2 Kings 24 14

2 Kings 24:14 kjv

And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.

2 Kings 24:14 nkjv

Also he carried into captivity all Jerusalem: all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land.

2 Kings 24:14 niv

He carried all Jerusalem into exile: all the officers and fighting men, and all the skilled workers and artisans?a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left.

2 Kings 24:14 esv

He carried away all Jerusalem and all the officials and all the mighty men of valor, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained, except the poorest people of the land.

2 Kings 24:14 nlt

King Nebuchadnezzar took all of Jerusalem captive, including all the commanders and the best of the soldiers, craftsmen, and artisans ? 10,000 in all. Only the poorest people were left in the land.

2 Kings 24 verses

2 Kings 24 14 Meaning

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took into exile to Babylon the entire populace of Jerusalem, including all the influential leaders, valiant warriors, skilled craftsmen, and smiths. Only the economically disadvantaged and common rural inhabitants were left behind in the land of Judah.

2 Kings 24 14 Context

2 Kings 24:14 details the significant first major deportation from Judah to Babylon, following Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem. This occurred during the brief three-month reign of King Jehoiachin, who surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar. The chapter describes Judah's persistent sin against the Lord, fulfilling prophetic warnings of judgment for Manasseh's transgressions. This event strategically removed all societal pillars—royal family, nobility, military leadership, and skilled laborers—from Jerusalem, leaving the city largely decapitated of its ability to rebuild or resist. It marks a critical step towards the ultimate fall of Jerusalem and the temple (recorded in the following chapter) and is a direct fulfillment of warnings given through prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah, signifying God's covenant judgment upon His rebellious people.

2 Kings 24 14 Word analysis

• He carried away (וַיֶּגֶל way·yel) – From the root gālâ (גָלָה), meaning "to uncover, expose, remove," or specifically "to go into exile." The Hiphil form here indicates a causative action: Nebuchadnezzar caused them to be exiled. It emphasizes the forced, intentional displacement.
• all Jerusalem (אֶת־כָּל־יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם ’eṯ-kāl-yə·rū·šā·la·yim) – While "all" can sometimes mean a large number, in this context, coupled with the detailed list that follows, it signifies the comprehensive removal of the functional, influential, and strategic population. It means all parts of Jerusalem's power structure, not necessarily every single inhabitant.
• all the princes (וְאֵת־כָּל־הַשָּׂרִים wə·’êṯ-kāl-haś·śā·rîm) – These were the civic and political leaders, members of the royal court, and noble families. Their removal constituted a complete decapitation of Judah's governmental authority and influence.
• all the mighty men of valor (וְכָל־גִּבּוֹרֵי הַחַיִל wə·ḵāl-gib·bō·rê ha·ḥa·yil) – Referring to the strong, capable men, military commanders, and experienced warriors. This weakened Judah's defense and removed potential sources of future rebellion. It denotes a depletion of military capacity and physical strength.
• all the craftsmen and smiths (וְכָל־הֶחָרָשׁ וְהַמַּסְגֵּר wə·ḵāl-he·ḥā·rāš wə·ham·mas·gêr) – The Hebrew ḥārāš (חָרָשׁ) denotes a craftsman in general (carpenter, stonemason, engraver) and masgēr (מַסְגֵּר) refers specifically to a metalworker or smith. These individuals were vital for manufacturing, infrastructure development, weapon production, and artistic works. Their removal crippled Jerusalem's economic and technological self-sufficiency, ensuring it could not rebuild defenses or industry. This was a deliberate strategy by Nebuchadnezzar to neutralize Judah's capacity for resistance and exploit their skills for Babylon.
• none remained (לֹא־נִשְׁאַר lō’-niš·’ar) – A stark statement emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the deportation of the listed groups. It underlines the extent of the removal.
• except the poorest people of the land (זוּלַת דַּלַּת עַם־הָאָרֶץ zū·laṯ dal·laṯ ‘am-hā·’ā·reṣ) – The phrase dal·laṯ ‘am-hā·’ā·reṣ means "the poor of the people of the land." Dal·laṯ (דַּלַּת) signifies those who are weak, meager, or lowly. ‘am-hā·’ā·reṣ (עַם הָאָרֶץ) refers to the common, generally uneducated, agricultural populace who had little political influence or valuable skills from a strategic standpoint. They were left to manage the land, posing minimal threat.

Words-group analysis:

• "all Jerusalem... all the princes... all the mighty men of valor... all the craftsmen and smiths": This detailed enumeration highlights the precise and calculated strategy of Nebuchadnezzar. It was not a random deportation but a surgical strike against the societal infrastructure of Judah, aiming to remove all potential threats and assets. This effectively "decapitated" the kingdom, ensuring its inability to revolt or recover. The repetition of "all" underscores the thoroughness of the removal.
• "none remained except the poorest people of the land": This stark contrast signifies the profound shift in the demographic and socio-economic landscape of Judah. Those left behind were largely those who were unable to cause trouble or effectively manage the nation. It reflects a conquered and depleted land, left with merely its bare subsistence farmers. The existence of this "remnant" also sets the stage for future biblical narratives and the theological concept of a chosen few remaining amidst judgment.

2 Kings 24 14 Bonus section

The skilled craftsmen and smiths carried away in this exile (e.g., Ezekiel 1:1, a priest and prophet who was among these exiles) became instrumental in Babylon, not only contributing to the empire's projects but also forming the core of the exiled community where prophetic activity continued. This initial deportation involved some 10,000 people according to 2 Kings 24:16, including the notable prophet Ezekiel, who ministered directly to this exiled community, emphasizing God's presence and plans even in a foreign land. The term "people of the land" (עם הארץ am ha'aretz) originally referred to prominent citizens or landholders in earlier texts but evolved here to refer to the ordinary, rural, lower-class citizens, distinguishing them from the urban elite. This particular exile also set the precedent for a longer, more destructive siege and the final fall of Jerusalem and its Temple under Zedekiah, as Judah's political elite had already been largely removed, crippling any effective resistance.

2 Kings 24 14 Commentary

2 Kings 24:14 records a pivotal moment in Judah's history, demonstrating God's unwavering justice executed through Nebuchadnezzar. The extensive deportation was not mere brutality but a strategic move by the Babylonians to neutralize potential threats and to co-opt Judah's valuable human resources. By removing the king, nobility, military strength, and crucial skilled laborers, Babylon ensured Judah's inability to organize any significant future rebellion and simultaneously bolstered their own empire with fresh talent.

From a divine perspective, this act was a fulfillment of numerous prophetic warnings. The nation's persistent idolatry and refusal to heed God's prophets had led to this severe judgment, designed to bring them to repentance and restore them to covenant faithfulness, as later seen in the exilic and post-exilic books. Yet, God's grace remained evident in leaving a "poorest" remnant, ensuring the land was not entirely desolate and maintaining the continuation of a covenant people, however reduced. This event underscores God's sovereignty over nations and history, using even pagan empires to achieve His righteous purposes and uphold His covenant with Israel.