Topical Bible: Jerusalem of the Destruction of

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Jerusalem, the city of profound historical and theological significance, holds a pivotal place in biblical narratives, particularly concerning its destruction. The destruction of Jerusalem is a recurring theme in the Bible, symbolizing divine judgment and the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. This entry explores the major instances of Jerusalem's destruction as recorded in the Scriptures, focusing on the events of 586 BC and AD 70.

Destruction in 586 BC

The first major destruction of Jerusalem occurred in 586 BC at the hands of the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar. This event marked the culmination of a series of prophetic warnings delivered by prophets such as Jeremiah, who called the people of Judah to repentance. Despite these warnings, the inhabitants of Jerusalem persisted in idolatry and injustice, leading to divine judgment.

Jeremiah 39:1-2 records the siege and fall of the city: "In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to the city. And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached." The destruction was comprehensive, with the temple, the king's palace, and the city's walls being razed, as described in 2 Kings 25:9-10 : "He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the commander of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem."

The fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC resulted in the Babylonian exile, a period of profound sorrow and reflection for the Jewish people. The Book of Lamentations poignantly captures the grief and desolation experienced by the survivors.

Destruction in AD 70

The second significant destruction of Jerusalem occurred in AD 70, when the Roman legions under General Titus besieged and ultimately destroyed the city. This event fulfilled the prophetic words of Jesus Christ, who had foretold the destruction of the temple and the city as a consequence of the nation's rejection of Him as the Messiah.

In Matthew 24:1-2 , Jesus prophesied, "As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings. 'Do you see all these things?' He replied. 'Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.'" The siege of Jerusalem by the Romans was brutal, leading to widespread devastation and loss of life. The Jewish historian Josephus provides a detailed account of the siege, describing the horrors faced by the inhabitants and the complete destruction of the temple.

The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 marked a significant turning point in Jewish history, leading to the dispersion of the Jewish people and the end of the Second Temple period. It also served as a powerful reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's covenant and the Messiah.

Theological Significance

The destruction of Jerusalem serves as a profound theological lesson in the biblical narrative. It underscores the seriousness of covenant faithfulness and the reality of divine judgment. The events of 586 BC and AD 70 are seen as acts of divine discipline, intended to bring about repentance and restoration. Yet, they also point to the hope of redemption and the promise of a new covenant, as prophesied by Jeremiah: "The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah" (Jeremiah 31:31).

Throughout Scripture, Jerusalem remains a symbol of God's enduring love and faithfulness, with prophetic visions of its ultimate restoration and peace, as seen in the eschatological promises of the prophets and the New Testament.

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Jeremiah 7:32-34
Therefore, behold, the days come, said the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place.
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Jeremiah 26:18
Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus said the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.
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Jeremiah 32:29,31,32
And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, on whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal, and poured out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.
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Daniel 9:24-27
Seventy weeks are determined on your people and on your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
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Library

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... But in that day, as in the time of Jerusalem's destruction, God's people will be
delivered, "every one that shall be found written among the living." Christ ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem and the Coming of Christ. Ch. 21:5-38
... THE CLOSING MINISTRY. CHS. 19:29 TO 21:38 I. The Destruction Of Jerusalem And The
Coming Of Christ. Ch. 21:5-38. ... 2. The Destruction of Jerusalem. Ch.21:20-24. ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/i the destruction of jerusalem.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... But in that day, as in the time of Jerusalem's destruction, God's people will be
delivered, everyone that shall be found written among the living. ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 1 the destruction of.htm

Effects of the Destruction of Jerusalem on the Christian Church.
... CHAPTER VI. THE GREAT TRIBULATION. (MATT. 24:21.) Section 39. Effects of
the Destruction of Jerusalem on the Christian Church. The ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 39 effects of the.htm

Argument from the Destruction of Jerusalem and Desolation of Judea ...
... Chapter XIII."Argument from the Destruction of Jerusalem and Desolation
of Judea. Therefore, since the sons of Israel affirm that ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter xiii argument from the destruction.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... CHAPTER IX THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. [Illustration: (drop cap G) Ruins of
a Synagogue] God had given to His people a Book foretelling ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter ix the destruction of.htm

From Antioch to the Destruction of Jerusalem.
... Chapter XX. From Antioch to The Destruction of Jerusalem. Acts 13-28 and all the
rest of the New Testament except the epistles of John and Revelation. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xx from antioch to.htm

Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold.
... CXIII. Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold. ... That these preceded the destruction
of Jerusalem, there is abundant historic evidence. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxiii destruction of jerusalem foretold.htm

Of the New Jerusalem, the Spouse of the Lamb, with the Seventh ...
... PART II. SYNCHRONISM VI. Of the New Jerusalem, the Spouse of the Lamb, with the
Seventh Trumpet, or the Period from the Destruction of the Beast. ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/synchronism vi of the new.htm

The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem. AD 70
... The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem. ad 70. ... The destruction of Jerusalem
would be a worthy theme for the genius of a Christian Homer. ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 38 the jewish war.htm