INTRODUCTION: These two chapters deal with the final chaotic years of Judah, the siege and fall of Jerusalem, and the destruction of the nation. This is a sober section of scripture that reminds us that God will judge those who refuse to obey Him. Yet, even in this sad account, God retains a remnant and through them will restore the nation again at the proper time.

1. THE REIGN OF JEHOIAKIM (2 Kings 24:1-7 [1] In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. [2] And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets. [3] Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; [4] And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon. [5] Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? [6] So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. [7] And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
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1. Three Years as Servant of Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
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1. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up against Judah.
2. Jehoiakim became his servant for three years.
3. Then Jehoiakim rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
2. Judgment Sent by the Lord (2 Kings 24:2-4 [2] And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets. [3] Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; [4] And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.
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1. The LORD sent bands against Jehoiakim (2 Kings 24:2And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.
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1. The Chaldees
2. The Syrians
3. The Moabites
4. The Ammonites
2. According to the word of the LORD (2 Kings 24:2-3 [2] And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets. [3] Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;
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3. Because of the sins of Manasseh (2 Kings 24:3-4 [3] Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; [4] And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.
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3. End of the Reign of Jehoiakim (2 Kings 24:5-6 [5] Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? [6] So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.
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1. The rest of his acts (2 Kings 24:5Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
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2. His death and successor (2 Kings 24:6So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.
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4. End of the Influence of Egypt (2 Kings 24:7And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
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2. SHORT REIGN OF JEHOIACHIN (2 Kings 24:8-16 [8] Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. [9] And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done. [10] At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. [11] And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it. [12] And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. [13] And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said. [14] And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. [15] And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. [16] And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
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1. Details of His Reign (2 Kings 24:8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
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1. He was 18 years old when he began to reign.
2. He reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3. His mother’s name was Nehushta.
2. Character of His Reign (2 Kings 24:9And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.
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1. He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
2. According to all that his father had done
3. Siege of Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:10-11 [10] At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. [11] And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.
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1. About the time Jehoiachin began to reign (2 Kings 24:10At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
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2. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem (2 Kings 24:11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.
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4. Surrender of Jehoiachin’s Household (2 Kings 24:12And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
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1. The king and his family surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar.
2. They surrendered in the 8th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign.
5. Nebuchadnezzar’s Spoil (2 Kings 24:13-16 [13] And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said. [14] And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. [15] And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. [16] And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
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1. The treasures (2 Kings 24:13And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
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1. He carried out the treasures of the house of the LORD.
2. He carried out the treasures of the king’s house.
3. He cut in pieces the vessels of gold which Solomon had made.
2. The people (2 Kings 24:14-16 [14] And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. [15] And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. [16] And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
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1. He carried away the princes, mighty men of valour, craftsmen, and smiths (2 Kings 24:14And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
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2. He carried away Jehoiachin, his family, and his officers (2 Kings 24:15And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
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3. REIGN OF ZEDEKIAH (2 Kings 24:17-20 [17] And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah. [18] Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. [19] And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. [20] For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
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1. Beginning of His Reign (2 Kings 24:17-18 [17] And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah. [18] Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
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1. Made king by Nebuchadnezzar, who changed his name (2 Kings 24:17And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
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2. He was 21 years old when he began to reign and reigned for 11 years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 24:18Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
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2. Character of His Reign (2 Kings 24:19And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
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1. He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
2. According to all that Jehoiakim had done
3. Rebellion of Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:20For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
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1. All this came to pass through the anger of the LORD.
2. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
4. SIEGE OF JERUSALEM (2 Kings 25:1-7 [1] 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.
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1. Long Siege of the City (2 Kings 25:1-2 [1] 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.
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1. Nebuchadnezzar came again to besiege Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1And 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.
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2. The besiegement lasted nearly a year-and-a-half (2 Kings 25:2And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
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2. Breaking Up of the City (2 Kings 25:3-4 [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.
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1. A famine prevailed in the city (2 Kings 25:3And 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.
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2. The city was broken up, and the men of war fled (2 Kings 25:4And 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.
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3. The king fled by the way toward the plain (2 Kings 25:4And 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.
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3. Capture of the King and His Army (2 Kings 25:5-7 [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.
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1. Zedekiah was overtaken and captured (2 Kings 25:5And 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.
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2. He was brought back to Nebuchadnezzar for judgment (2 Kings 25:6So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.
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3. Zedekiah was punished severely (2 Kings 25:7And 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.
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1. His sons were killed in his sight.
2. His eyes were put out.
3. He was bound with fetters.
4. He was carried away to Babylon.
5. FALL OF JERUSALEM (2 Kings 25:8-21 [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 door 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.
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1. The Destruction of the City (2 Kings 25:8-10 [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.
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1. Burning of the city (2 Kings 25:8-9 [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.
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1. Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, came unto Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:8And 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:
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2. He burnt the house of the LORD, the king’s house, and other houses within Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:9And 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.
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2. Breaking down of the wall (2 Kings 25:10And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.
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2. Captivity of the People (2 Kings 25:11-12 [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 door of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.
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1. Many other people were carried away into Babylon (2 Kings 25:11Now 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.
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2. Only the poor were left to be vinedressers and husbandmen (2 Kings 25:12But the captain of the guard left of the door of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.
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3. Destruction of the Temple (2 Kings 25:13-17 [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.
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1. The Chaldeans broke the pillars of brass, the bases, and the brasen sea (2 Kings 25:13And 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.
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2. They carried away the brass, gold, and silver (2 Kings 25:13-17 [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.
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4. Killing of the Chief Men (2 Kings 25:18-21 [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.
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1. Nebuzaradan gathered chief men that remained (2 Kings 25:18-19 [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:
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2. He brought them to the king of Babylon in Riblah (2 Kings 25:20And Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:
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3. The king of Babylon smote them (2 Kings 25:21And 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.
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6. JUDAH AFTER THE FALL (2 Kings 25:22-26 [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.
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1. Gedaliah Made Governor of the Land (2 Kings 25:22-24 [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.
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1. Nebuchadnezzar made Gedaliah to rule over those remaining in Judah (2 Kings 25:22And 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.
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2. Several military leaders came to Gedaliah and were instructed to submit to Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:23-24 [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.
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2. Gedaliah Killed by Ishmael (2 Kings 25:25But 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.
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1. Ishmael, of the seed royal, came against Gedaliah.
2. He and his men killed Gedaliah and the Chaldeans that were with him.
3. Remaining People Fled to Egypt (2 Kings 25:26And 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.
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1. Many people fled to Egypt for fear of the Chaldeans.
2. They were afraid because of the actions of Ishmael.
7. KINDNESS TO JEHOIACHIN IN BABYLON (2 Kings 25:27-30 [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.
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1. Removed from Prison (2 Kings 25:27And 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;
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1. Nebuchadnezzar was replaced by his successor, Evilmerodach.
2. Jehoiachin was brought out of prison.
2. Treated with Kindness (2 Kings 25:28-30 [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.
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1. Evilmerodach treated Jehoiachin with kindness (2 Kings 25:28And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;
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2. He promoted Jehoiachin above other kings in Babylon (2 Kings 25:28And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;
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3. He changed Jehoiachin’s prison garments and fed him at the king’s table all the days of his life (2 Kings 25:29And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.
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4. He was given an allowance, a daily rate, all the days of his life (2 Kings 25:30And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.
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CONCLUSION: Even this tragic tale ends with hope. Jehoiachin has been in a Babylonian prison for 27 years. He is now 45 years old. But at this time, the king of Babylon takes him from the prison and treats him kindly. This act foreshadows the future grace that the Lord will show on the Jews. He has still not forgotten them. What a wondrous display of God’s grace!