After the coming of Nebuchadnezzar the people were no longer free, but were servants of the king of Babylon and their kings subject to him. Furthermore the Lord had said through Jeremiah that the nation that would not submit to Nebuchadnezzar He would punish, but the nations that would submit and serve him He would let remain in their own land. (Jer. 27: 6-11.) Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, and his successor, reigned only three months and ten days. But his reign was an evil one; apparently, he too rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. Hover, when. Nebuchadnezzar came and beseiged Jerusalem, Jehoiachin, with his princes, his servants and his officers, went out to him. Nebuchadnezzar took him captive to Babylon along with many thousands of the people. This was the second captivity. Jehoiachin spent thirty-six years in the prison at Babylon, and then he tasted of the mercy of God, for when Evil-Merodach came to the throne in B.C. 561 The king released him from prison and spake kindly unto him. He exalted him above the other captive kings, and he ate bread before the king all the days of his life. (Jer. 52: 31-34.)
Then Nebuchadnezzar made Mattaniah (2 Kings 24:1717And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah. (2 Kings 24:17)), son of Josiah, king and changed his name to Zedekiah; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. But he did evil in the sight of the Lord and did not humble himself before Jeremiah speaking from the mouth of the Lord. At times he seemed willing to listen to Jeremiah but he really lacked purpose of heart to obey the word of the Lord. He was one who feared man more than he feared God. Nebuchadnezzar had made him swear by Jehovah his God that he would serve him; but later he rebelled against the king the Lord had set over him and sent to Egypt for help. He despised the holy covenant and the oath so solemnly taken and thus made the name Jehovah as nothing. This filled up the cup of his iniquity and brought on him fearful judgment. Jeremiah had warned Zedekiah many times against his course, advising him to submit to Babylon, but it is said he hardened his heart from turning to the Lord. Two remarkable things were prophesied of him: one that he should speak with the king of Babylon, and “his eyes shall behold his eyes” (Jer. 32:44And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes; (Jeremiah 32:4)); and “he shall be brought to Babylon, yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.” Ezek. 12:1313My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there. (Ezekiel 12:13). When the city was taken, he was captured while trying to escape and brought to Nebuchadnezzar, who ordered his sons slain before his eyes; then his eyes were put out and he was taken to Babylon where he died.
The Babylonians broke down the wall of Jerusalem, they burned the house of God and all the palaces. They broke up the two brazen pillars Solomon had made for the house of the Lord, also the brazen sea, and carried them and all the vessels that were left to Babylon.
This is a very sad ending of the history of the kings of Judah, and of the family of David, to whom the Lord had made such wonderful promises and blessings. But as we have pointed out before, “God is not mocked, and whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6: 7). But we must not think that our hearts are any better than the hearts of these people of old. For there are now those who have been brought up in homes where the Word of God has been read, loved and obeyed, but they have never allowed it to lay hold of their hearts.
ML 02/15/1959