24:1–24:7 The conflict between Judah and Babylon that leads to the nation’s downfall begins during the reign of Jehoiakim (ca. 609–597 BC). Jehoiakim accepts being a vassal of Babylon, presumably to avoid the destruction of Jerusalem, but then later rebels against Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon. In response to his rebellion, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deploys troops from the surrounding nations in order to destroy Judah. However, the text directly attributes these actions to Yahweh. Yahweh uses the actions of the Babylonian Empire to issues judgment on Judah for the nation’s sins. Babylon

24:1 Nebuchadnezzar See note on Jer 21:2. This is the second scene in 2 Kings involving Babylon. In the first, Hezekiah took Babylonian envoys on a tour of the royal treasure houses, and Isaiah prophesied that they would return and carry everything off (2 Kings 20:12–21).

Date	Event
605 bc	Nebuchadnezzar defeats Jehoiakim
601 bc	Jehoiakim rebels against Babylon
597 bc	Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem
589–586 bc	Nebuchadnezzar’s final siege and capture of Jerusalem

24:2 Chaldeans The Hebrew text uses “Babylonians” and “Chaldeans” interchangeably.

according to the word of Yahweh Includes the word that Isaiah spoke to Hezekiah (20:16–18), the word of unnamed prophets concerning Manasseh’s sins (21:10–15), and the word of Huldah to Josiah (22:15–20).

24:3 on the command of Yahweh The author makes it clear that Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon are fulfilling Yahweh’s word. Earlier, the sins of Manasseh were given as the reason for Judah’s defeat and the exile (see 21:12–15 and note).

to remove them from his sight The same fate that befell the kingdom of Israel (17:18) will fall on Judah (23:27).

24:4 the blood of the innocent that he had shed Refers to the oppressing the poor. See note on 21:16.

24:5 the events of the days of the kings of See note on 1:18.

24:6 The Hebrew text of this verse can be confusing, as it mentions both yehoyaqim (Jehoiakim), king of Judah, and his son yehoyakhin (Jehoiachin), who takes his place.

slept with his ancestors See note on 8:24.

24:10–17 The conflict between Judah and Babylon reaches Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoiachin (see vv. 10–12). Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, proceeds to take captive all the people of Jerusalem (circa 597 bc), except the poor (v. 14); he then loots the temple and treasuries (compare note on v. 1).

24:12 in the eighth year of his reign Dating an event by the regnal year of a foreign ruler is unusual.

24:13 He cut up Nebuchadnezzar’s actions suggest that Judah refused to pay tribute. Earlier in Kings, Ahaz and Hezekiah had used bronze, silver, and gold from the temple to fund Judah’s tribute (16:17–18; 18:15–16).

the vessels of gold which Solomon the king of Israel had made in the temple of Including the altar, the table for the bread of the Presence, 10 lampstands, flowers, lamps, tongs, cups, snuffers, basins, incense dishes, fire pans, and door sockets (1 Kgs 7:45–50).

as Yahweh had foretold Refers to Isaiah’s prophecy in 2 Kgs 20:17.

24:14 He deported all of Jerusalem The first of two Babylonian exiles of Judah’s people (25:11 describes the second). The prophet Ezekiel is exiled with this first group (see note on Ezek 1:2).

24:17 Zedekiah Babylonian kings often changed the names of conquered people (2 Kgs 23:34). On Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, see note on Jer 21:1.

24:20 Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon Likely by allying what remained of Judah with Pharaoh Psammetichus II, who (historical records show) extended Egypt’s influence into the Levant around 592 bc. Zedekiah’s decision here is the final move that leads Babylon to turn Judah from a vassal state into a completely conquered one.