Click to read 2 Kings 24
Synopsis
Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedikiah were the last three kings, which were evil ones. They did not follow after God and Judah was eventually conquered by the Babylonians after three invasions. For the sins of Manasseh and his descendants, God was angry and wanted to removed them from His presence. The Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites and Ammonites were instruments of God's punishment upon Judah.
When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah, he robbed the Temple of all its treasures, humiliating the Jews completely. All the officials and fighting men and skilled craftsmen were captured and exiled to Babylon, leaving the weakest and poorest in Judah. He also installed Jehoiachin's uncle, Mattaniah on the throne and changed his name to Zedikiah. That was Babylon's policy of treating their captives.
This policy worked out eventually for the good of the Jews as they captives were permitted to live together in Babylon. It allowed their Jewish culture to be preserved and eventually, made it possible for their return to their nation as a group.
Summary
God had to punish Judah, as He did to Israel, for their sins and unwillingness to repent. After His promise to Josiah was fulfilled, God let His wrath upon Judah using the Babylonians. Judah was eventually destroyed as God had decreed. However, like Israel, God gave ample opportunities (two earlier invasions before the final one that destroyed Judah). And yet, the people of Judah did not repent.
No comments:
Post a Comment