting him under oath (^(G)the chief men of the land he had taken away), ¹⁴ that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand. ^15 (H)But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors ^(I)to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. ^(J)Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he ^(K)break the covenant and yet escape?

^16 (L)“As I live, declares the Lord God, surely ^(M)in the place where the king dwells ^(N)who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant with him he broke, in Babylon he shall die. ^17 (O)Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, ^(P)when mounds are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives. ¹⁸ He despised the oath in breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and did all these things; he shall not escape. ¹⁹ Therefore thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely it is my oath that he despised, and my covenant that he broke. I will return it upon his head. ^20 (Q)I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon ^(R)and enter into judgment with him there ^(S)for the treachery he has committed against me. ²¹ And all the pick^[b] of his troops shall fall by the sword, ^(T)and the survivors shall be scattered to every wind, and you shall know that ^(U)I am the Lord; I have spoken.”

Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem

^9 (A)Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! ^(B)Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, ^(C)that you may execute justice and righteousness.”