Jeremiah 52

Jeremiah 52 (Review of Nebuchadnezzar's Defeat of Judah)

1-11 The Captivity of Zedekiah by Babylon (Also see Jeremiah 39)

• Zedekiah (son of Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah), was 21 years old when he began to reign, reigned 11 years, and was evil in God's sight, just like Jehoiakim.
• This angered God so much that he "expelled" them out of his sight.
• Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon, so in Zedekiah's 9th year, Babylon laid siege on Jerusalem for two years.
• After two years, Zedekiah and his officials fled through a breach in the wall, but Nebuchadnezzar's men caught them and took them to Babylon.
• Nebuchadnezzar commanded Zedekiah's sons be put to death in front of him, then he put out Zedekiah's eyes and imprisoned him in Babylon until his death.

12-16 Destruction of Jerusalem

• In the 5th month, 10th day (Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year), his captain entered Jerusalem and burned the temple, the palace and all the great houses of Jerusalem.
• He captured many of the poor, those who had defected to Babylon, and the artisans and took them back to Babylon.
• He left the poorest of the poor as vinedressers and tillers of the soil.

17-23 Sacking of the Temple

• Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, stands, the sea and carried away the bronze, with the pots and all other utensils and gold, silver and bronze vessels.
• The bronze in the pillars was too heavy to weigh.

24-30 Execution and Capture of Judeans

• Nebuzaradan brought the chief priest Seraiah, second priest Zephaniah, 3 guardians of the threshold, an army commander, 7 councilmen, the army secretary, and 60 "men of the people" to the king of Babylon in Riblah, and he killed them.
• A total of 4,600 (4,591) Judeans were taken into exile: 3023 in Nebuchadnezzar's 7th year; 832 in his 18th year; 745 in his 23rd year.

31-34 Jehoiachin Favored in Captivity (See notes on Jeremiah 22, June 15, 2009)

• In 37th year of Babylonian exile (12th month, 25th day), when Evil-merodach of Babylon begins to reign, he releases King Jehoiachin of Judah.
• For the rest of his life Jehoiachin (nephew of Zedekiah, grandson of Josiah) dines at the king's table and is given a daily allowance.

Note: See Chapter 39 to see what happens to Jeremiah.