2 Kings 25:21

And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.

And the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894} smote {H5221} them, and slew {H4191} them at Riblah {H7247} in the land {H776} of Hamath {H2574}. So Judah {H3063} was carried away {H1540} out of their land {H127}.

There in Rivlah, in the land of Hamat, the king of Bavel had them put to death. Thus Y'hudah was carried away captive out of his land.

There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death. So Judah was taken into exile, away from its own land.

And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Kings 25:21 (KJV)

This verse marks a somber and pivotal moment in the history of ancient Israel: the definitive end of the Kingdom of Judah and the complete fulfillment of prophecies concerning its exile. It describes the final, brutal actions taken by the Babylonian forces under King Nebuchadnezzar against the leaders of Judah after the fall of Jerusalem.

Context

2 Kings 25 details the final siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. After a long siege, the city walls were breached, and King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, attempted to flee but was captured. He was brought before Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, a strategic Babylonian headquarters in the land of Hamath. Before Zedekiah's eyes, his sons were executed, and then he was blinded and taken in chains to Babylon (2 Kings 25:7). The officials mentioned in verse 21 were prominent figures from Judah, captured along with Zedekiah.

Riblah, located in modern-day Syria, served as Nebuchadnezzar's military base during his campaigns against Judah and Egypt. It was from this distant location that he issued his commands regarding the fate of the conquered kingdom and its leaders.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: This verse underscores the culmination of God's judgment upon Judah for generations of idolatry, disobedience, and rejection of His prophets' warnings. The Babylonian exile was a direct consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness.
  • End of the Monarchy: The execution of Judah's leaders and the subsequent deportation symbolize the complete dismantling of the Davidic monarchy's independent rule and the formal end of the Kingdom of Judah as a sovereign nation.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This event is a stark fulfillment of numerous prophecies from earlier books, such as those found in Deuteronomy 28 concerning scattering among the nations, and warnings from prophets like Jeremiah and Isaiah about the coming Babylonian invasion and captivity.
  • God's Sovereignty: Even amidst such devastating events, the narrative implicitly highlights God's sovereign control over nations and history, using even pagan kings like Nebuchadnezzar to accomplish His divine purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong verbs: "smote them, and slew them." The Hebrew words here convey a sense of decisive, brutal execution. The phrase "carried away out of their land" emphasizes the complete displacement, marking the end of their presence in the promised land as an independent kingdom. This was not a temporary retreat but a forced, permanent removal for many.

Practical Application

The account of Judah's fall serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of persistent disobedience to God's commands. While the specific covenant dynamics of ancient Israel differ from the New Covenant, the principle remains: there are spiritual consequences for rejecting God's truth and guidance. It also teaches us about God's patience and His eventual, inevitable judgment, even when it seems delayed. Yet, even in judgment, there is often a pathway to future restoration, as seen later with the return from exile, demonstrating God's enduring faithfulness to His ultimate promises.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 23:27 (5 votes)

    And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.

  • Deuteronomy 28:64 (5 votes)

    And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, [even] wood and stone.

  • Amos 5:27 (2 votes)

    Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name [is] The God of hosts.

  • Ezekiel 24:14 (2 votes)

    I the LORD have spoken [it]: it shall come to pass, and I will do [it]; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Deuteronomy 28:36 (2 votes)

    The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.

  • Leviticus 26:33 (2 votes)

    And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

  • Leviticus 26:35 (2 votes)

    As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.