2 Kings chapter .xxiiij.
¶ In his days came Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon, and Iehoakim became his servant three years, and then turned and rebelled against him.
And the LORD sent upon him men of war out of Galdey, out of Siria, out of the Moabites, and from the children of Ammon: and sent them into Iuda, to destroy it, according to the saying of the LORD which he spake by his servants the Prophets.
Only at the bidding of the LORD happened it so to Iuda, to put them out of his sight, for the sin of Manasseh according to all he did:
and for the innocent blood that he shed and filled Ierusalem with innocent blood, which the LORD would not forgive.
The rest of the deeds of Iehoakim and all he did, are written in the chronicles of the kings of Iuda.
And Iehoakim laid him to sleep with his fathers, and Iehoacin his son reigned in his stead.
But the king of Egypt came now no more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
¶ Iehoacin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and reigned in Ierusalem three months. His mother's name was Nehustha the daughter of Elnathan of Ierusalem.
And he did that displeased the eyes of the LORD in all points as his father did.
In his time came the servants of Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon, to Ierusalem and the city was besieged.
And Nabuchodonozor came to the city as his servants were yet a besieging of it.
And Iehoacin the king of Iuda came out to the king of Babylon, with his mother, his servants, his lords and his chamberlains. And the king of Babylon took him, in the eighth year of his reign.
And he carried out thence all the treasure of the house of the LORD, and the treasure of the king's house, and brake all the vessels of gold which Salomon king of Israel had made, in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
And he carried away all Ierusalem, and all the lords and all the men of might, to the number of ten thousand into captivity and all craftsmen and Ioiners, none remaining save the poor people of the land.
And he carried away Iehoacin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the kings wives, and his chamberlains, and the mighty of the land carried he away from Ierusalem to Babylon.
And all the men of activity to the number of seven thousand, and craftsmen and joiners a thousand, all strong and apt for war, did the king of Babylon bring to Babylon to dwell.
And the king of Babylon made Mathaniah his father's brother, king in his stead, and changed his name and called him Zedekiah.
Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to reign and he reigned an eleven year in Ierusalem. His mother's name was Hamital the daughter of Ieremiah of Lobnah.
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, in all points like to Iehoakim.
For through the wrath of the LORD it so chanced to Ierusalem and Iuda, until he had cast them out of his sight. And the said Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Praise the Everlasting Lord for His Faithful Word.