Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 25
Babylon’s soldiers took Zedekiah to Riblah in Hamath, about 200 miles (350 kilometres) north of Jerusalem. There, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had his camp. 22 years earlier, the king of Egypt had punished Jehoahaz, Zedekiah’s brother, in the same place (23:33).
The soldiers took Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar so that Nebuchadnezzar could declare Zedekiah’s punishment. Nebuchadnezzar considered Zedekiah to be a terrible criminal. It was clear that his punishment would be very severe.
Let us think about Zedekiah’s crimes. Nebuchadnezzar had trusted him so much that he appointed Zedekiah to rule Judah on his behalf. Nebuchadnezzar gave him the power and authority to rule, and he even promised Zedekiah the support of Babylon’s army. Zedekiah was just a young man then, only 21 years old; but Nebuchadnezzar gave him more wealth and importance than anyone else in Judah.
However, Zedekiah took that wealth and importance for himself – and he even declared Nebuchadnezzar to be his enemy. He refused to pay the taxes that he had promised to Nebuchadnezzar. He refused to be loyal to Nebuchadnezzar, who had been so generous to him. He even refused to allow Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers into Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar sent them to him.
Nebuchadnezzar was now acting as Zedekiah’s judge, and so he declared Zedekiah to be guilty. For such terrible crimes, Zedekiah must suffer a truly awful punishment, Nebuchadnezzar declared.
Babylon’s soldiers had also caught Zedekiah’s sons, who were probably just boys. Zedekiah had to watch as the soldiers murdered them. Immediately afterwards, the soldiers pulled out Zedekiah’s eyes, to make him blind. Then, as a blind man, they forced him to march 500 miles (800 kilometres) to Babylon. There, he would remain a prisoner until his death (Jeremiah 52:11). However, they did not kill him. In Jeremiah 34:4-5, God gave a promise to Zedekiah that Babylon’s king would not kill him.
Next part: Babylon's army destroys Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:8-10)
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