2 Kings 25 20

2 Kings 25:20 kjv

And Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:

2 Kings 25:20 nkjv

So Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, took these and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

2 Kings 25:20 niv

Nebuzaradan the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

2 Kings 25:20 esv

And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

2 Kings 25:20 nlt

Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took them all to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

2 Kings 25 verses

2 Kings 25 20 Meaning

2 Kings 25:20 describes the action taken by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the Babylonian guard, following the destruction of Jerusalem and the capture of key Judean officials. This verse specifically states that Nebuzaradan took these officials captive and brought them to the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, at his headquarters in Riblah, located in the land of Hamath. This was the final step in securing the captives destined for judgment.

2 Kings 25 20 Context

2 Kings 25:20 occurs in the final chapter of 2 Kings, which details the ultimate downfall of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Following Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar launched a prolonged siege against Jerusalem, which ended in its collapse. The preceding verses (2 Kings 25:8-12) describe the extensive destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuzaradan: the temple, the king's palace, and all important buildings were burned, the city walls were torn down, and the remaining population, except for the poorest, was deported. Verse 19 recounts the specific capture of Judean officials – including the commander of the men of war, five advisers to the king, the secretary of the commander of the army, and sixty men of the land – indicating their prominence. This verse (25:20) describes the movement of these captured officials by Nebuzaradan, leading directly to their execution by Nebuchadnezzar in Riblah (25:21), marking the complete dismantling of Judah's leadership and the fulfillment of divine judgment. Riblah served as Nebuchadnezzar's strategic military headquarters due to its location, allowing him to command operations against various nations without needing to return to Babylon.

2 Kings 25 20 Word analysis

• And Nebuzaradan (וּנְבוּזַרְאֲדָן - u-Nəḇūzaraʾăḏān): The 'and' connects this action directly to the previous capturing of officials. Nebuzaradan was the 'captain of the guard' (or 'chief of the executioners'), a high-ranking military officer responsible for security, custody of prisoners, and carrying out royal decrees. His role signifies the ultimate, forceful exercise of Babylonian authority. He directly executed Nebuchadnezzar's will on the ground.
• the captain of the guard: Identifies Nebuzaradan's specific powerful position. This role was critical in enforcing the king's judgments and ensuring the secure transport and execution of high-profile captives. His actions here reflect the direct hand of Babylonian state power.
• took them (וַיִּקַּח אֹתָם - wa-yiqqaḥ ’ōṯām): Literally "he took them." This active verb emphasizes the deliberate and forceful act of transporting the captured Judean officials. It conveys the loss of freedom and the subjugation of Judah's leaders.
• to the king of Babylon (אֶל מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל - ’el melek Bāḇel): Highlights Nebuchadnezzar's ultimate authority and the fact that these actions were directed by him. The captives were brought to the supreme ruler for final disposition. This underscores Babylon's imperial dominance over Judah.
• at Riblah (רִבְלָתָה - Riblāṯāh): Riblah was a significant military and administrative center for Nebuchadnezzar in the Levant. Its strategic location allowed the king to oversee operations in Judah, Aram, and Egypt without returning to Babylon. The mention of Riblah confirms the historical accuracy and logistical planning behind the Babylonian campaign. It was not a random location but the specific site where crucial decisions, often related to justice or execution, were made for conquered leaders.
• in the land of Hamath (בְּאֶרֶץ חֲמָת - bə-’ereṣ Ḥămāṯ): Provides the broader geographical context for Riblah. Hamath was an important city-state north of Damascus. This detail anchors the event geographically within the Fertile Crescent, indicating the wide reach of the Babylonian empire and the deep penetration of its forces into what was formerly Israelite territory.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them": This phrase encapsulates the decisive, authorized action by a specific, high-ranking Babylonian official. It shows the full might of the conquering empire being applied to the defeated leaders of Judah. This was not a random act, but a controlled military operation by a person of immense power.
• "to the king of Babylon at Riblah": This specifies the destination and the authority to whom the captives were brought. It signifies the transfer of power and ultimate judgment from the Judean leadership to Nebuchadnezzar. Riblah functioned as a final judgment seat for these captured individuals, symbolizing the complete political and judicial collapse of Judah.
• "in the land of Hamath": This reinforces the geographical scale of Babylonian control and the fact that Judah's leadership was taken far from their homeland to a foreign territory for judgment. It underscores the severity and thoroughness of the exile and the extent of the conquest.

2 Kings 25 20 Bonus section

The narrative in 2 Kings 25 emphasizes the complete and systematic dismantling of Judah's infrastructure, not just its political structure. The repeated actions of burning, tearing down, and exiling highlight the severity of God's judgment and the comprehensive nature of Babylonian conquest. The mention of Riblah throughout the exile period (e.g., in Zedekiah's capture and judgment in Jer 39 and Jer 52) shows its persistent significance as Nebuchadnezzar's strategic outpost. The precise capture and transport of specific high-ranking officials in this verse indicate Babylon's intent to eradicate any future possibility of rebellion by decapitating Judah's leadership. This event marks the end of an era for the Abrahamic covenant with regards to a monarchial Davidic lineage reigning in Jerusalem and signifies a dark period for the people of God, illustrating the severe consequences of persistent disobedience. The only people left were "some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen" (2 Kgs 25:12), showing a complete societal collapse and forced reliance on the land.

2 Kings 25 20 Commentary

2 Kings 25:20 is a succinct yet profoundly significant verse, marking a pivotal moment in the finality of Judah's collapse. It chronicles the forced transport of the kingdom's remaining civil and military elite, captured after Jerusalem's fall, to the headquarters of the conquering Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. This act was not mere deportation; it was a targeted removal of every vestige of Judean leadership and self-governance. Nebuzaradan, as Nebuchadnezzar's most trusted executive in military and security matters, played the crucial role of enforcing this royal decree. The specific location of Riblah in Hamath underscores the meticulous and systematic nature of the Babylonian campaign, highlighting Nebuchadnezzar's strategic mastery and his method of overseeing the final stages of the Judean conquest. The transfer of these leaders to the king's direct presence at his military command post sealed their fate and cemented the end of the Davidic monarchy's rule in Jerusalem. This was the final step in Judah’s descent into utter subservience, culminating in the execution described in the subsequent verse, and served as a powerful testimony to the fulfillment of prophecies concerning Israel's unfaithfulness and subsequent exile. It illustrates divine judgment working through human instruments.