2 Kings 24 20

2 Kings 24:20 kjv

For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

2 Kings 24:20 nkjv

For because of the anger of the LORD this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, that He finally cast them out from His presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

2 Kings 24:20 niv

It was because of the LORD's anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence. Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

2 Kings 24:20 esv

For because of the anger of the LORD it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

2 Kings 24:20 nlt

These things happened because of the LORD's anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah, until he finally banished them from his presence and sent them into exile. The Fall of Jerusalem Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

2 Kings 24 verses

2 Kings 24 20 Meaning

This verse attributes the cataclysmic events befalling Jerusalem and Judah, specifically the Babylonian exile and the preceding turmoil, directly to the "anger of the Lord." It asserts that God's wrath, a righteous response to the nation's persistent sin and idolatry, was the ultimate cause, culminating in their forceful expulsion from the land where His presence dwelt.

2 Kings 24 20 Context

This verse is situated at the climax of Judah's monarchy, following the short reign of Jehoiachin and leading directly into Zedekiah's rule, the final king of Judah before the complete destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Historically, it refers to the ongoing invasion by Babylon, specifically the first two deportations, including the removal of Jehoiachin and prominent citizens (2 Kin 24:12-16). The wider context of 2 Kings (and the Deuteronomistic history) presents a recurring theological narrative: Israel and Judah's covenant unfaithfulness (especially idolatry) repeatedly provoked God's anger, leading to cycles of judgment. Verse 20 provides the divine explanation for the nation's catastrophic downfall, asserting that these events were not mere political misfortunes but a direct, righteous act of divine judgment against Judah's sin and rebellion against God, fulfilling earlier warnings and prophecies.

2 Kings 24 20 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This Hebrew particle introduces an explanation or justification. It functions causally, signifying "because," emphasizing that what follows is the reason for the events described. It shifts from historical recounting to theological interpretation.
• because of (מִפְּנֵי - mippəney): Literally meaning "from the face of" or "on account of," this preposition strongly emphasizes direct causation. It conveys that the events are a consequence stemming directly from the specified reason.
• the anger (קֶצֶף - qeṣep̄): This noun signifies wrath, indignation, or rage, a strong and often fierce displeasure. In biblical context, God's "anger" is not a volatile human emotion but a righteous attribute, a just and holy reaction to sin, injustice, and persistent rebellion against His covenant. It's often expressed after long patience.
• of the Lord (יהוה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating His personal involvement and divine authority. It specifies that this anger originates from the holy, sovereign God who entered into covenant relationship with Israel and Judah.
• this happened (הָיְתָה זֹּאת - hayəṯāh zōṯ): This phrase refers to the series of calamities and the unfolding judgment on Jerusalem and Judah, particularly the events of siege, famine, defeat, and deportation mentioned earlier in the chapter. It implies these were not accidental or purely human-orchestrated events, but divinely willed and actualized.
• in Jerusalem and Judah: Identifies the specific recipients and geographic scope of God's judgment. This indicates that the judgment was national, affecting the capital city, its inhabitants, and the entire kingdom, reflecting collective sin and corporate responsibility.
• until (עַד - ‘aḏ): A preposition indicating a boundary, a culmination point, or a specified purpose. Here, it denotes that the sequence of divine wrath and destructive events continued up to the moment of their expulsion.
• He had cast them out (הִשְׁלִיכוֹ - hišlîḵô): A powerful verb implying forceful ejection, expulsion, or removal, often with a sense of decisive and irreversible action. The subject "He" is clearly God, affirming His direct intervention.
• from His presence (מֵעַל פָּנָיו - mê‘al pānāyw): This signifies removal from God's favorable regard, protection, and the realm of His manifested glory or blessing. For Israel, this often means being driven out of the promised land, the place where God had established His dwelling (the Temple) and where His covenant blessings were most experienced. It carries echoes of Adam and Eve being cast out from the garden of Eden (Gen 3:24), representing a profound separation from divine favor and the loss of the blessed, privileged status they held as God's people in His land.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "For because of the anger of the Lord": This powerful causal clause directly links the nation's fate to divine action. It refutes any notion that Judah's downfall was merely political failure or bad luck, positioning God's righteous wrath as the fundamental underlying reason.
• "this happened in Jerusalem and Judah": This group establishes the scope and severity of the judgment. It wasn't isolated; it encompassed the heart of the kingdom and its entire populace. The passive voice for "happened" suggests a hidden agent, which the previous clause clarifies as the Lord.
• "until He had cast them out from His presence": This climactic phrase describes the culmination of the judgment: exile. Being "cast out from His presence" is more than just leaving the land; it represents a profound spiritual and relational severance from the God who had called them, sustained them, and promised to dwell among them. It marks the complete realization of covenant curses.

2 Kings 24 20 Bonus section

The theological interpretation provided in this verse is central to the Deuteronomistic History (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings), which continually emphasizes that national prosperity is linked to covenant obedience, while disaster stems from disobedience. This perspective served as a crucial lesson for the exilic and post-exilic communities, urging them to acknowledge their past sins and return to faithfulness. The concept of being "cast out from His presence" also has echoes throughout scripture regarding alienation from God due to sin (e.g., Cain, Adam and Eve) and is later contrasted by the New Testament understanding that through Christ, believers are drawn into God's presence (Heb 10:19-22) rather than cast out. This highlights the severity of the old covenant's consequences and the redemptive grace offered in the new.

2 Kings 24 20 Commentary

2 Kings 24:20 is a profound theological statement, offering God's perspective on Judah's catastrophic downfall. It reveals that the exile to Babylon was not simply a consequence of geopolitical shifts or military weakness, but the righteous culmination of God's patience with His covenant people. For centuries, through prophets and repeated warnings, the Lord had extended grace, yet Judah persistently chose idolatry, injustice, and disobedience. This verse asserts that divine anger, a holy attribute of God against unholy sin, ultimately exhausted His forbearance. This anger is not impulsive but a deliberate, measured response to profound covenant unfaithfulness. The "casting out from His presence" is the ultimate severing of their privileged position in the land of promise, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His justice and His covenant, even if it means judgment upon His own people. This verse functions as a sobering theological lesson: sin has consequences, and God remains sovereign over history, using even pagan empires as instruments of His righteous will.