Jeremiah 21, 24, 29, 34, 37-39 (The Fall of Jerusalem)

The Weeping Prophet
Part 9: The Fall of Jerusalem!

King Zedekiah (The Early Years)
Like father, like son. King Jehoiakim’s crown was given to his wicked son Jehoiachin. But just a few months into his reign, Jehoiachin was taken into exile by the Babylonians and replaced by his Uncle Zedekiah.

628 Josiah begins to reform Judah
627 Jeremiah becomes a prophet
609 Jehoiakim becomes King of Judah
605 Babylon begins to exile certain Jews
597 Jehoiachin becomes King, exiled
597 Zedekiah appointed King of Judah
586 The Fall of Jerusalem

The Book of Jeremiah contains many prophecies delivered during Zedekiah’s reign from 597-586 (the year in which Jerusalem was destroyed). Below we will examine these sections:

Babylon or Bust
As previously noted, the choice before the people of Judah was Babylon or bust. Anyone who submitted to Babylon would live, anyone who resisted would die. The exiles were ‘good figs’ and the freedom fighters were ‘bad figs’ (24). Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiles telling them to get comfortable in Babylon, for they would be there 70 years. Jeremiah was labeled a traitor (38:4) and a deserter (37:13) by his enemies and thrown into dungeons (37:16) and, later, a muddy cistern (38:6).

The Fall of Jerusalem
When the seige began, King Zedekiah wanted Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord as to whether Jerusalem would fall. But there was no need to inquire! God had made Himself clear through Jeremiah in the past. The only way to survive was to surrender (21:9). The city was not going to be rescued, for they did not administer justice (21:12) and had become prideful (21:13).

As city after city in Judah fell (34:7), Zedekiah decided to declare freedom for Hebrew slaves in Judah (34:8). This was probably intended to appease God, but also had the militaristic advantage of providing more soldiers. Around the same time, an alliance was made with Egypt that temporarily diverted the attention of Babylon’s armies (37:5). But once they felt secure, the people took back the slaves (34:11). Because their repentance wasn’t lasting, God was going to call the Babylonians back to Jerusalem (34:22, 37:8)

Finally, in the11th year of Zedekiah’s reign, Jerusalem’s walls were broken through (39:2). Zedekiah and his officers fled, but the Babylonians pursued and overtook them. Zedekiah’s sons were executed before his eyes, and then his eyes were put out and he was shackled (39:6-7) and taken to Babylon. Only the poor (39:10), the true prophets (39:12-14), and the faithful (39:17-18) were spared.