Add parallel Print Page Options

King Zedekiah of Judah

(2 Kings 24.18-20; Jeremiah 52.1-3)

11 (A) Zedekiah was 21 years old when he was appointed king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for 11 years. 12 He disobeyed the Lord his God and refused to change his ways, even after a warning from Jeremiah, the Lord's prophet.

13 (B) King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia had forced Zedekiah to promise in God's name that he would be loyal. Zedekiah was stubborn and refused to turn back to the Lord God of Israel, so he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. 14 The people of Judah and even the priests who were their leaders became more unfaithful. They followed the disgusting example of the nations around them and made the Lord's holy temple unfit for worship. 15 But the Lord God felt sorry for his people, and instead of destroying the temple, he sent prophets who warned the people over and over about their sins. 16 But the people only laughed and insulted these prophets. They ignored what the Lord God was trying to tell them, until he finally became so angry that nothing could stop him from punishing Judah and Jerusalem.

Read full chapter

Zedekiah King of Judah(A)

11 Zedekiah(B) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 12 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord(C) his God and did not humble(D) himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath(E) in God’s name. He became stiff-necked(F) and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel. 14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful,(G) following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Fall of Jerusalem(H)(I)

15 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers(J) again and again,(K) because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed(L) at his prophets until the wrath(M) of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.(N)

Read full chapter