Fall of Jerusalem and the Exile of Judah


Jeremiah 39
God’s chosen people were continuously going away from Him. As they continued in sin inspite of all the warnings, God decided to punish them.

In the 10th month, 9th year of the reign of Zedekiah,king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to the city. Jer.39:1( Jan.15,588 BC). 9th day, 4th month of 11th year of Zedekiah, the city wall was broken through. Jer.39:2.(July 18, 586 BC) The siege lasted just over 2.5 years.

A. Punishment on King and people. Jer.39:4-7.

a. King Zedekiah, king of Judah and all his soldiers escaped from the city in the night and run towards Arabah. Jer.39:4.
b. Babylonian army captured Zedekiah and brought him to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jer.39:5.
c. “The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah.” Jer.39:6.
d. “Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.” Jer.39:7.
e… “carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city,..” Jer.39:9.

B.Destruction of the city. Jer.39:8.

Babylonians
a. Set fire to the royal palace.
b. Set fire to the houses of the people.
c. Broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

ISRAEL was God’s chosen people. God heard their cry in Egypt, delivered them from their bondage and brought them to Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. God performed lots of miracles to show His love and power.

At their request, God gave them Saul as king in 1046 BC, followed by David and Solomon. During the reign of Rehoboam in 930 BC, the country split into 2 kingdoms as Israel( 10 tribes) in the north and Judah( tribes of Judah and Benjamin) in the south. Most of the kings in Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord. That Kingdom came to an end in 722 BC when Assyrians conquered them and took them into exile.

GOD sent His prophets again and again to correct them and to lead them to repentance. But Judah also kept on disobeying. Finally God punished them also. So in 586 BC, Jerusalem was destroyed and Judah taken into exile by the Babylonians.

What is the spiritual condition of the Christians today?
How many are studying God’s Word, understanding it and obeying it?

Nominalism, materialism, spiritual idolatry, world flowing into the church…

As God’s people, how is our life today? Let us repent and return to GOD.

Rev.C.V.Abraham.