Men's Ministry
Please Read II Kings 24:8-16
10. As we read the Old Testament, we should constantly look for parallels to other events in both the Old and New Testament, and look for spiritual types or illustrations. There were three times that Judahites were exiled to Babylon: 605 BC (Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah), 601 BC (Ezekiel), and 586 BC (the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple). They were released from exile 70 years later. The 601 BC exile is the one in this chapter. How is this physical exile an illustration of the spiritual side of things?
Please read II Kings 24:17-20
11. Nebuchadnezzar made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king and changed his name to Zedekiah. Review: Why did he change his name?
12. Judgement began falling on Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah. He reigned for three months. Then we get Jehoiakim, who reigned for eleven years. Following him was Jehoiachin (three months) and Zedekiah (eleven years). That makes 22½ years from the end of good king Josiah's reign to the end of Zedekiah’s reign (Zedekiah was the last king). What does this tell you about God’s justice? What does this tell you about God’s mercy?
13. Compare the wicked kings Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin with Jesus. Use Isaiah 9:6-7 and John 10:10.
12. Judgement began falling on Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah. He reigned for three months. Then we get Jehoiakim, who reigned for eleven years. Following him was Jehoiachin (three months) and Zedekiah (eleven years). That makes 22½ years from the end of good king Josiah's reign to the end of Zedekiah’s reign (Zedekiah was the last king). What does this tell you about God’s justice? What does this tell you about God’s mercy?
13. Compare the wicked kings Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin with Jesus. Use Isaiah 9:6-7 and John 10:10.
Please read II Kings 25:1-7
1. When the Bible was written, there were no chapters and verses. One chapter flowed into the next chapter without headings (as we see them). Keeping that in mind, who is “his” in verse one? You may want to refer back to the previous chapter or consult a different version of the Bible. (Some versions insert the name of the person, for example, in the NIV.)
2. The end of Verse 1 says that the Babylonians built siege works all around the city. What was the purpose of the siege works and what was the intended outcome? How long was the city besieged?
3. In verse 4, the wall of the city was breached and we’re told that all the "men of war" ran away. Why would they do this? Why didn't they stay and fight?
4. After fleeing, Zedekiah got as far as the plains of Jericho. (This is where the Israelites entered the Promised Land after wandering in the desert for 40 years.) Having gone this far (about 20 miles), he may have thought he was safe. However, the Babylonians caught up to him, brought him to Nebuchadnezzar, and the sentence wasn't pretty: they killed his sons in front of him, gouged out his eyes, and then took him to Babylon. What do you think was behind this horrifying deed?
5. All of Zedekiah's sons were killed in front of him. Since Zedekiah was a descendant of David and a king, how does this affect God's promise that a descendant of David will sit on his throne forever (the Messiah)? You may want to cross reference Matthew 1:11 and 12. Who was Jeconiah in those verses?
3. In verse 4, the wall of the city was breached and we’re told that all the "men of war" ran away. Why would they do this? Why didn't they stay and fight?
4. After fleeing, Zedekiah got as far as the plains of Jericho. (This is where the Israelites entered the Promised Land after wandering in the desert for 40 years.) Having gone this far (about 20 miles), he may have thought he was safe. However, the Babylonians caught up to him, brought him to Nebuchadnezzar, and the sentence wasn't pretty: they killed his sons in front of him, gouged out his eyes, and then took him to Babylon. What do you think was behind this horrifying deed?
5. All of Zedekiah's sons were killed in front of him. Since Zedekiah was a descendant of David and a king, how does this affect God's promise that a descendant of David will sit on his throne forever (the Messiah)? You may want to cross reference Matthew 1:11 and 12. Who was Jeconiah in those verses?
Please read II Kings 25:8-12
6. We’re told that the Babylonians burned the Temple (and most of the other buildings). If the Temple was made of stone, how could they burn it? You may want to review I Kings 5.
7. The Babylonians also broke down the walls of Jerusalem according to verse 10. Why did they do that?
8. Some of the poorest people were left behind to take care of agricultural responsibilities. Why do you think they did that? Since all the houses were burned down, where would they live?
8. Some of the poorest people were left behind to take care of agricultural responsibilities. Why do you think they did that? Since all the houses were burned down, where would they live?
Please read II Kings 25:13-17
9. Most of the articles the Babylonians carried away were made of bronze. In fact, there was so much bronze that it couldn't be weighed (see verse 16). Why is so little mention made of gold and silver?
Please read II Kings 25:18-21
10. In previous campaigns, Nebuchadnezzar took artisans and craftsman back to Babylon because they would be useful there. In these verses some other important men are mentioned, two of them by name. Verse 21 tells us that all of them were executed. Why do you think Nebuchadnezzar had no need of them?
Please read II Kings 25:22-26
11. There were some important men who were left behind. One was Gedaliah. Nebuchadnezzar made him governor of the land. These verses do not tell us why he was chosen but Jeremiah tells us that he was a good and godly man. (See Jeremiah 26:24 and 39:14.) Josephus tells us that Gedaliah had the reputation of being gentle and generous. Why would Nebuchadnezzar pick this kind of man? How can we reflect the kind of man Gedaliah was?
12. The captains and their men in verse 23 may be the men that deserted the city with Zedekiah. They separated and, since the Babylonians were interested in the king, these men may have survived and slowly worked they way back to Jerusalem. Gedaliah advised them to live in the land and serve the king of Babylon. Where might he have obtained this advice? We've discussed this before, but check Jeremiah 21:9; 27:12, 17; 38:2, 17.
13. Gedaliah told the people to serve the king of Babylon. How difficult do you think this was for the people? If we had Chinese soldiers on our streets, how difficult would this advice be?
14. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah may have been a hot-head because he got a group of ten men and killed Gedaliah, the Jews, and the Babylonians who were at Mizpah. Why would he do this?
15. Everyone went to Egypt after Gedaliah’s assassination. (They apparently took Jeremiah with them, though he was not willing to go.) Why did they leave Judah?
13. Gedaliah told the people to serve the king of Babylon. How difficult do you think this was for the people? If we had Chinese soldiers on our streets, how difficult would this advice be?
14. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah may have been a hot-head because he got a group of ten men and killed Gedaliah, the Jews, and the Babylonians who were at Mizpah. Why would he do this?
15. Everyone went to Egypt after Gedaliah’s assassination. (They apparently took Jeremiah with them, though he was not willing to go.) Why did they leave Judah?
Please read II Kings 25:27-30
16. Verse 26 occurred in 586BC. Thirty-seven years later, verse 27 takes place (549 BC). This is an interesting ending to the book of II Kings. Why do you think it’s here? What does it tells us about God?17. Jeremiah pronounced a curse on Jehoiachin in Jeremiah 22:30. “This is what the Lord says: ‘Record this man as if childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah.” Thus, the line of kings from David’s family ended with Jehoiachin. This is significant. How could the Messiah come from David’s line if it ends with Jehoiachin? Cross reference Matthew 1:11-12, 16 and Luke 3:23-31.