Jeremiah
The book of Jeremiah is a prophetic account of God's judgment on the nation of Judah for their idolatry and disobedience. The prophet Jeremiah is called by God to warn the people of Judah of their impending destruction if they do not turn from their wicked ways. Despite Jeremiah's warnings, the people refuse to listen, and God ultimately brings judgment upon them through the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. The city of Jerusalem is besieged, the temple is destroyed, and many of the people are taken into exile. However, God also promises to restore and redeem his people, and to bring them back to their land after a period of 70 years. The book also contains prophecies against various nations, including Egypt, Philistia, Moab, and Babylon, and ultimately looks forward to a time of restoration and redemption for God's people.
Chapter 1
The prophet Jeremiah, a priest from Anathoth, received God's call to prophethood in the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign. God told Jeremiah that He knew him before birth and sanctified him as a prophet to the nations, despite Jeremiah's initial hesitation due to his youth. God reassured Jeremiah that He would be with him and deliver him from fear, and appointed him to root up and destroy, as well as to build and plant. Jeremiah then received visions from God, including a staff keeping watch and a cooking pot, signifying God's watchful care and the impending evil from the north that would spread over the earth.
Chapter 2
The Lord remembers Israel's youth and their devotion to Him when they followed Him into the desert, but now they have turned away from Him and become empty. They have not asked where the Lord is, who led them out of Egypt and through the desert, and instead have defiled the land and turned to idols. The Lord will contend with them in judgment, for they have forsaken Him, the Fountain of living water, and dug for themselves broken cisterns that cannot hold water. Israel has become like a harlot, debased and stained by their iniquity, and will be ashamed of their ways.
Chapter 3
The Lord laments Israel's infidelity, comparing her to a prostitute who has polluted the land with her fornications and wickedness. Despite her unfaithfulness, the Lord calls Israel to return to him, promising to accept her and restore her. The Lord also rebukes Judah for her own infidelity and lack of fear, despite witnessing Israel's punishment. The Lord promises to restore Israel and Judah, giving them pastors who will feed them with knowledge and doctrine, and to make Jerusalem the throne of the Lord, where all nations will gather.
Chapter 4
The Lord calls Israel to return to Him, warning them to remove their offenses and swear truthfully, or face His indignation and destruction. The people are told to prepare for an evil from the north, as the Lord is bringing devastation upon them. The prophet laments the coming destruction, describing the devastation of the land, the emptiness of the earth, and the desolation of the cities. The people's wickedness has brought about their own downfall, and despite their attempts to adorn themselves, they will be rejected and their lovers will seek their life.
Chapter 5
The Lord laments that Jerusalem has become so corrupt that not one honest person can be found, and even the great men of the city have broken God's laws. As a result, the nation will be punished by a fierce enemy that will devour its people and resources. The people have denied God and ignored the prophets' warnings, and now they will face the consequences of their actions. The Lord will not destroy the nation completely, but will instead allow it to be conquered by a foreign power as punishment for its sins.
Chapter 6
The Lord warns of an evil coming from the north, with destruction and devastation for Jerusalem, due to the city's wickedness and false claims. The people are called to repent, but they refuse to listen, and instead, they continue to practice greed and deceit. The Lord appoints watchers to warn them, but they will not listen, and as a result, the Lord will bring ruin upon them, and a great nation from the north will rise up against them.
Chapter 7
The Lord commands Jeremiah to stand at the gate of the temple and warn the people of Judah to change their ways and intentions, to stop trusting in false words and to stop committing abominations such as stealing, murder, and adultery. If they do not, the Lord will destroy the temple and cast them away, just as He did to Shiloh. The people are provoking the Lord to anger by their idolatrous practices, including offering sacrifices to the queen of heaven and other strange gods. The Lord did not instruct their fathers to offer sacrifices, but rather to listen to His voice and walk in His ways.
Chapter 8
The Lord will cast out the bones of Judah's leaders and people who have turned away from Him, and they will not be collected or buried. The people have turned away with a contentious loathing, speaking falsely and not doing penance for their sins. They claim to be wise and have the law of the Lord, but they have been confounded and captured due to their deceit. The Lord will give their wives and fields to others as an inheritance, and they will fall among the fallen due to their abominations.
Chapter 9
The prophet laments the moral decay of the people, who have turned to lies, deceit, and violence, and have abandoned God's law. As a result, God will refine and test them, and the land will be desolate and uninhabited. The people's disobedience and idolatry have led to their downfall, and God will punish them by dispersing them among nations and sending the sword after them. The prophet calls on the women to mourn and lament the devastation of the land, and warns that death will come upon the people, leaving their corpses unburied. The chapter concludes with a warning that God will visit judgment on all nations, including Israel, for their spiritual and physical uncircumcision.
Chapter 10
The Lord warns the house of Israel not to follow the ways of the Gentiles, who fear and worship idols that are mere creations of human hands, having no power to do good or evil. In contrast, the Lord is the true and living God, creator of heaven and earth, who shakes the earth with his indignation and has power over the forces of nature. The Lord will cast away the idols and those who worship them, and will punish the nations that have not known him and have destroyed Israel.
Chapter 11
The Lord commands Jeremiah to speak to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, warning them to obey the covenant made with their fathers when they were led out of Egypt, or face curses. However, the people have not listened and have instead followed other gods, rendering the covenant void. As a result, the Lord will bring evil upon them, and they will cry out in vain. Jeremiah is also warned not to pray for the people, and the Lord reveals a plot against Jeremiah's life by the men of Anathoth, who will be punished for their actions.
Chapter 12
The prophet Jeremiah questions God's justice, asking why the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. He laments the destruction of the land and the people's rebellion against God, and asks how long this will continue. Jeremiah expresses his own pain and sense of betrayal, feeling that even his own family has turned against him. God responds by warning the neighboring nations that they will be uprooted and destroyed if they do not learn to follow His ways and swear by His name.
Chapter 13
The Lord instructs Jeremiah to obtain a linen waistcloth, wear it, and then hide it by the Euphrates River. After many days, Jeremiah retrieves the waistcloth, which has rotted and is no longer useful, symbolizing the fate of Judah and Jerusalem due to their refusal to listen to God's words and their idolatry. The Lord declares that He will scatter the people, including the kings, priests, and prophets, and will not spare them. The chapter concludes with a call to humility and a warning of judgment, as the people have forgotten God and trusted in false things, leading to their shame and defilement.
Chapter 14
The people of Judah are suffering due to a severe drought, and the prophet Jeremiah prays to God, acknowledging the people's sins and asking for mercy in God's name. However, God responds that He will not heed their prayers or accept their offerings because of their continued rebellion, and instead will consume them by sword, famine, and pestilence. God also condemns the false prophets who are prophesying peace and security, saying they will be consumed by the very things they deny. Jeremiah laments the suffering of the people and asks God why He has struck them so severely, and the people acknowledge their sins and ask God not to give them over to disgrace.
Chapter 15
The Lord rejects the people of Jerusalem, refusing to spare them even if great leaders like Moses and Samuel interceded on their behalf. The people will be punished in four ways: by sword, dogs, birds, and beasts, and will be given over to the mercy of other kingdoms due to the sins of King Manasseh. The Lord laments that despite His efforts to plead with the people, they have not turned back from their wicked ways, and as a result, they will be scattered and destroyed. The prophet Jeremiah cries out to the Lord, asking why he was born to suffer and be a man of strife, but the Lord responds that He will ultimately rescue and redeem Jeremiah from his enemies.
Chapter 16
The Lord instructs Jeremiah not to marry or have children in the land, as those born there will die from disease, sword, or famine, and will not be mourned or buried. The Lord has taken away His peace, mercy, and pity from the people, and both great and small will die in the land. The people will be punished for their iniquity and sin, as they have abandoned the Lord and followed strange gods. The Lord will cast them out of the land into a foreign land where they will serve other gods, but eventually, He will lead them back to their own land.
Chapter 17
The Lord declares that Judah's sin is deeply ingrained and will lead to their downfall, causing them to be despoiled and serve their enemies in a foreign land. Those who trust in the Lord will be blessed and flourish, while those who trust in man will wither away. The Lord examines the heart and rewards each person according to their actions. The prophet Jeremiah laments the people's abandonment of the Lord and asks for healing and salvation. The Lord instructs Jeremiah to warn the people to observe the Sabbath and not carry burdens on that day, promising blessings and prosperity if they obey, but destruction if they refuse.
Chapter 18
The Lord instructs Jeremiah to visit a potter's house, where he observes the potter reshaping a vessel that had broken, illustrating God's power to shape and reshape nations. The Lord declares that He can uproot, destroy, or build and plant a nation, depending on its response to His warnings. The people of Judah and Jerusalem are warned to turn from their evil ways, but they refuse, saying they will follow their own thoughts. The Lord laments that His people have forgotten Him and will be dispersed and destroyed as a result. Jeremiah's enemies plot against him, but he prays for the Lord's protection and asks that they be punished for their evil plans.
Chapter 19
The Lord instructs Jeremiah to take a potter's earthen bottle to the valley of the son of Hinnom and proclaim a message of judgment to the kings of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The Lord declares that He will bring affliction upon the city because the people have abandoned Him and offered sacrifices to foreign gods, including burning their children as a holocaust to Baal. The city will be overthrown, its people will be killed, and their carcasses will be given to the birds and beasts as food. The Lord will also make the city unclean, like Topheth, and will bring evil upon the community because they have hardened their necks and refused to heed His words.
Chapter 20
Pashhur, a priest, had Jeremiah beaten and put in stocks for prophesying against Jerusalem, but Jeremiah responded by renaming Pashhur "Fear all around" and predicting his downfall and the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. Jeremiah lamented his own suffering and the ridicule he faced for speaking God's words, feeling like he was being consumed by a raging fire within him. Despite the persecution, Jeremiah trusted in God's presence and justice, asking for vengeance on his enemies. He then cursed the day of his birth, lamenting the hardships and sorrows he had faced in his life.
Chapter 21
The Lord tells Jeremiah to inform King Zedekiah that He will turn against Jerusalem, gathering the city's defenses and making war against its inhabitants, resulting in death by pestilence, sword, and famine. Those who remain in the city will die, but those who surrender to the Babylonians will live. The Lord also warns the house of David to judge justly and rescue the oppressed, or face His fiery indignation.
Chapter 22
The Lord commands Jeremiah to speak to the king of Judah, warning him to exercise justice and free the oppressed, or the house of David will be desolate. If the king fails to listen, the Lord will destroy the house and the city, and the king will die in exile. The Lord then condemns King Jehoiakim for his injustice and oppression, stating that he will not be mourned when he dies. The Lord also condemns King Jeconiah, stating that he will be delivered into the hands of his enemies and will die in exile, and that none of his offspring will sit on the throne of David.
Chapter 23
The Lord condemns the shepherds of Israel for scattering and driving away His flock, and promises to gather the remnant and raise up a righteous branch from David to reign and bring justice. The Lord also denounces the prophets who prophesy falsely and lead the people astray, saying they will be punished for their wickedness. The Lord warns the people not to listen to these false prophets, who speak from their own hearts and not from the mouth of the Lord. The Lord declares that He is a God who is close by and sees all, and that He will punish those who prophesy falsely in His name.
Chapter 24
The Lord showed Jeremiah two baskets of figs, one with good figs and the other with bad figs, symbolizing the fate of the people of Judah. The good figs represented the captives in Babylon, whom the Lord would regard as good and eventually return to their land, giving them a heart to know Him. The bad figs represented King Zedekiah and those who remained in Jerusalem or fled to Egypt, whom the Lord would punish with affliction, sword, famine, and pestilence.
Chapter 25
The Lord has been speaking to the people of Judah through Jeremiah for 23 years, calling them to return from their evil ways, but they have not listened. As a result, the Lord will send Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to destroy Judah and its surrounding nations, and they will serve Babylon for 70 years. After the 70 years, the Lord will punish Babylon for its iniquity. The Lord also commands Jeremiah to make all the nations drink from the cup of his fury, which will lead to their downfall and destruction. The Lord will enter into judgment with all the nations, and those who are impious will be delivered to the sword.
Chapter 26
The Lord instructed Jeremiah to speak to the people of Judah in the house of the Lord, warning them to turn from their evil ways or face destruction. Jeremiah obeyed, but the priests, prophets, and people sought to kill him for prophesying against the city and the house of the Lord. The leaders of Judah intervened, and Jeremiah defended himself, saying he was sent by the Lord and that killing him would bring innocent blood upon themselves. The leaders ultimately decided not to put Jeremiah to death, citing the example of Micah, a prophet who was not condemned to death by King Hezekiah. Meanwhile, another prophet named Uriah was not so fortunate, as he was killed by King Jehoiakim for prophesying against the city and the land.
Chapter 27
The Lord instructs Jeremiah to send a message to the kings of neighboring nations, telling them that He has given the land to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and that they must serve him or face destruction. The Lord warns the people of Judah not to listen to false prophets who say they will not have to serve the king of Babylon, but instead to submit to him and live. The Lord also tells the priests and people that the vessels of the Lord will be taken to Babylon and will remain there until the day of their visitation, when they will be restored to Jerusalem.
Chapter 28
Hananiah, a prophet from Gibeon, falsely prophesied that the Lord would break the yoke of the king of Babylon and return the vessels of the house of the Lord and the captives from Judah within two years. Jeremiah, however, disputed Hananiah's prophecy, stating that a prophet who predicts peace will only be known as sent by the Lord if his word occurs. The Lord then spoke to Jeremiah, saying that Hananiah had broken chains of wood but would be replaced with chains of iron, and that Hananiah would die that year for speaking against the Lord. Hananiah indeed died in the seventh month of that year.
Chapter 29
The Lord instructs the Israelites in Babylon to build houses, plant gardens, and seek the peace of the city, for their peace will be in its peace. He warns them not to listen to false prophets who prophesy in His name, but instead to seek Him with their whole heart. The Lord promises to visit them after 70 years and lead them back to Jerusalem, giving them patience and an end. He also warns those who remain in Jerusalem that they will face affliction, famine, and pestilence for not listening to His words. The Lord condemns false prophets, including Ahab, Zedekiah, and Shemaiah, who have spoken lies in His name, and promises to punish them.
Chapter 30
The Lord promises to restore Israel and Judah, returning them to the land of their fathers and freeing them from foreign rule. A time of great tribulation is coming, but Jacob will be saved from it, and the Lord will raise up a king from the line of David to rule over them. The Lord will punish the nations among which Israel has been scattered, but will not destroy Israel, instead chastising them in judgment. The Lord will heal Israel's wounds and restore their cities, and they will be his people, with him as their God.
Chapter 31
The Lord promises to be the God of all the families of Israel and to rebuild and restore them. He will lead them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth, and they will return to Zion with weeping and be led back with mercy. The Lord will redeem Jacob and free him from the hand of one more powerful, and they will arrive and give praise on Mount Zion. The Lord will also form a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, writing his law on their hearts and forgiving their iniquity. A city will be built for the Lord, and the entire Valley of dead bodies and ashes will be the holy place of the Lord, never to be rooted up or torn down again.
Chapter 32
Jeremiah was imprisoned by King Zedekiah for prophesying that the city would be captured by the Babylonians. While in prison, Jeremiah bought a field from his cousin Hanamel, as instructed by God, and had the deed witnessed and sealed. Jeremiah then prayed to God, questioning why he was instructed to buy the field when the city was about to be captured. God responded that despite the city's impending destruction, He would one day restore it and the people would again buy and sell fields, and He would form a new covenant with them.
Chapter 33
The Lord promises to restore and heal Jerusalem, forgiving its iniquities and rebuilding it as in the beginning. The city will be repopulated, and the sounds of joy and rejoicing will be heard once more. The Lord also promises to fulfill his good word to the house of Israel and Judah, causing a righteous branch to spring up from David, who will bring justice and salvation to Judah. The Lord's covenant with David and the Levites will endure, and their offspring will be multiplied like the stars and sand.
Chapter 34
The Lord told Jeremiah to inform King Zedekiah that Jerusalem would be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, and Zedekiah would be captured and taken to Babylon, but he would die in peace. The people of Jerusalem had made a pact to release their Hebrew slaves, but later reneged on the agreement, which led the Lord to declare that He would give them over to their enemies and to the sword, pestilence, and famine. The Lord also stated that He would give King Zedekiah and his leaders into the hands of their enemies, and the cities of Judah would be made desolate.
Chapter 35
The Lord instructed Jeremiah to invite the Rechabites to the temple and offer them wine, but they refused, citing their ancestor Jonadab's command to abstain from wine and other worldly pursuits. The Rechabites' obedience to their father's instructions was contrasted with the disobedience of the people of Judah, who refused to listen to the Lord's prophets. As a result, the Lord declared that He would bring evil upon Judah and Jerusalem, but promised that the Rechabites would always have a descendant standing before Him.
Chapter 36
The Lord instructed Jeremiah to write down all the words he had spoken against Israel, Judah, and the nations in a book, which Jeremiah dictated to Baruch, who wrote them down. Baruch read the book to the people in the house of the Lord, and later to the leaders, who were astonished and decided to report the words to King Jehoiakim. The king, however, burned the book and tried to capture Jeremiah and Baruch, but they were hidden by the Lord. The Lord then instructed Jeremiah to write another book, which he did, adding more words than before, and also pronounced judgment against King Jehoiakim and his descendants.
Chapter 37
King Zedekiah, appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, reigned in Judah but disobeyed God's words spoken through Jeremiah. Zedekiah sent messengers to Jeremiah to pray for them, and Jeremiah prophesied that the Chaldeans would return and destroy Jerusalem despite the temporary withdrawal due to Pharaoh's army. Jeremiah was later arrested and imprisoned for allegedly fleeing to the Chaldeans, but was eventually taken out by King Zedekiah, who was told by Jeremiah that he would be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon. Jeremiah was then confined to the vestibule of the prison with limited provisions.
Chapter 38
Jeremiah prophesied that those who remained in Jerusalem would die, but those who fled to the Chaldeans would live, prompting the leaders to ask King Zedekiah to put Jeremiah to death. Zedekiah handed Jeremiah over to the leaders, who threw him into a pit, but Ebedmelech, an Ethiopian eunuch, intervened and rescued Jeremiah. King Zedekiah then secretly questioned Jeremiah, who advised him to surrender to the Babylonians to save his life and the city, but Zedekiah was afraid of being betrayed by the Jews who had already defected to the Babylonians. Jeremiah warned Zedekiah that if he did not surrender, he and his family would be taken captive and the city would be burned.
Chapter 39
Nebuchadnezzar's army besieged Jerusalem, and in the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign, the city was breached. Zedekiah and his men fled but were captured by the Chaldeans, and Zedekiah was taken to Nebuchadnezzar, who killed his sons and the nobles of Judah, then blinded and imprisoned Zedekiah. The Chaldeans destroyed Jerusalem, and Nebuzaradan carried away the remaining people to Babylon, except for some poor people who were left in the land. Jeremiah was released from prison and given to Gedaliah to live among the people, and the Lord promised to save Ebedmelech, an Ethiopian, from harm because of his faith.
Chapter 40
Nebuzaradan released Jeremiah from chains and gave him the option to go to Babylon or stay in Judah, and Jeremiah chose to stay with Gedaliah, the governor of Judah appointed by the king of Babylon. Gedaliah advised the people to serve the Chaldeans and live in the land, and many Jews returned from surrounding regions to live under his leadership. However, Johanan warned Gedaliah that Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, had been sent by the king of Ammon to kill him, but Gedaliah did not believe the warning.
Chapter 41
Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, killed Gedaliah, the governor of Judah, and many Jews and Chaldeans at Mizpah. Ishmael then killed 80 men from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria who were on their way to make an offering in the house of the Lord, sparing only 10 who promised to reveal hidden storehouses of food. Ishmael took the remaining people at Mizpah captive, but was pursued by Johanan, the son of Kareah, and his men, who rescued the captives and forced Ishmael to flee to the sons of Ammon. The rescued people then settled near Bethlehem, planning to continue on to Egypt to escape the Chaldeans.
Chapter 42
The leaders of the remnant of Judah, including Johanan and Azariah, asked Jeremiah to pray to God on their behalf and to seek guidance on what to do next. Jeremiah agreed and after ten days, God spoke to him, saying that if the people stayed in Judah, He would build them up and not tear them down, and would rescue them from the king of Babylon. However, if they chose to go to Egypt, they would die by the sword, famine, and pestilence, and would never return to Judah. Despite this warning, the people refused to heed God's voice and chose to go to Egypt, sealing their fate.
Chapter 43
The people of Judah, led by Johanan and Azariah, refused to listen to Jeremiah's warning from God not to enter Egypt, and instead accused Jeremiah of lying and being influenced by Baruch. They took the remnant of Judah, including Jeremiah and Baruch, and entered Egypt, disobeying God's voice. In Egypt, Jeremiah received a word from the Lord, which he was to deliver to the people, warning that God would send Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Egypt, destroy its gods, and lead its people captive.
Chapter 44
The Lord speaks to the Jews living in Egypt, condemning their continued idolatry and worship of other gods, despite having witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah due to similar sins. The people refuse to listen to Jeremiah's warnings, insisting on continuing their idolatrous practices, which they believe have brought them prosperity. Jeremiah responds by reminding them of the Lord's past judgments and warning them of impending destruction, stating that those who remain in Egypt will be consumed by sword and famine, and only a few will return to Judah. The Lord also declares that He will deliver Pharaoh Hophra into the hands of his enemies, just as He did with Zedekiah.
Chapter 45
The Lord speaks to Baruch through Jeremiah, addressing Baruch's lament about his sorrow and lack of rest. The Lord responds by stating that He destroys and uproots those He has built up and planted, and warns Baruch not to seek great things for himself. Instead, the Lord promises to spare Baruch's life and give it to him as a salvation, wherever he may go, amidst the coming evil that will befall all flesh.
Chapter 46
The Lord declares judgment against Egypt, describing its army as terrified and fleeing in disorder. Egypt's strength will be conquered and ruined by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, who will come from the north like a flood. The Lord will vindicate himself of his enemies, and the sword will devour Egypt's inhabitants. Egypt's allies, including the Ethiopians and Libyans, will also fall. The Lord warns Egypt to prepare for the sword, but it will be in vain, and the land will be desolate and uninhabited. Despite this judgment, the Lord promises to bring salvation to his servant Jacob and restore him from captivity.
Chapter 47
The Lord warns the Philistines of an impending invasion from the north, which will bring destruction and devastation to their land, cities, and people. The Philistines will be devastated, and their allies, including Tyre and Sidon, will also be destroyed. The Lord has ordained the destruction of the Philistines, and their cities, including Gaza and Ashkelon, will be silenced. The sword of the Lord will not rest until it has fulfilled its task against Ashkelon and its surrounding regions.
Chapter 48
The Lord declares judgment against Moab, stating that its cities will be devastated, its people will be taken captive, and its gods will be unable to save them. Moab's pride and arrogance have led to its downfall, and it will be a derision to all who surround it. The people of Moab will mourn and lament, and their cities will be destroyed. However, the Lord promises to restore Moab in the last days.
Chapter 49
The Lord declares judgment against various nations, including Ammon, Idumea, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam. The Lord will cause destruction and desolation in these nations, scattering their people and laying waste to their cities. The nations are condemned for their arrogance, pride, and violence, and the Lord will use other nations to bring about their downfall. However, the Lord also promises to restore the captives of some of these nations in the last days.
Chapter 50
The Lord declares that Babylon will be captured and its idols confounded, and a nation from the north will desolate the land. The people of Israel and Judah will return to the Lord and seek him, and they will be joined to him by an everlasting covenant. The Lord will raise up a great nation against Babylon, and it will be taken and become a prey. Babylon's mother will be shamed, and the city will be desolate and uninhabited. The Lord will take vengeance on Babylon for its sins against him, and its foundations will fall, its walls will be destroyed, and its people will be scattered. The Lord will also visit the king of Babylon and his land, just as he visited the king of Assyria, and he will lead back Israel to its habitation.
Chapter 51
The Lord will destroy Babylon, sending winnowers to demolish her land and destroy her military. The people of Israel and Judah are not to be widowed by their God, despite their transgressions. Babylon is a corrupting influence on the earth, and the Lord will repay her for her evil deeds. The Lord will raise up the spirit of the kings of the Medes to destroy Babylon, and the city will be desolate and uninhabitable. The people of Babylon will be destroyed, and the city will be left in ruins, a place where no one can live. The Lord will also destroy the idols of Babylon and the nations will be shaken. The people of Israel are to flee from Babylon and save their lives from the wrath of the Lord.
Chapter 52
Zedekiah, the 21-year-old king of Judah, reigned for 11 years in Jerusalem, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem in the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, and the city was eventually broken, with Zedekiah fleeing but being captured and taken to the king of Babylon. The king of Babylon then killed Zedekiah's sons, blinded Zedekiah, and took him to Babylon, where he was imprisoned until his death. The Babylonians also destroyed the temple, the king's house, and the city walls, and took many of the people into exile.
Share this book