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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>2 Kings 25 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_kings/25.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_kings/25-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > 2 Kings 25</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_kings/24.htm" title="2 Kings 24">◄</a> 2 Kings 25 <a href="../1_chronicles/1.htm" title="1 Chronicles 1">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">Jerusalem Is Captured and Destroyed</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="2CH 36:17-21">2 Chronicles 36.17-21</ref>; <ref loc="JER 52:3-30">Jeremiah 52.3-30</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_1"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.1" class="v12_25_1">1</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.1!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> In Zedekiah's ninth year as king, on the tenth day of the tenth month,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.1!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia led his entire army to attack Jerusalem. The troops set up camp outside the city and built ramps up to the city walls.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_2"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.2-2Kgs.25.3" class="v12_25_2">2-3</span>After a year and a half, all the food in Jerusalem was gone. Then on the ninth day of the fourth<a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.2-2Kgs.25.3!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> month, </span><span class="v12_25_4"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.4" class="v12_25_4">4</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.4!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> the Babylonian troops broke through the city wall.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.4!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> That same night, Zedekiah and his soldiers tried to escape through the gate near the royal garden, even though they knew the enemy had the city surrounded. They headed toward the desert, </span><span class="v12_25_5"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.5" class="v12_25_5">5</span>but the Babylonian troops caught up with them near Jericho. They arrested Zedekiah, but his soldiers scattered in every direction.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_6"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.6" class="v12_25_6">6</span>Zedekiah was taken to Riblah, where Nebuchadnezzar put him on trial and found him guilty. </span><span class="v12_25_7"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.7" class="v12_25_7">7</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.7!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Zedekiah's sons were killed right in front of him. His eyes were then poked out, and he was put in chains and dragged off to Babylon.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_8"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.8" class="v12_25_8">8</span>About a month later,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.8!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> in Nebuchadnezzar's nineteenth year as king, Nebuzaradan, who was his official in charge of the guards, arrived in Jerusalem. </span><span class="v12_25_9"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.9" class="v12_25_9">9</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.9!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Nebuzaradan burned down the <span class="nd">Lord</span>'s temple, the king's palace, and every important building in the city, as well as all the houses. </span><span class="v12_25_10"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.10" class="v12_25_10">10</span>Then he ordered the Babylonian soldiers to break down the walls around Jerusalem. </span><span class="v12_25_11"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.11" class="v12_25_11">11</span>He led away as prisoners the people left in the city, including those who had become loyal to Nebuchadnezzar. </span><span class="v12_25_12"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.12" class="v12_25_12">12</span>Only some of the poorest people were left behind to work the vineyards and the fields.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_13"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.13" class="v12_25_13">13</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.13!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The Babylonian soldiers took the two bronze columns that stood in front of the temple, the ten movable bronze stands, and the large bronze bowl called the Sea. They broke them into pieces so they could take the bronze to Babylonia. </span><span class="v12_25_14"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.14" class="v12_25_14">14</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.14!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> They carried off the bronze things used for worship at the temple, including the pans for hot ashes, and the shovels, snuffers, and also the dishes for incense, </span><span class="v12_25_15"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.15" class="v12_25_15">15</span>as well as the fire pans and the sprinkling bowls. Nebuzaradan ordered his soldiers to take everything made of gold or silver.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_16"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.16" class="v12_25_16">16</span>The pile of bronze from the columns, the stands, and the large bowl that Solomon had made for the temple was too large to be weighed. </span><span class="v12_25_17"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.17" class="v12_25_17">17</span>Each column had been eight meters tall with a bronze cap over one meter high. These caps were decorated with bronze designs—some of them like chains and others like pomegranates.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.17!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_18"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.18" class="v12_25_18">18</span>Next, Nebuzaradan arrested Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah his assistant, and three temple officials. </span><span class="v12_25_19"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.19" class="v12_25_19">19</span>Then he arrested one of the army commanders, the king's five personal advisors, and the officer in charge of gathering the troops for battle. He also found 60 more soldiers who were still in Jerusalem. </span><span class="v12_25_20"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.20" class="v12_25_20">20</span>Nebuzaradan led them all to Riblah </span><span class="v12_25_21"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.21" class="v12_25_21">21</span>near Hamath, where Nebuchadnezzar had them killed.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_21">Most of the people of Judah had been carried away as captives from their own country.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Gedaliah Is Made Ruler of the People Left in Judah</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="JER 40:7-9">Jeremiah 40.7-9</ref>; <ref loc="JER 41:1-3">41.1-3</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_22"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.22" class="v12_25_22">22</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.22!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> King Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam<a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.22!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> to rule the few people still living in Judah. </span><span class="v12_25_23"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.23" class="v12_25_23">23</span>When the army officers and troops heard that Gedaliah was their ruler, the officers met with him at Mizpah. These men were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth from Netophah, and Jaazaniah from Maacah.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_24"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.24" class="v12_25_24">24</span>Gedaliah said to them, “Everything will be fine, I promise. We don't need to be afraid of the Babylonian rulers, if we live here peacefully and do what Nebuchadnezzar says.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_25"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.25" class="v12_25_25">25</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.25!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Ishmael<a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.25!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> was from the royal family. And about two months after Gedaliah began his rule,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.25!f.3" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Ishmael and ten other men went to Mizpah. They killed Gedaliah and his officials, including those from Judah and those from Babylonia. </span><span class="v12_25_26"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.26" class="v12_25_26">26</span><a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.26!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> After that, the army officers and all the people in Mizpah, whether important or not, were afraid of what the Babylonians might do. So they left Judah and went to Egypt.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Jehoiachin Is Set Free</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="JER 52:31-34">Jeremiah 52.31-34</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v12_25_27"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.27" class="v12_25_27">27</span>Jehoiachin was a prisoner in Babylon for 37 years. Then Evil-Merodach became king of Babylonia,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.27!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and in the first year of his rule, on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Kgs.25.27!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> he let Jehoiachin out of prison. </span><span class="v12_25_28"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.28" class="v12_25_28">28</span>Evil-Merodach was kind to Jehoiachin and honored him more than any of the other kings held prisoner there. </span><span class="v12_25_29"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.29" class="v12_25_29">29</span>Jehoiachin was even allowed to wear regular clothes, and he ate at the king's table every day. </span><span class="v12_25_30"><span class="reftext" id="2Kgs.25.30" class="v12_25_30">30</span>As long as Jehoiachin lived, he was paid a daily allowance to buy whatever he needed.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">25.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">tenth month: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Tebeth, the tenth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-December to mid-January.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">25.2,3 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">fourth: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This word is not in the Hebrew text here, but see the parallel in Jeremiah 52.5,6.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">25.4 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">wall: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 <char style="sc">b.c.</char></char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">25.8 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">About a month later: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “On the seventh day of the fifth month.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">25.17 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">pomegranates: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">A bright red fruit that looks like an apple.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">25.22 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Ahikam: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “Ahikam son of Shaphan.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">25.25 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Ishmael: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">25.25 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">about two months … his rule: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “in the seventh month.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">25.27 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Evil-Merodach … Babylonia: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The son of Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled Babylonia from 562 to 560 <char style="sc">b.c.</char></char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">25.27 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">twelfth month: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Adar, the twelfth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-February to mid-March.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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