2 Kings 25:1-30
25:1-3 Nebuchadnezzar encamps around Jerusalem and starves the city.
25:4-7 In an escape attempt, Zedekiah and his family find that they are surrounded by enemies. They are captured and killed; Zedekiah is tortured, blinded, and taken to Babylon. Zedekiah has been blind to righteousness and his demise is a reflection of a wicked lifestyle. The protective walls of Jerusalem are broken down.
25:11-17 Much of the city is taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar, only a few farmers and vinedressers are left (we can presume that these families might have retained protection from God for their faithfulness and righteous lifestyles). Everything with monetary value is taken or broken.
25:18-21 The captain of Nebuchadnezzar's guard takes the chief priest and second priest, doorkeepers of the House of God as well as the king's associates and heads of government. They are all put to death, "thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land."
25:22-24 Gedaliah is made governor over the people remaining in Judah. The poor were left in Judah; God promises that the mighty are brought down and the poor exalted. Nebuchadnezzar's disregard for them was actually a blessing. Gedaliah recognized Judah's current powerlessness. They best they could do as a small and broken nation was to not provoke Nebuchadnezzar.
25:-25-26 Gedaliah is killed by a member of the royal family, likely for his passive stance on their situation. God allowed Judah to be defeated, subdued. It was necessary and inevitable punishment and likely Gedaliah realized the nation needed to sit back and take it, learn from it, before being able to move on from it. Others decide to plan an uprising against Egypt. Gedaliah knew that until Judah righted itself with God, it would not prevail.
25:27-30 Jehoiachin finds favor with Nebuchadnezzar. After thirty seven years in captivity, Jehoiachin is released from prison. He begins to be treated kindly, fed well and clothed. Perhaps Jehoiachin righted himself with God, "And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life". Each day we are willing to be with God, there is a regular portion for us... all the days of our lives. We can count on God's provision, tailored specifically to our individual selves - but provision comes through the tunnel of faith and righteousness.
