Day 113. 2 Kings 24-25

One of the reasons why these historical books are so important is that they form the background for the writings of the great prophets of Israel. When we get to those writings, the history we are reading now will prove a necessary background to understand the religious and political situations to which the prophets speak. The career of the prophet Jeremiah, for instance, spans these last years of the Judean monarchy; he interprets the tragedy that is played out in our reading for today.
As we said before, the Judean kings of this period are caught in a power struggle between the two great superpowers of the day, Egypt and Babylon. After the death of Josiah, the great reformer, his son Jehoahaz reigns very briefly before being carried off into exile in Egypt. Then another of his sons, Jehoiakim, is put on the throne under Egyptian sponsorship. But when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon makes his first incursion into Israelite territory, Jehoiakim is forced to become his vassal. But his real allegiance is to Egypt, and at the first opportunity he turns and rebels against Babylon, probably with the promise of Egyptian support. But his bid for independence is futile and short-lived, mostly because the LORD has set a whole host of enemies against Judah, owing to the terrible sins of Manasseh (24:3), and is determined that it must be destroyed.
Jehoiakim dies before the blow falls, however, and his son Jehoiachin is left to face the music. The promise of Egyptian help does not materialize (24:7). Now the forces of King Nebuchadnezzar appear before Jerusalem and besiege it (24:10). Jehoiachin wisely surrenders and--together with his mother, his wives, and his palace officials--is taken away as a prisoner to Babylon. A great part of the treasures of the temple--its sacred vessels and possibly the Ark of the Covenant itself—are carried off as plunder. And a large part of the population—the cream of Judean society—its elites, soldiers, and craftsmen—are also deported to Mesopotamia (24:16).
The Babylonian king places Jehoiachin's uncle, probably a younger son of Josiah, on the throne with the name of Zedekiah. He does evil in the sight of the LORD, we are told, but it hardly matters because Jerusalem and Judah have so angered the Lord that he determined to expel them from his presence (24:20). And sure enough, in an act that amounts to political madness, Zedekiah rebels against the king of Babylon. The great Nebuchadnezzar, an enemy not to be trifled with, again besieges Jerusalem. There is terrible suffering in the city because of hunger (25:3), and after two years of siege, the wall is at last breached and the city taken. Zedekiah tries to flee, but is overtaken at Jericho. He is brought before the king of Babylon, where he is treated as an example to other traitors. His sons are slaughtered before his eyes, and then he is blinded and taken away in chains to Babylon.
The walls and buildings of Jerusalem are then methodically leveled, and the rest of the people, all but the very poorest, are carried off into exile in Babylon (25:11-12). The temple is stripped, and its bronze sea and pillars broken up to be melted down. Some of the remaining officers of the court, among them the high priest are executed.
One of these court officials named Gedaliah, however, is installed, not as king of Judah, but as governor of the people who still remained there. He sets up a shadow government at Mizpah, gathering around himself a group of remaining military officers. They, however, conspire against Gedaliah and assassinate him (25:25). Then they flee for their lives to Egypt in fear of Chaldeans, taking with them the prophet Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 43-44).
It is hard for us, as we read the stories to view the people in them as real, with hopes and dreams like our own. This one-dimensional telling of the story is intentional. The complier of the Books of Kings judges the kings and queens he writes about on one criterion only—their faithfulness to the Law of Moses. Otherwise, we are seldom given any reason love or pity them. Their faithfulness or unfaithfulness to the LORD is the only thing that gives their lives importance. And the LORD's promise is the only thing that keeps his people alive through all the disasters these books recount.
Now we are told that in Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar is replaced by another ruler with the rather sinister name of Evil-merodach. (We are informed elsewhere that Nebuchadnezzar goes insane). This new ruler releases Jehoiachin from prison, speaks kindly to him, and gives him a place in his own household. "Every day of his life," we are told, he dines "regularly in the king's presence" (25:29). So now at the end our narrative we are to understand that the LORD is still keeping his promise. The Lamp of David flickers; its light is hidden, but it is not allowed to go out, as we shall see.