Topical Bible: Jerusalem: Prophecies Respecting: To be Made a Heap of Ruins

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Jerusalem, the city central to biblical history and prophecy, holds a significant place in the prophetic literature of the Bible. Throughout the Scriptures, various prophecies foretell the destruction and desolation of Jerusalem, often as a consequence of the people's disobedience and idolatry.

One of the earliest prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem is found in the book of Micah. Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. He declared the impending judgment upon Jerusalem due to the corruption and injustice prevalent among its leaders and inhabitants. Micah 3:12 states, "Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets" . This prophecy vividly portrays the complete devastation that would come upon the city, reducing it to ruins.

Jeremiah, another major prophet, also spoke extensively about the coming destruction of Jerusalem. His ministry spanned the final years leading up to the Babylonian exile. In Jeremiah 26:18, he echoes Micah's prophecy, saying, "Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: ‘This is what the LORD of Hosts says: Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge’" . Jeremiah's reiteration of Micah's words underscores the certainty and seriousness of the impending judgment.

The book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, provides a poignant reflection on the fulfillment of these prophecies. Written in the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., Lamentations mourns the city's desolation. Lamentations 1:1-2 captures the sorrowful state of Jerusalem: "How lonely lies the city, once so full of people! She who was great among the nations has become like a widow. The princess among the provinces has become a slave. She weeps aloud in the night, with tears upon her cheeks; there is no one to comfort her; all her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies" .

The prophecies concerning Jerusalem's destruction serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. They highlight the seriousness with which God regards sin and the lengths to which He will go to bring His people back to Himself. Despite the devastation, these prophecies also contain a thread of hope, as they often point to future restoration and redemption, a theme that runs throughout the biblical narrative.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 9:11
And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... modifications in the recension which was made in the ... in the village of Anathoth,
near Jerusalem, being descended ... given at the beginning of his prophecies (i.1 ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm