Captivity Of A Nation Series

In our previous study, we ended with Jehoiakim being King of Judah and Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. 2 Kings 24:1. 24 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.

Secular history calls this king Nebuchadnezzar II, son of Nabopolassar. At this time, God is placing Judah into captivity from Babylon. Jeremiah 25:1-12 tells of Jeramiah’s prophecies unto Judah. Vs. 3 tells he had prophesied for 23 years. He began in the 13th year of King Josiah. It is now the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim; first year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, (vs. 1). Their captivity will last 70 years. Jer. 25:8-11. 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words, 9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. 10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. 11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

God will remove from Judah: 1. The voice or mirth–gaiety, laughter 2. Voice of gladness–feeling of joy and pleasure 3. Voice of bridegroom/bride–happiness in marriage or giving in marriage, very limited 4. Sound of the millstones–provisions for yourself will be removed 5. The light of the candle–removes activity in the land of Judah. God used Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Syria and Palestine as was written in vs. 9. He reigned between 608-562 BC–dates may vary up to three years due to calendar changes and hard to accurately calculate years.

God said the land will become desolate of Judah's presence for 70 years.

In Jer. 27, God orders all men to serve Nebuchadnezzar until God is through with him. Jeremiah 27:1-2a, 5-8. 27 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Thus saith the Lord …5 I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. 6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. 7 And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. 8 And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the Lord, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

God’s power and will was upon all the earth to do as He wanted. Captivity as punishment for Judah, His children, was His will. Therefore, no one or thing could prevent the will of God, even upon His own children.

Judah had witnessed Israel’s captivity by Assyria and did not repent. Thus, God had warned Judah of His punishment against them; yet they did not repent, either. So, captivity began.

The book of Daniel begins here with Jehoiakim being taken under Babylonian rule along with Judah.

Daniel 1:1-2. 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

Once the captivity began, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon continued to remove from Jerusalem articles from the Temple and more captives of the Hebrew nation. Jehoiachin had been placed on the throne of Judah.

Jehoiachin, son of Jehoakim, was eighteen years old when he began to reign and reigned three months. 2 Kings 24:8-11. 8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. 9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done. 2 Chron. 36:9. 9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. (reigned three months ten days)