2 Kings 25:4-17

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 25:1-10

The fall of Judah and Jerusalem a warning for all time to all nations. Jerusalem had defied Zerah with his host of a minion men ( 2 Chronicles 14:9-15 ), and had triumphed over Sennacherib at the head of all the armed force of Assyria ( 2 Kings 19:35 , 2 Kings 19:36 ): why did she succumb to Nebuchadnezzar? It is quite certain that Babylon was not a stronger power than either Egypt or Assyria when in their prime. There is no reason to believe that Nebuchadnezzar was a better general... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 25:1-10

The fall and destruction of Jerusalem. With this account of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar should be compared the narrative of its later destruction by Titus (A.D. 70). History does not always repeat itself; but in this instance it does so with marvelous fidelity. The close investment of the city, the desperate resistance, the horrors of famine within, the incidents of the capture, the burning of the temple, the demolition of the walls, and the captivity of the people, present... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 25:1-21

The last days of Jerusalem. The shameful story of Judah's disobedience and sin is now drawing to a close. Here we have an account of the capture of Jerusalem and its king by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon. Zedekiah, the king, was taken prisoner. His sons were first put to death before his eyes. Then his own eyes were put out. He was bound in fetters of brass, and carried sway to Babylon. Jerusalem itself, the city of David and Solomon, was a scene of desolation. Nebuzar-adan, captain of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 25:1-30

THE LAST SIEGE OF JERUSALEM . THE JEWS LED INTO CAPTIVITY . HISTORY OF THE REMNANT LEFT BEHIND . RELEASE FROM PRISON OF JEHOIACHIN . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 25:4

And the city was broken up ; rather, brown into ; i.e. a breach was made in the walls. Probably the breach was on the north side of the city, where the ground is nearly level (see Ezekiel 9:2 ). According to Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 10.8. § 2), the enemy entered through the breach about midnight. And all the men of war — i.e; all the soldiers who formed the garrison— fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls ; rather, between the two walls , as in Jeremiah 52:7 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 25:5

And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king. When the escape of Zedekiah and the soldiers of the garrison was discovered, hot pursuit was made, since the honor of the great king required that his enemies should be brought captive to his presence. The commanders at Jerusalem would fuel this the more sensibly, since Nebuchadnezzar had for some time retired from the siege, and left its conduct to them, while he himself exercised a general superintendence over military affairs from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 25:6

So they took the king [Zedekiah], and brought him up to the King of Babylon. The presentation of rebel kings, when captured, to their suzerain, seated on his throne, is one of the most common subjects of Assyrian and Babylonian sculptures. The Egyptian and Persian artists also represent it. To Riblah. (For the situation of Riblah, see the comment on 2 Kings 23:33 .) As Nebuchadnezzar was engaged at one and the same time in directing the sieges both of Tyro and of Jerusalem, it was a most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 25:7

And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes (comp. Herod; 2 Kings 3:14 , and 2 Macc. 7; for similar aggravations of condemned persons' sufferings). As Zedekiah was no more than thirty-two years of age ( 2 Kings 24:18 ), his sons must have been minors, who could not justly be held responsible for their father's doings. It was usual, however, in the East, and even among the Jews, to punish children for the sins of their fathers (see Joshua 7:24 , Joshua 7:25 ; 2 Kings 9:26 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 25:8

And in the fifth month, on the seventh clay of the month. Jeremiah says ( Jeremiah 52:12 ) that it was on the tenth day of the month; and so Josephus ('Bell Jud.; 6.4. § 8). The mistake probably arose from a copyist mistaking י (ten) for ז (seven). According to Josephus, it was on the same day of the same month that the final destruction of the temple by the soldiers of Titus was accomplished. Which is the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 25:9

And he burnt the house of the Lord. After it had stood, according to Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 2 Kings 10:8 . § 5), four hundred and seventy years six months and ten days. This calculation, however, seems to exceed the truth. Neither the Assyrians nor the Babylonians had any regard for the gods of other nations. They everywhere burnt the temples, plundered the shrines, and carried off the images as trophies of victory. In the temple of Jerusalem they would find no images except those of the... read more

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