2 Kings 25:8

¶ And in the fifth month, on the seventh [day] of the month, which [is] the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:

And in the fifth {H2549} month {H2320}, on the seventh {H7651} day of the month {H2320}, which is the nineteenth {H8672}{H6240}{H8141} year {H8141} of king {H4428} Nebuchadnezzar {H5019} king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}, came {H935} Nebuzaradan {H5018}, captain {H7227} of the guard {H2876}, a servant {H5650} of the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}, unto Jerusalem {H3389}:

In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was also the nineteenth year of King N'vukhadnetzar, king of Bavel, N'vuzar'adan, the commander of the guard and an officer of the king of Bavel, entered Yerushalayim.

On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.

Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem.

Commentary

2 Kings 25:8 marks a pivotal and tragic moment in the history of ancient Israel: the arrival of Nebuzaradan, the chief commander of Nebuchadnezzar's forces, in Jerusalem, signaling the imminent destruction of the city and its sacred Temple. This verse sets the stage for the devastating climax of the Babylonian conquest.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse specifies a precise date: "the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month," in "the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon." This corresponds to approximately August 14, 586 BC, and is widely recognized as the beginning of the final, brutal phase of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. The city had already been under siege for an extended period, leading to famine and desperation (2 Kings 25:3). King Zedekiah had been captured and severely punished, witnessing the execution of his sons before being blinded (2 Kings 25:7). Nebuzaradan's arrival as the personal representative of King Nebuchadnezzar meant the city was no longer merely conquered but slated for systematic destruction and deportation, fulfilling long-standing prophecies of judgment against Judah.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: This verse underscores the culmination of God's judgment upon Judah for centuries of idolatry, unfaithfulness, and rejection of His covenant. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was the ultimate consequence of their persistent disobedience, as warned by prophets like Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:9-11).
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: The precision of the date and the specific actions that follow in subsequent verses demonstrate the meticulous fulfillment of biblical prophecy. God's word, spoken through His prophets, always comes to pass.
  • The Sovereignty of God: Even pagan rulers like Nebuchadnezzar and his powerful captain, Nebuzaradan, are shown to be instruments in God's sovereign plan. Though they acted with their own intentions, they unknowingly executed God's righteous judgment.
  • The End of an Era: The events initiated by Nebuzaradan's arrival marked the end of the Davidic monarchy's rule in Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period of profound national suffering and theological reflection for the Jewish people.

Linguistic Insights

The title "captain of the guard" for Nebuzaradan translates from the Hebrew `rab tabbaḥim` (רַב טַבָּחִים). While literally meaning "chief of the slaughterers" or "chief of the cooks/butchers," in this context, it refers to the commander of the royal bodyguard or chief executioner. This title emphasizes his significant authority and the brutal nature of his mission: to carry out the king's final decrees of destruction and subjugation.

Practical Application

The account of Jerusalem's fall serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the inevitable consequences of persistent disobedience to God. It highlights that God, though merciful, is also just and righteous, and His warnings are not to be taken lightly. For believers today, it underscores the importance of faithfulness, repentance, and seeking God's will. Even in times of severe judgment, the narrative of the exile eventually leads to themes of hope, restoration, and the promise of a future covenant, reminding us that God's ultimate plan is redemptive, even through hardship.

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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 52:12 (3 votes)

    ¶ Now in the fifth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, which [was] the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, [which] served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem,

  • Jeremiah 52:16 (3 votes)

    But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left [certain] of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen.

  • 2 Kings 25:27 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth [day] of the month, [that] Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

  • Lamentations 4:12 (2 votes)

    The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

  • Jeremiah 40:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.

  • Jeremiah 40:4 (2 votes)

    And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which [were] upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land [is] before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.

  • 2 Kings 24:12 (2 votes)

    And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.