Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary2 Kings 25

Jerusalem BesiegedThis section tells how King Zedekiah’s rebellion against Babylon led to the fall of Jerusalem. He tried to break free from Babylon’s control but did not seek help from the Lord

v. 3: During the siege, food ran out and famine became terrible (2 Kings 25:3 ). People could only eat small amounts of bread with great care (Ezekiel 4:16 ). This showed God’s punishment for their past greed and selfishness. Eventually, there was no food at all for the common people and soldiers. Some even ate their own children, just as prophets had warned would happen (Ezekiel 5:10; Lamentations 4:3-12 ). Jeremiah told the king to surrender to save the city (Jeremiah 38:17 ), but Zedekiah refused to listen.

v. 4: Finally, the Babylonians broke through the wall and stormed the city (2 Kings 25:4 ). The people inside could not defend the city any longer. Many tried to escape, but many were killed by the angry attackers.v. 4–5: King Zedekiah, his family, and his officials tried to escape at night through secret passages (2 Kings 25:4-5 ). However, running from God’s judgment is as hopeless as fighting against it. The Babylonian soldiers quickly found out where the king had gone and chased him. Zedekiah’s guards left him, and he was captured. If he had trusted God, he would not have been left alone like this.

v. 6–7: Zedekiah was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah. He was judged for rebelling against the king who had put him in power (Ezekiel 17:16-21 ). As punishment, Zedekiah’s sons were killed before his eyes. This was to make his suffering even worse. Then his eyes were put out, so the last thing he ever saw was his sons being killed. Jeremiah had said Zedekiah would go to Babylon (Jeremiah 32:5; 34:3 ), but Ezekiel said he would not see it (Ezekiel 12:13 ). Both were true: he was taken to Babylon, but blind, so he did not see it.

v. 7: Zedekiah was put in bronze chains and taken as a prisoner to Babylon. Even though he was a king, he was treated as a criminal. The Bible says those who are held by the chains of sin may end up trapped by the chains of suffering too (Job 36:8 ).

The Temple DestroyedThis section describes the final destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the Babylonians. Although the Chaldean army was angry at the city’s long resistance, they did not destroy everything right away. God gave the people some extra time to repent, but they did not. Because of their hard hearts and ongoing sin, God allowed complete ruin to come on the city, the temple, and the people.v. 8: About a month after Jerusalem was captured, Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the guard, came to finish the destruction. This delay was another chance for the people to turn back to God, but they did not (2 Kings 25:8, 3 ).

v. 9: Nebuzar-adan set fire to the temple, the king’s house, and the houses of the leaders. The burning of the Lord

v. 10: The Babylonians broke down the walls around Jerusalem. This was to punish the city and make sure it could not resist again. Sin had removed the protection of the people. These walls would not be rebuilt until Nehemiah’s time (2 Kings 25:10 ).

v. 11: Most of the people left in the city were taken away to Babylon as captives. Many had already died or escaped, so only a small number remained—832 people, according to another record (Jeremiah 52:29 ). Only the poorest people were left to take care of the land and vineyards (2 Kings 25:12 ). Poverty, in this case, protected them. While the rich became prisoners in a foreign land, the poor were able to stay and live in peace.

v. 13: The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars named Jachin and Boaz and took the bronze away to Babylon. These pillars had symbolized the temple’s strength, but now even these were removed (2 Kings 25:13 ). In the past, King Ahaz had already damaged some of the temple furnishings (2 Kings 16:17 ). Now, God allowed everything to be taken because the people had not respected his worship.

v. 14–16: The Babylonians also took away the rest of the bronze, silver, and gold items used in temple worship (2 Kings 25:14-16 ). There was so much bronze that it could not be weighed. By removing these worship items, God showed that he would no longer allow the people to enjoy worship after they had ignored and dishonored it.

v. 18–21: Many important people were captured and killed. Seraiah the high priest (the ancestor of Ezra, see Ezra 7:1 ), his assistant, three doorkeepers, army leaders, royal advisors, and other leading men were executed by the king of Babylon (2 Kings 25:18-21 ). This was a final punishment for those who led in rebellion and idolatry. As a result, the whole nation of Judah was taken away from their land, just as God had warned: The Lord

Dispersion of the Remnant of JudahThis section tells what happened to the few Jews who remained in the land after Jerusalem was destroyed. Some people survived and were allowed to stay, but their situation was unstable. Even when hope seemed possible, their own actions led to more trouble. The story also shares how God showed kindness to King Jehoiachin in exile, giving hope for the future.v. 22: The king of Babylon put Gedaliah in charge of those who remained in Judah. Gedaliah was a good man and tried to help the people. His father, Ahikam, had helped the prophet Jeremiah before (Jeremiah 26:24 ). Gedaliah ruled from Mizpah, not Jerusalem, and people who had escaped the earlier fighting came to him for protection (2 Kings 25:22-23 ).

v. 23–24: Gedaliah promised safety to everyone if they would accept the rule of Babylon and live peacefully. Jeremiah was also there to give advice and encourage the people. This was a chance for the Jews to rebuild their lives, even though it was under foreign rule (Jeremiah 40:5-6 ).

v. 25: Sadly, after only two months, Ishmael, who was from the royal family, killed Gedaliah and his friends. Ishmael did this out of jealousy and anger because Gedaliah was chosen by Babylon. This murder destroyed the hopeful new beginning for the people (2 Kings 25:25 ).

v. 26: The people became afraid that the Babylonians would punish them for Gedaliah’s death. Instead of staying, they ran away to Egypt, even though Jeremiah warned them not to go. In Egypt, they mixed with the people there and were never heard of as a nation again (2 Kings 25:26 ). This fulfilled the warning: The Lord

v. 27–30: The story then tells about Jehoiachin (also called Jeconiah), who had been king before the fall of Jerusalem. After thirty-seven years in prison in Babylon, the new king, Evil-merodach, released him. Jehoiachin was treated kindly, given new clothes, allowed to eat at the king’s table, and received a daily allowance for himself and his family (2 Kings 25:27-30 ). This was a big change for Jehoiachin, going from prison to honor. It was also a sign of hope for the Jewish people in captivity, showing that God could still bring good things even in hard times. As it says, Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness (Psalm 112:4 ). This encouraged the people to keep hoping for better days to come.