Babylonian exile – Page 3

What a sad day for Judah! With the arrival of King Nebuchadnezzar’s captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, Jerusalem would never look the same. Can you imagine the horror of the people remaining in Jerusalem as they witnessed God’s holy temple being destroyed? Then they had to watch while all the expensive trimmings were hauled away.

The Babylonians meant business and were ready to finish off the city. God had given them complete access. More people were taken away into exile. Nebuzaradan saw it prudent to leave the poorest behind to tend the fields. How would it have felt to be left behind in this shell of a city, only to be slaves to the Babylonians? Did they think that life in captivity would be better?

Read 2 Kings 24:1-17

Picture of a man jumping between two ledges, high up in the air, moutains behind

Jehoiakim had adversity coming to him from all directions with the Egyptians and Babylonians invaded and controlling things. Do you think Jehoiakim had a sense of dread following him around? I know how that feels to sense something bad is going to happen. Perhaps he had been stuck in a pattern of non-belief for long enough he began to lose hope. Either way, feeling that dread or fear is not a pleasant experience.

Jehoiakim had his hands full. We see God moving in an unbelievable way. “Then the Lord sent bands of Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Judah to destroy it, just as the Lord had promised through his prophets.” Unbelievable from the perspective that God would orchestrate the evil necessary to destroy his people. Certainly, it was believable because it was promised through the prophets.

Tag: Babylonian exile

2 Kings 25:8-21 – Keeping Promises Can Be Hard

2 Kings 24:1-17 – No Turning Back

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