By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. By the ninth dayThe phrase "ninth day" is significant in the Hebrew calendar, marking a specific point in time that is often associated with judgment or completion. In the context of 2 Kings 25, this day marks a critical moment in the siege of Jerusalem. The number nine in biblical numerology often symbolizes finality or divine completeness, which is fitting as this day represents the culmination of the city's suffering under siege. of the fourth month
The fourth month in the Hebrew calendar is Tammuz, a time that traditionally marks the beginning of summer. Historically, this period was associated with agricultural activities, but here it is marked by famine and despair. The mention of the fourth month underscores the unnatural and dire circumstances faced by the people, as this should have been a time of growth and harvest, yet it is instead a time of scarcity and suffering. the famine in the city
Famine, in biblical terms, is often a sign of divine judgment or a call to repentance. The Hebrew word for famine, "רָעָב" (ra'av), conveys not just a lack of food but a deep, pervasive hunger that affects every aspect of life. In the context of Jerusalem, this famine is a direct result of the Babylonian siege, highlighting the physical and spiritual desolation of the city. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments. was so severe
The severity of the famine is emphasized to convey the extreme conditions faced by the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The Hebrew root "חָזַק" (chazaq) can mean strong or severe, indicating that the famine was not just a lack of food but an overwhelming force that gripped the city. This severity is a reflection of the intense pressure and suffering experienced by the people, underscoring the dire situation and the need for divine intervention. that the people of the land
This phrase refers to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah, emphasizing their collective identity and shared suffering. The "people of the land" is a term often used to describe the common folk, those who are directly affected by the events unfolding. It highlights the widespread impact of the famine, affecting every stratum of society and uniting them in their desperation. had no food
The absence of food is the ultimate expression of the city's plight. In Hebrew, "אֵין לֶחֶם" (ein lechem) literally means "no bread," symbolizing not just physical sustenance but also spiritual nourishment. Bread is a staple in biblical times, representing life and provision. The lack of food signifies a complete breakdown of normal life and a profound need for God's provision and mercy. This dire situation calls the people to recognize their dependence on God and to seek His face in their time of need. Persons / Places / Events 1. JerusalemThe capital city of Judah, under siege by the Babylonians, leading to severe famine. 2. BabyloniansThe empire led by King Nebuchadnezzar, besieging Jerusalem as a judgment from God. 3. ZedekiahThe last king of Judah, whose reign ended with the fall of Jerusalem. 4. FamineA severe lack of food resulting from the prolonged siege, symbolizing God's judgment. 5. The Ninth Day of the Fourth MonthA specific time marker indicating the depth of the crisis during the siege. Teaching Points The Consequences of DisobedienceThe famine in Jerusalem was a direct result of the people's disobedience to God. This serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of turning away from God's commands. God's Sovereignty in JudgmentThe siege and resulting famine were not random events but were orchestrated by God as a fulfillment of His warnings. This underscores God's control over history and His faithfulness to His word. The Importance of RepentanceThe suffering in Jerusalem highlights the need for genuine repentance. Even in dire circumstances, turning back to God can lead to restoration and hope. Trusting God in Times of CrisisWhile the famine was a judgment, it also serves as a call to trust in God's provision and sovereignty, even when circumstances seem dire. The Role of ProphecyThe events in 2 Kings 25:3 fulfill earlier prophecies, demonstrating the reliability of God's word and the importance of heeding prophetic warnings. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the famine in Jerusalem illustrate the consequences of disobedience to God, and what can we learn from this for our own lives? 2. In what ways does the siege of Jerusalem demonstrate God's sovereignty, and how can this understanding impact our trust in Him during difficult times? 3. How do the prophecies in Deuteronomy and Ezekiel relate to the events in 2 Kings 25:3, and what does this teach us about the importance of listening to God's warnings? 4. What role does repentance play in the account of Jerusalem's fall, and how can we apply this principle to our personal spiritual journey? 5. How can we find hope and assurance in God's word, even when facing situations that seem as dire as the famine in Jerusalem? Connections to Other Scriptures Lamentations 4:9-10Describes the horrors of the famine during the siege, providing a vivid picture of the suffering in Jerusalem. Jeremiah 52:6Offers a parallel account of the same event, emphasizing the severity of the famine. Deuteronomy 28:52-57Foretells the curses, including siege and famine, that would come upon Israel for disobedience. Ezekiel 4:16-17Prophecies about the scarcity of food and water during the siege, highlighting the fulfillment of God's warnings. People Ahikam, Babylonians, Careah, Elishama, Evilmerodach, Gedaliah, Ishmael, Jaazaniah, Jehoiachin, Johanan, Kareah, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan, Nethaniah, Seraiah, Shaphan, Solomon, Tanhumeth, Zedekiah, ZephaniahPlaces Arabah, Babylon, Egypt, Hamath, Jericho, Jerusalem, Mizpah, RiblahTopics Almost, Bread, Eat, Famine, Fourth, Month, Ninth, Prevailed, Severe, Sore, Store, TownDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 25:3 4438 eating 2 Kings 25:1-3 4823 famine, physical 2 Kings 25:1-4 5256 city 2 Kings 25:1-7 1429 prophecy, OT fulfilment 2 Kings 25:1-11 5529 sieges 2 Kings 25:1-12 7245 Judah, kingdom of 2 Kings 25:1-21 4215 Babylon
7217 exile, in Babylon 2 Kings 25:2-3 6702 peace, destruction Library The End
'1. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. 2. And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 3. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. 4. And the city was broken up, and all the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Last Agony
'In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. 2. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. 3. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarse-chim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture 'As Sodom'
'Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3. For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4. And it came to pass, in the ninth year of his reign, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica How those who Use Food Intemperately and those who Use it Sparingly are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 20.) Differently to be admonished are the gluttonous and the abstinent. For superfluity of speech, levity of conduct, and lechery accompany the former; but the latter often the sin of impatience, and often that of pride. For were it not the case that immoderate loquacity carries away the gluttonous, that rich man who is said to have fared sumptuously every day would not burn more sorely than elsewhere in his tongue, saying, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Backsliding.
"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away."--Hosea xiv. 4. There are two kinds of backsliders. Some have never been converted: they have gone through the form of joining a Christian community and claim to be backsliders; but they never have, if I may use the expression, "slid forward." They may talk of backsliding; but they have never really been born again. They need to be treated differently from real back-sliders--those who have been born of the incorruptible …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9 Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
1. The Greek word canon (originally a straight rod or pole, measuring-rod, then rule) denotes that collection of books which the churches receive as given by inspiration of God, and therefore as constituting for them a divine rule of faith and practice. To the books included in it the term canonical is applied. The Canon of the Old Testament, considered in reference to its constituent parts, was formed gradually; formed under divine superintendence by a process of growth extending through …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 25:3 NIV2 Kings 25:3 NLT2 Kings 25:3 ESV2 Kings 25:3 NASB2 Kings 25:3 KJV
2 Kings 25:3 Commentaries
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