2 Kings 24:18- 25:27 Fall of Jerusalem and the Exile King Zedekiah of Judah and the Prophet Jeremiah Kings and Prophets Timeline Fall of Assyrian/Babylonian Assyria to Captivity Babylon of Israel 612 BC ~726 BC ~609 BC ~605 BC ~597 BC 586 BC Fall of Vassal of Vassal of 2nd Egypt Babylon captivity Judah to Babylon Southern (29) (11) (11) Kingdom: (55) (31) Judah Hezekiah Manasseh Josiah Jehoiakim Zedekiah Amon Jehoahaz Jehoiachin Isaiah Jeremiah -685 BC ~626-586 BC Daniel ~605-535 BC Ezekiel ~592-570 BC Captives taken to Babylon Legend: Prophets Part 2 Kings (approx. reign in years) Family Tree Josiah ~640-609 B.C. Jehoahaz Jehoiakim Zedekiah (Shallum) (Eliakim) (Mattaniah) 3 months 609 B.C. 609-598 B.C. 597-586 B.C. Jehoiachin (Coniah) 3 months 597 B.C. Judah’s Decline 2 Ki. 23-25, 2 Chr. 36 609 B.C. Jehoahaz reigns 3 months 609 B.C. Judah becomes Egyptian vassal, Egypt enthrones Jehoiakim 605 B.C. Egypt falls to Babylon at Carchemish, Judah becomes Babylonian vassal, 1st deportation (royalty, upper class, artisans) 601 B.C Babylon clashes with Egypt, heavy losses both sides 597 B.C. Jehoiakim dies, Jehoiachin reigns 3 months, Nebuchadnezzar enthrones Zedekiah, 2nd deportation (nobles, officials, artisans, priests, leaders) 586 B.C. Zedekiah rebels, 3rd deportation (remaining population), destruction of Jerusalem King Zedekiah of Judah Youngest son of King Josiah Became king at age 21 Renamed from Mattaniah by Nebuchadnezzar Reigned 11 years, from 597-586 B.C. “Did evil in eyes of Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done” (2 Ki. 24:19); did not humble himself before Jeremiah who spoke the word of the Lord (2 Ch. 36:12) Jeremiah’s Early Warnings Potter’s house (Jer.18) Yoke (Jer. 27) https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwcmedia/14709789856 God’s Case against Jerusalem Idolatry - Deuteronomy 4, 27-28 Deut. 4:25-27 if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God and arousing his anger, 26 I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. 27 The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. Unfaithfulness – Jeremiah 3:20 But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,” declares the LORD. Rebellion – Ezekiel 20 Judah invaded ~588 B.C. Zedekiah allies with Egypt and revolts against Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar Only Jerusalem, armies invade. Lachish and Azekah stand (fortified cities) Lachish aerial view Lachish ostraca http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=364095&partId=1&searchText=Lachish+ostracon&page=1 Jeremiah’s Warnings to Zedekiah 588- 586 B.C. Zedekiah inquires of the Lord, when Babylonian armies withdrew as Egyptian armies marched out (Jer. 37) Lord, ‘Egypt will go back, Babylon will return, attack, burn the city’ Jeremiah goes to leave, is imprisoned Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah, ‘Any word from the Lord?’ Lord, ‘you will be handed over to the king of Babylon’ Jeremiah protested no crime, Zedekiah put in the courtyard Jeremiah told the people ‘Stay and die, Leave and surrender and live’ (Jer. 38) Gedaliah, Son of Pashhur; Minister of Zedekiah (Jer. 38:1) Zedekiah allows his angry officials (Gedaliah son of Pashhur) to put Jeremiah into an empty cistern Ebed-Melech, a Cushite is allowed by Zedekiah to rescue Jeremiah from the well Zedekiah secretly inquires of the Lord through Jeremiah Lord, ‘Surrender and your life is spared; Refuse and you will not escape, the city will burn and the women brought out to the officers http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2008/10/13/More-on-the-Seal-of-King-Zedekiahs-Minister.aspx The Babylonian Empire Riblah http://www.anthrogenica.com/showthread.php?1689-What-happend-to-the-Babylonians-and-who-are-their-descendants-today&s=46cf83b1777bf11664aeef32f956191d The Fall of Jerusalem (Jer. 39, 52) Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem (severe famine) Army, led by Nebuzaradan, broke through the city wall Zedekiah and soldiers fled, headed towards the Arabah Army overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, taken to Riblah and sentenced Sons killed before his eyes, and nobles; then Zedekiah was blinded, bound and taken to Babylon Set fire to temple, royal palace and houses; broke down city walls Took the bronze pillars, the bronze Sea, all bronze, silver and gold articles in the temple; took priests, officers, advisors to Nebuchadnezzar who executed them Nebuchadnezzar spared Jeremiah, who stayed with Gedaliah Tablet mentions Nebo-Sarsekim, Chief officer Message for Ebed-Melech the Cushite (Jer. 39:15-18) http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2008/04/Nebo-Sarsekim-Found-in-Babylonian-Tablet.aspx Jerusalem in Ruins 2 Ki. 25:22-26, 2 Chr. 36:20-21, Jer. 40-44 586 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar appoints Gedaliah son of Ahikam governor Remnant of Jews returned to Judah Within 3 months, Ishmael son of Nethaniah assassinates Gedaliah, men of Judah and Babylonians at Mizpah Remaining officers and poorest people remaining fled to Egypt taking Jeremiah and Baruch with them The Land of Judah is desolate and de-populated and finally has it’s Sabbath rest (2 Chr. 36:21, Lev. 25:1-7) God’s People in Exile Psychological Effect: Hill-dwelling open plains Shameful exile, betrayed by leaders, abandoned by God acute emotional, spiritual crisis Practical Life: treated like other expatriate group by Chaldeans Ruler (Jehoiachin) & family: treated with deference Poorest: servitude enslavement Elite: freedom to choose employment; opportunity for position, wealth, property Became known as “Jews” Information from “Old Testament Times” by R. K. Harrison http://www.britannica.com/place/Tigris-Euphrates-river-system Spiritual Life in Exile Spiritual Responses: 1) bitter resentment against God, failed to protect as promised 2) spirit of penitent acceptance, realized too late seriousness of prophetic warnings, woeful lack of faithfulness Jeremiah’s Message of Hope: God’s purpose: punishment; God’s limit: 70 years (Jer. 25, 29); God’s promise: restoration (Jer. 30-33) Symbolic Proof– In the middle of the siege of Jerusalem, Jeremiah bought a field (Jer. 32-33) Jeremiah’s counsel – settle down, marry, build and plant, live in peace (Jer. 29) resistance was seen as rebellion Changes in Worship: maintain identity as a people of God Pursue observances that didn’t offend (fasting, prayer, instruction in law, Sabbath) No temple house gatherings, weekly day of worship (new pattern) Priestly emphasis on distinguishing features (circumcision, purification rituals, rejection of some foods) Information from “Old Testament Times” by R. K. Harrison Two Baskets of Figs Lamentations 1:18-20, Jeremiah 2:17a 42:1-16, 3:17-26, 43:1-7 39-42, 5:1, 21-22 http://www.bibleplaces.com/fig-trees/ Table Discussion Lamentations Jeremiah (1:18-20, 3:17-26, 39-42, 5:1) (42:1-16, 43:1-7) What is the response of the exiles to all that How did the people respond to all that had has happened? happened? What progression of thinking do you see? What did the people want to know and what did God tell them to do? What truths give the writer hope? What made it challenging to obey God? Where is the writer’s focus at the end? How is leadership different when you are What did the evidence tell them to do? being disciplined by God? How is leadership different in adversity? What did the good figs do that the bad figs did not do? or What was God requiring of both groups of people? Lessons God is faithful to discipline His people. Submission to discipline is crucial to restoration. Hope is found in God’s character. When disciplined by God, “bloom where you are planted.” 2 Kings The Responsibility of Leadership Leadership under times of discipline requires honesty, repentance, faith and courageous obedience. A sinful leader can cause people to sin, but a godly leader can help people faithful repent. Apply It Personally: From Jeremiah 42 How are my fears keeping me from obedience? What has God allowed in my life to discipline me? When God disciplines me, how do I try to avoid it? From Lamentations Is there sin which I need to agree with the Lord about? Does my response to my sin include sorrow, self-examination, and change? When I am downcast due to my sin, what part of God’s character will I look to for hope? Next Week King Belshazzar and the Prophet Daniel (Daniel 5).