Year 2, Week 15, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 15, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Kings 24-25.

Today’s reading completes the Book of Kings as it concludes with the fall of Jerusalem. 2 Kings 24 notes the last three kings of Judah and how they each were evil; thus, giving justification for the LORD’s actions of judgment because of the evil of Manasseh: “Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the LORD, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and also for the innocent blood that he had shed. For he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD would not pardon” (2 Kings 24:3-4). 2 Kings 25 records the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, the fall of Jerusalem and the appointment of Gedaliah as the Babylonian installed governor over the region: “In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And he burned the house of the LORD and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down…broke down the walls around Jerusalem…And over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, governor” (2 Kings 25:8-10,22).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was a glimpse of hope that was recorded during the darkest days of Judah’s history: “And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived” (2 Kings 25:27-30). This portion of 2 Kings is something of an addendum-an ending that offers hope—not loud shouts of hope but a more subtle hope. But hope is hope and the end of Kings is a word of hope.

The Book of Kings ends with darkness and despair. The Kingdom of Judah collapses as Jerusalem was overrun and the Temple destroyed. The treatment that Zedekiah, the last King of Judah, received from the Babylonians was horrific: “Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and they passed sentence on him. They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains and took him to Babylon” (2 Kings 25:6-7). Then Gedaliah, the Babylonian appointed governor over the region of Judah was assassinated: "But in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down Gedaliah and put him to death along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. Then all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces arose and went to Egypt, for they were afraid of the Chaldeans” (2 Kings 25:25-26). These tragic political and cultural upheavals are the background for the description provided concerning the preservation of Jehoiachin. Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, had been a King of Judah before he was deported to Babylon, and replaced by his uncle, Zedekiah. While Jehoiachin was an evil king, whose reign was only for three months, he was preserved through his deportation. So, while Jerusalem is destroyed and chaotic anarchy is in full operation, the people of Judah are scattered and left to fend for themselves. Nevertheless, over in Babylon, the LORD is working out some details for the future of His people.

This addendum to the Book of Kings fast forwards over thirty years after the destruction of Jerusalem. Not only does the time leap forward, but the setting is in Babylon. A new king of Babylon releases Jehoiachin from his imprisonment. What is intriguing is how Jehoiachin is described. Twice in these last four verses of 2 Kings, Jehoiachin is labeled “king of Judah” (2 Kings 25:27). In addition, the Babylonian king, “spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon.” Jehoiachin was no longer recognized as a mere prisoner, but given kingly privileges (albeit a captured king): “Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table.” It is a state of captivity, but the Davidic line is intact. The Babylonians are taking good care of the Davidic line. A chastening had come to the line of David but the sure Word of the LORD remains true: “When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:14b-16). The Gospel of Matthew picks up where Kings ends as we read that as the years go by, we can trace the lineage from Jehoiachin to Jesus (see Matthew 1:12-16).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe