2 Kings 25:2 kjv
And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
2 Kings 25:2 nkjv
So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
2 Kings 25:2 niv
The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
2 Kings 25:2 esv
So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
2 Kings 25:2 nlt
Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign.
2 Kings 25 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Ki 25:1 | Now in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar... | Beginning of Jerusalem's final siege. |
| Jer 52:4 | For it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that... | Parallel account of the siege's start. |
| 2 Ki 24:20 | For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah... that Zedekiah rebelled against... | Zedekiah's rebellion leads to siege. |
| Jer 39:1 | In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon... | Jeremiah confirms siege commencement. |
| Eze 24:1-2 | In the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month... the king of Babylon set himself against... | Ezekiel's prophecy matching siege date. |
| 2 Ki 25:3 | And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city... | Famine intensifies during prolonged siege. |
| Jer 52:5 | So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. | Jeremiah's parallel siege duration. |
| Jer 52:6 | And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city... | Culmination of siege and famine. |
| Lam 2:20 | Behold, O Lord, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit...? | Lamentation on siege's horror and famine. |
| Lam 4:10 | The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction... | Extreme famine during siege. |
| Deut 28:52 | And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down... | Prophecy of siege as covenant curse. |
| Isa 1:7-8 | Your country is desolate... The daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard... | Prophecy of Jerusalem's desolation. |
| Isa 29:3-4 | And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee... | Prophetic judgment on Jerusalem. |
| Zech 8:14-15 | For thus saith the Lord... As I thought to punish you... So again have I thought in these days to do good... | Fulfillment of divine judgment. |
| Neh 9:30 | Yet many years didst thou forbear them... therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people... | Prolonged disobedience leads to judgment. |
| 2 Chr 36:15-16 | But they mocked the messengers of God... until the wrath of the Lord arose... till there was no remedy. | Rejection of prophets leads to wrath. |
| Matt 24:2 | And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? ...There shall not be left here one stone upon another... | Prophecy of Jerusalem's future destruction. |
| Lk 19:43-44 | For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee... | Jesus laments, prophesies city's siege. |
| Heb 12:29 | For our God is a consuming fire. | God's righteous consuming judgment. |
| Rev 11:2 | ...and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. | Historical pattern of holy city trampled. |
| Lam 5:1 | Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. | Lamentation for the catastrophe. |
| 2 Ki 25:4 | Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night... | Immediate aftermath of the siege. |
2 Kings 25 verses
2 Kings 25 2 Meaning
The verse states that the siege of Jerusalem continued until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign. This establishes the duration of the prolonged blockade initiated by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. It indicates a period of sustained suffering, isolation, and desperation for the inhabitants of Jerusalem as they were cut off from external aid and supplies, highlighting the severity and relentless nature of God's judgment against the unfaithful kingdom of Judah.
2 Kings 25 2 Context
2 Kings chapter 25 vividly narrates the final, tragic period of the Kingdom of Judah. Following Zedekiah's rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar (2 Ki 24:20), the Babylonian king initiated the decisive siege of Jerusalem, as described in 2 Kings 25:1. Verse 2 specifies the prolonged duration of this siege, noting it lasted until King Zedekiah's eleventh regnal year. This period, roughly two and a half years, indicates the depth of Jerusalem's resistance, but also the relentless resolve of the Babylonians and the terrible famine that afflicted the inhabitants, leading to starvation (2 Ki 25:3) before the city's walls were finally breached (2 Ki 25:4). The historical backdrop is decades of Judah's unfaithfulness to its covenant with God, marked by idolatry, injustice, and persistent rejection of prophetic warnings from figures like Jeremiah and Ezekiel. This long siege and the city's eventual destruction serve as a profound testament to God's righteous judgment against sin, fulfilling His covenant curses. The fall of Jerusalem marks the end of the Davidic monarchy in Judah and the commencement of the Babylonian exile, a significant and sorrowful turning point in Israelite history.
2 Kings 25 2 Word analysis
- And the city: Refers to Jerusalem, specifically "the city" (הָעִיר, ha'ir), denoting its central importance and identity. Even as the "city of God," its holiness did not exempt it from judgment when the people turned from the Lord.
- was besieged: The Hebrew word (וַתִּצַר, vattsiẓar or וַתִּקָּלַע vattikkaqa') emphasizes the oppressive encirclement, literally "bound in" or "constrained." This implies a complete cutting off of all resources and an inescapable situation, fulfilling ancient prophecies of cities under divine judgment being entrapped.
- unto: The Hebrew particle (עַד, 'ad) means "up to" or "until." It marks the termination point of the siege's duration, emphasizing its sustained length and relentless nature before the city's fall.
- the eleventh year: A precise chronological marker, indicating the siege's significant length, approximately two and a half years from its beginning. This extended period highlights both the incredible resilience of the besieged and the absolute determination of the Babylonians to break the city, reflecting the divine purpose behind the relentless judgment.
- of king Zedekiah: Zedekiah (צִדְקִיָּהוּ, Tzidqiyahu, meaning "My righteousness is Yahweh") was the last reigning king of Judah. His name contrasted sharply with his actions, as his rebellion against Babylon and his refusal to heed God's prophets led to the ultimate downfall of Jerusalem and the end of the Davidic monarchy in Judah. His leadership during this period encapsulates the nation's spiritual failure.
Words-group analysis:
- "And the city was besieged": This phrase immediately continues the action introduced in the preceding verse, clearly identifying Jerusalem as the target and object of this military action. It paints a picture of extreme duress, highlighting the complete military subjugation the Babylonians imposed.
- "unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah": This specifies the full timeline of the siege. It ties the city's prolonged suffering and eventual fall directly to the reign and failed leadership of Zedekiah. The duration itself underscores the relentless divine judgment working through Nebuchadnezzar, ensuring a comprehensive and unavoidable end to Judah's independence.
2 Kings 25 2 Bonus section
- Theological Irony of Zedekiah's Name: King Zedekiah's name, "My righteousness is Yahweh," stands in stark contrast to his reign of unrighteousness and the final destruction brought upon Judah during his rule. His name prophetically pointed to God's standard, which Zedekiah himself failed to uphold, leading to God's judgment.
- Patience and Severity: The prolonged nature of the siege (over two years) can be seen as a final, dreadful extension of God's longsuffering, a period in which Jerusalem still had time to repent, had Zedekiah and the people heeded Jeremiah's consistent calls. Simultaneously, its length speaks to the ultimate severity and determined nature of divine judgment once that patience had run out, signifying an absolute end.
- Echo of Covenant Curses: The siege's effectiveness and its resulting famine directly fulfill the curses outlined in the Deuteronomic covenant (e.g., Deut 28:52-57), which forewarned of such destruction for disobedience. The historical event therefore stands as a tangible confirmation of the conditional nature of God's covenant with His people.
2 Kings 25 2 Commentary
2 Kings 25:2 concisely describes the long and agonizing siege of Jerusalem, which persisted for roughly two and a half years until King Zedekiah's eleventh regnal year. This prolonged blockade, executed by Nebuchadnezzar, signifies a period of immense suffering for the inhabitants, marked by extreme deprivation and isolation. The verse's brevity belies the grim reality of daily struggle and starvation that would soon culminate in the city's fall and destruction. It underscores that God's judgment against Judah's deep-seated rebellion and idolatry was thorough and relentless, leaving no escape or avenue for a return to past glory. The precise duration highlights the inevitability of the prophecy's fulfillment despite human resistance.