Nebuchadnezzar Conquers Judah

By Mary Vee
II Kings 24

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet. There is nothing left to be done other than to continue to pray for God's mercy on us.

The king, Jehoiakim, chose to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon.

God sent so many prophets, including me, to warn Jehoiakim about the trouble that would come if he did not change from his evil ways and lead the people to worship HIm. But would he listen? No. Then he had this crazy idea to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the great city Babylon, by not paying the dues. Of all earthly kings, Nebuchadnezzar. The man had a huge army. Two wrong choices by Jehoiakim.

God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to attack Judah and take away all our smart young men, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego were only a few of the boys taken from the royal and nobel houses. Many more will be taken as slaves soon.

God allowed the Babylonians, the Armeans, the Moabites,and Ammonite raiders to attack Judeah. They came and destroyed our land, our buildings, and took our people to serve as slaves. 

I am convinced this happened by God's command in order to punish our nation for all the sins we have done, especially worshipping idols and the killing of innocent blood. King Manasseh started the bad treatment of the people, but several other kings have led Judah to worship idols instead of the God of Heaven, too. O, if only they had listened to God.

Because of what Jehoikim has done, the people will not cry when he dies. God warned him and Jehoikim said he would not listen. From a young man he chose not to obey God. And now all these words from God came true.

His son, Jehoiachin was crowned king at age eighteen, but only ruled for three months because he, too, did evil by disobeying God, just like his father. 

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, himself marched up to the palace where Jehoiachin hid with his officers. Jehoiachin and all those with him surrendered and were taken prisoners to Babylon.

O, if only the kings had listened to God and led the people to worship the one and only God who would have protected them for all of this trouble.

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1. What did the king of Judah do wrong?
2. Who did God send to warn him of what would happen if he kept doing wrong?
3. Who came to the palace to take the king of Judah as prisoner?
4. What could and should the kings of Judah have done to prevent all of this?