Day 31

The groups formed to destroy Judah as God said he would allow and was in no way a coincidence. Nebuchadnezzer controlled all the land from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River, which had been formally controlled by the Egyptian king. Jehoichin became the next heir to the throne of Judah. He only ruled 3 months because he was imprisoned and was evil in God's eyes. The Babylonian king lay seige on Jerusalem and until the 8th year of reigning he was taken as prisoner along w/ his mom, officers, advisers, and government leaders and exiled to Babylon. The Temple of God was raided once again. Ten thousand leaders, soldiers, artisans, and craftsmen were sent into exile by Nebuchadnezzer. King Jehiachin's uncle, Mattaniah, was Nebuchadnezzer's puppet. His name was changed to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was made king of Judah when he was 21 yrs old and ruled 11 yrs. He acted like his father did. In the 10th month of Zedekiah's 9th year of reigning, Nebuchadnezzer set out to Jerusalem w/ a full army. Until Zedekiah's 11th year, the Babylonian king lay seige over the city. In the 11th year, a famine hit so hard no one had food. Zedekiah's army left one night and slipped through the Babylonian forces surrounding the city. They set out for Jordan but the Babylonians caught up with them in the Plains of Jericho. Zedekiah's army fled but he was taken as prisoner and taken to Nebuchadnezzer. Zedekiah's sons were killed in front of him and they they blinded him.

In the 5 mth of the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzer's reign of terror, the kings chief, Nebuzaradan, arrived in Jerusalem. he burnt the Temple of God to the ground along w/ the palace, and the rest of the city. Those who were left in the city were exiled. Only a handful of poor farmers were left behind to work in the vineyard and damaged fields. All the precious metal was scrapped from the Temple and taken to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzer made Gedaliah governor over the people left behind in Judah. Ishmael, Johanan, Kareah, and Jaazaniah were his followers. Gedaliah assured them everything would be ok and to respect Nebuchadnezzer. A little while later, Ishmael and 10 men killed Gedaliah, traitor Jews, and all Babylonian officers in Mizpah. Because they were afraid what their fate would be once the Babylonians found out, they all fled to Egypt.

In Jehoichin's 27th year of exile, Evil-Merodach (also called Amel-Marduk), who was Nebuchadnezzer's son and successor, freed him. Jehoichin received preferential treatment and ate at the king's table for the rest of his life.