2 Kings 24:11
And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it.
And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II was one of the most powerful monarchs of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, reigning from 605 to 562 BC. His reign is well-documented in both biblical and extra-biblical sources. He is known for his military conquests, including the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent Babylonian Exile of the Jewish people. This event fulfilled the prophecies of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:9) and Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:6), who warned of Babylon's rise as an instrument of God's judgment against Judah for their idolatry and disobedience.

came to the city
The city referred to here is Jerusalem, the capital of the Kingdom of Judah. Jerusalem held significant religious and cultural importance as the location of the Temple, the center of Jewish worship. The arrival of Nebuchadnezzar marked a pivotal moment in Jewish history, as it led to the eventual fall of the city and the destruction of the Temple in 586 BC. This event is a key moment in the biblical narrative, symbolizing the consequences of turning away from God.

while his servants were besieging it
The siege of Jerusalem by Babylonian forces was a prolonged military campaign that ultimately led to the city's fall. The term "servants" refers to Nebuchadnezzar's military commanders and troops who carried out the siege. This siege is described in detail in 2 Kings 25 and 2 Chronicles 36, highlighting the dire conditions within the city, including famine and despair. The siege fulfilled the warnings given by prophets like Ezekiel (Ezekiel 24:2) and was a direct result of Judah's persistent sin and rebellion against God. The siege and subsequent exile served as a period of purification and reflection for the Jewish people, setting the stage for their eventual return and restoration, as prophesied in books like Isaiah and Daniel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. King Nebuchadnezzar
The powerful king of Babylon, known for his military conquests and the expansion of the Babylonian Empire. He plays a significant role in the history of Israel and Judah, particularly in the events leading to the Babylonian exile.

2. Babylon
The capital city of the Babylonian Empire, a dominant power in the ancient Near East. It symbolizes both the height of human achievement and the epitome of opposition to God's people.

3. The City (Jerusalem)
The capital of Judah, a central place of worship and the location of the Temple. Its siege and eventual fall mark a pivotal moment in Jewish history, leading to the Babylonian exile.

4. The Siege
A military tactic used by Nebuchadnezzar's forces to cut off Jerusalem from resources, leading to its eventual surrender. This event fulfills the prophecies of judgment against Judah for their disobedience to God.

5. Servants of Nebuchadnezzar
The military leaders and officials who carried out the siege under Nebuchadnezzar's command, demonstrating the king's authority and the might of Babylon.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Judgment
The siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar is a reminder of God's control over nations and history. Despite the apparent chaos, God's purposes are being fulfilled.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Judah's fall serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. It calls believers to examine their own lives for areas of disobedience.

Hope in Exile
Even in judgment, God provides hope. The exile sets the stage for eventual restoration and the coming of the Messiah, encouraging believers to trust in God's redemptive plan.

The Role of Prophecy
The fulfillment of prophetic warnings in this event underscores the reliability of God's Word. Believers are encouraged to study and heed biblical prophecy.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the account of Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem illustrate God's sovereignty over nations and history?

2. In what ways can the fall of Jerusalem serve as a warning for us today regarding the consequences of disobedience to God?

3. How does the Babylonian exile set the stage for the coming of the Messiah, and what does this teach us about God's redemptive plan?

4. What role does prophecy play in the events of 2 Kings 24:11, and how can we apply the lessons of fulfilled prophecy to our understanding of Scripture?

5. How can we find hope and assurance in God's promises, even when facing difficult circumstances similar to the exile experienced by Judah?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 25:9
This verse prophesies the coming of Nebuchadnezzar as God's instrument of judgment against Judah, highlighting the fulfillment of God's warnings through His prophets.

Daniel 1:1-2
These verses describe the beginning of the Babylonian captivity, where Daniel and other young men from Judah are taken to Babylon, showing the personal impact of the siege.

2 Chronicles 36:17-20
This passage provides a parallel account of the fall of Jerusalem, emphasizing the consequences of Judah's persistent disobedience to God.
WickednessDavid Thomas, D. D.2 Kings 24:1-16
The First General CaptivityJ. Orr 2 Kings 24:10-20
People
Elnathan, Hamutal, Jehoiachin, Jehoiakim, Jeremiah, Manasseh, Mattaniah, Moabites, Nebuchadnezzar, Nehushta, Solomon, Syrians, Zedekiah
Places
Babylon, Brook of Egypt, Egypt, Euphrates River, Jerusalem, Libnah
Topics
Babylon, Besiege, Besieged, Besieging, Laying, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnez'zar, Officers, Servants, Shutting, Siege, Town
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 24:10-14

     1305   God, activity of

2 Kings 24:10-16

     1429   prophecy, OT fulfilment
     5214   attack

2 Kings 24:10-17

     4215   Babylon
     5272   craftsmen

2 Kings 24:10-20

     6026   sin, judgment on

Library
The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration:
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9

Extracts No. vi.
[Here twelve pages or more of the objector's manuscript are omitted, as the nature of his arguments will pretty fully appear in the reply; and as he has been obliged to rescind the ground he had taken, it is not expedient to publish his remarks. That the reader may see a little of the manner, however, in which he has given up his part of the argument, the following is inserted.] "Speaking however on the evidences of revelation, you have stated some things worthy of serious consideration; which if
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

Whether Vengeance Should be Taken on those who have Sinned Involuntarily?
Objection 1: It seems that vengeance should be taken on those who have sinned involuntarily. For the will of one man does not follow from the will of another. Yet one man is punished for another, according to Ex. 20:5, "I am . . . God . . . jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation." Thus for the sin of Cham, his son Chanaan was curse (Gn. 9:25) and for the sin of Giezi, his descendants were struck with leprosy (4 Kings 5). Again the blood
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
Whatever attainment is made by any as distinguished from the wicked, or whatever gracious benefit is enjoyed, is a spiritual privilege. Adoption into the family of God is of this character. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (margin, or, the right; or, privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."[617] And every co-ordinate benefit is essentially so likewise. The evidence besides, that Covenanting
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Greater Prophets.
1. We have already seen (Chap. 15, Nos. 11 and 12) that from Moses to Samuel the appearances of prophets were infrequent; that with Samuel and the prophetical school established by him there began a new era, in which the prophets were recognized as a distinct order of men in the Theocracy; and that the age of written prophecy did not begin till about the reign of Uzziah, some three centuries after Samuel. The Jewish division of the latter prophets--prophets in the more restricted sense of the
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.),
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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