Looking for Jeremiah

JLG · Mar 3, 2023

64) Looking for Jeremiah

2 Chronicles 34:33

And Josiah
יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֜הוּ (yō·šî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2977: Josiah -- 'Yah supports', two Israelites

removed
וַיָּ֨סַר (way·yā·sar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the abominations
הַתּוֹעֵב֗וֹת (hat·tō·w·‘ê·ḇō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol

from all
מִֽכָּל־ (mik·kāl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the lands
הָאֲרָצוֹת֮ (hā·’ă·rā·ṣō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 776: Earth, land

belonging to the Israelites,
לִבְנֵ֣י (liḇ·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

and he required everyone
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

in Israel
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (bə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

to serve
וַֽיַּעֲבֵ֗ד (way·ya·‘ă·ḇêḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

their God.
אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Throughout
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

his reign
יָמָ֕יו (yā·māw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

they did not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

turn aside
סָ֔רוּ (sā·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

from following
מֵֽאַחֲרֵ֕י (mê·’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition-m
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

the LORD,
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the God
אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of their fathers.
אֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

Thus Josiah did his job for God!
He destroyed everything in connection with spiritual prostitution with other gods!
And he had people served God!
But it was during his reign!
As soon as he died and was replaced by another king everything would return to normality that is spiritual prostitution!
It shows the importance for God's word to reach the mind and the heart!
It implies studying the bible daily and speaking about it as much as possible!
And thus developping a strong relationship to God!
Otherwise why would God care about us?

JLG · Mar 3, 2023

65) Looking for Jeremiah

2 Chronicles 35

In this chapter we are told that the king of Egypt comes to fight against Judah!
And Josiah goes against him!
And the king of Egypt sends him a message to tell him to stop fighting against him because God has sent him against Judah!
But Josiah doesn't listen to him!
And he is wounded during the battle and dies!
It is a strange end for a king who tried to follow God in the best possible way!
And at the end he opposes God!
Maybe there are things we are not told!
But it is difficult to have power and stay faithful to God!

JLG · Mar 4, 2023

66) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:12

Go,
הָלֹ֡ךְ (hā·lōḵ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

proclaim
וְקָֽרָאתָ֩ (wə·qā·rā·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

this
הָאֵ֜לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

message
הַדְּבָרִ֨ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

toward the north:
צָפ֗וֹנָה (ṣā·p̄ō·w·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter

‘Return,
שׁ֣וּבָה (šū·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

O faithless
מְשֻׁבָ֤ה (mə·šu·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4878: Turning back, apostasy

Israel,’
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

‘I will no longer
לֽוֹא־ (lō·w-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

look on you with anger,
אַפִּ֥יל (’ap·pîl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I [am]
אֲנִי֙ (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

merciful,’
חָסִ֤יד (ḥā·sîḏ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2623: Kind, pious

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

‘I will not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be angry
אֶטּ֖וֹר (’eṭ·ṭō·wr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5201: To guard, to cherish

forever.
לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (lə·‘ō·w·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

God tells Israel there is a time for anger!
And there is a time for forgetting!
But Israel must change its attitude!
And come back to God!
Otherwise Israel won't be forgotten!
But it happened so many times!
So it is normal that the price to pay is every time higher!
But there is a limit!
God's patience doesn't last forever!
Same for mankind!

JLG · Mar 5, 2023

67) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:13

Only
אַ֚ךְ (’aḵ)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

acknowledge
דְּעִ֣י (də·‘î)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

your guilt,
עֲוֺנֵ֔ךְ (‘ă·wō·nêḵ)
Noun - common singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

that
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you have rebelled
פָּשָׁ֑עַתְּ (pā·šā·‘at)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 6586: To break away, trespass, apostatize, quarrel

against the LORD
בַּיהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God.
אֱלֹהַ֖יִךְ (’ĕ·lō·ha·yiḵ)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

You have scattered
וַתְּפַזְּרִ֨י (wat·tə·p̄az·zə·rî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 6340: To scatter

your favors
דְּרָכַ֜יִךְ (də·rā·ḵa·yiḵ)
Noun - common plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

to foreign [gods]
לַזָּרִ֗ים (laz·zā·rîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2114: To turn aside, to be a, foreigner, strange, profane, to commit adultery

under
תַּ֚חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

green
רַעֲנָ֔ן (ra·‘ă·nān)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7488: Verdant, new, prosperous

tree
עֵ֣ץ (‘êṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

and have not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obeyed
שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם (šə·ma‘·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

My voice,’”
וּבְקוֹלִ֥י (ū·ḇə·qō·w·lî)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהֹוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

God asks Israel to acknowledge its guilt and rebellion against God!
And its spiritual prostitution with other gods!
It seems to be simple!
But when you get used to doing it one way it is difficult to change!
That's why it is important to do it the right way and keep it that way!
Then we may grow in the search of the truth!
Thus the truth is a way we must keep going on!
And the fact it is easier to go on other ways indicates the right way!

JLG · Mar 9, 2023

68) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:14

“Return,
שׁ֣וּבוּ (šū·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

O faithless
שׁוֹבָבִים֙ (šō·w·ḇā·ḇîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7726: Turning back, recusant, apostate

children,”
בָנִ֤ים (ḇā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

“for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I
אָנֹכִ֖י (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

am your master,
בָּעַ֣לְתִּי (bā·‘al·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1166: To be master, to marry

and I will take
וְלָקַחְתִּ֨י (wə·lā·qaḥ·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3947: To take

you—
אֶתְכֶ֜ם (’eṯ·ḵem)
Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

one
אֶחָ֣ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

from a city
מֵעִ֗יר (mê·‘îr)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

and two
וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ (ū·šə·na·yim)
Conjunctive waw | Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

from a family—
מִמִּשְׁפָּחָ֔ה (mim·miš·pā·ḥāh)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people

and bring
וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י (wə·hê·ḇê·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

you
אֶתְכֶ֖ם (’eṯ·ḵem)
Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

to Zion.
צִיּֽוֹן׃ (ṣî·yō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6726: Zion -- a mountain in Jerusalem, also a name for Jerusalem

Faithless children!
Master!
And the verb is to master or to marry!
In all cases, it indicates a strong relationship!
It also warns us about our relationship to God!
Do we have a strong relationship to God?
Do we make it grow?
Or is it weak?
And do we sometimes think about God's requirements?
Do we think a weak relationship is enough for God to remember us orv to forget us when God's kingdom comes?

JLG · Mar 11, 2023

69) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:15

Then I will give
וְנָתַתִּ֥י (wə·nā·ṯat·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you
אֶתְכֶ֖ם (’eṯ·ḵem)
Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

shepherds
רֹעִ֖ים (rō·‘îm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

after
לָכֶ֛ם (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

My own heart,
כְּלִבִּ֑י (kə·lib·bî)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

who will feed
וְרָע֥וּ (wə·rā·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

you with knowledge
דֵּעָ֥ה (dê·‘āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1844: Knowledge

and understanding.
וְהַשְׂכֵּֽיל׃ (wə·haś·kêl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7919: To be, circumspect, intelligent

First we must do the first step!
Then God will do the second one!
That's how a special relationship to God start!
I will give you shepherds after my own heart!
They will feed you with knowledge and understanding!
Yes, that's what we get in the Bible!
But we must listen to them!
Listen to their message!
Absorb it!
Again and again!
And tell others about it!
Then it keeps growing!
And it becomes ours!

JLG · Mar 13, 2023

70) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:16,17
These verses say that God will replace the ark of God by God's temple in Jerusalem!

At that
הַהִ֗יא (ha·hî)
Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

time
בָּעֵ֣ת (bā·‘êṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

Jerusalem
לִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (lî·rū·šā·lim)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

will be called
יִקְרְא֤וּ (yiq·rə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

The Throne
כִּסֵּ֣א (kis·sê)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3678: Seat of honor, throne

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and all
כָֽל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the nations
הַגּוֹיִ֛ם (hag·gō·w·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

will be gathered
וְנִקְוּ֨וּ (wə·niqw·wū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6960: To bind together, collect, to expect

in Jerusalem
לִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (lî·rū·šā·lim)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

to [honor]
אֵלֶ֧יהָ (’ê·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the name
לְשֵׁ֥ם (lə·šêm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

of the LORD.
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

They will no longer
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

follow
יֵלְכ֣וּ (yê·lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

the stubbornness
שְׁרִר֖וּת (šə·ri·rūṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8307: Firmness, stubbornness

of their evil
הָרָֽע׃ (hā·rā‘)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

hearts.
לִבָּ֥ם (lib·bām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

They will no longer follow the stubborness of their evil hearts!
Destruction and reconstruction of Jerusalem!
It happened twice!
Then when God's kingdom comes there will be the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven and God and Jesus are its temple!
That will be the big day!
Through man's history we could see many repetitions!
But there won't be any day like that!

JLG · Apr 26, 2023

71) Looking for Jeremiah

Let’s remember what happened when Jerusalem was first destroyed!

How King Nebuchadnezzar Destroyed Jerusalem in 587 B.C. – HistoryVille

Nebuchadnezzar barricaded Jerusalem for nearly two years and eventually breached the walls of the city in the month of Tammuz, that is, July 587 B.C.

www.thehistoryville.com

In December 589 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, invaded Jerusalem and began a siege against King Zedekiah of Judah and the inhabitants of jerusalem. The siege lasted for more than a year as the Jews endured the effects of the blockade. Morality among the Jews plummeted as famine set in and because of their poor state, various plagues began to afflict them.

Finally, the food supply was depleted and their misery increased, as many were reduced to cannibalism. Their resistance didn’t last for long as the Babylonians broke through the walls, pillaged, and looted the city in July 587 BC. Many Jews were murdered.

The walls, the temple, and the whole city were razed to the ground. Those who were not slaughtered were taken as captives to babylon. The poor ones were, however, left behind. Everything that remained of Jerusalem was ash and ruins.

JLG · Apr 26, 2023

72) Looking for Jeremiah

But why did the Jews experience such awful suffering and devastation? How and why did the King of Babylon destroy Jerusalem? First, let’s look at the life of the man, Nebuchadnezzar.

The Man Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar is popularly known as the destroyer of Solomon’s Temple. He was also the King of Babylon. He was the son of Nabopolassar the Chaldean, who ruled over much of the civilised world from 604 to 562 BC.

His original name was Nebuchadrezza, which means “O god Nabu, preserve my firstborn son.” However, when Jerusalem was sacked in 587 BC, the Israelites made fun of the king’s name and renamed it Nebuchadnezzar, meaning “O god Nabu, protect my jackass”.

The King of Babylon is infamous for destroying the jewish presence in the Land of Israel. He then exiled the vast majority of its citizens to Babylon, after he had desecrated and burnt the nation’s Holy Temple.

JLG · Apr 26, 2023

73) Looking for Jeremiah

Ascension to Power

King Nebuchadnezzar II was the longest reigned and most powerful ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who allegedly built the first public museum in world history in his royal palace in Babylon and, of course, the Hanging Gardens of babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World, which he built for his wife, the Median Queen Amytis because she missed the green hills and valleys of her country.

One of the greatest generals in history, King Alexander the Great of Macedonia would later die in this same royal palace, 239 years after King Nebuchadnezzar’s death, on June 11, 323 BC.

Despite being a man of diminutive height, Nebuchadnezzar had great ambitions. He dreamt of conquering the world and made no attempt to keep it secret. As a prince, he was frequently mocked as to how a short man could reign over the entire world.

Yet, with the ferocity of a roaring lion, Nebuchadnezzar came to power and struck terror in the hearts of the people. As his father, King Nabopolassar’s chief military officer he was no stranger to the art of war and cruelty. According to the Talmud, during his reign, nebuchadnezzar cast such terror upon men that when he died and appeared in hell, extreme fear overwhelmed those who were there, fearing that he had come to impose his rule over them.

Nebuchadnezzar declared himself a god, “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High,” Isaiah 14:14. Before long he had become the world superpower. His most fearsome general, Nebuzaradan carved the king’s image unto his chariot and trembled in fear of his master even when he was far away.

Not only was the whole human world subject to nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah’s prophecy put forth the surprising revelation that he was also granted authority over the animal kingdom: “Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subjectv to him,” Jeremiah 27:6.

Thus, Nebuchadnezzar was said to ride on the back of a male lion as a snake was tied to its head.

JLG · Apr 26, 2023

74) Looking for Jeremiah

Nebuchadnezzar conquers Israel

During the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar conquered and destroyed the fortified city of Ashkelon, after which he consolidated his authority over the land of Israel.

All the kings of Syria and Israel, including Jehoiakim of Judah, were compelled to pay tribute to nebuchadnezzar. This was a bitter pill for Jehoiakim to swallow as he had been appointed by the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho, a sworn enemy of Nebuchadnezzar.

In 598 BC, after three years of submission to Nebuchadnezzar, King Jehoikim attempted to shake off the yoke of Babylon and pledge allegiance to Egypt. The revolt was suppressed and Jehoiakim was bound in chains, prepared to be taken to babylon. However, he died a horrible death after being dragged through the streets outside Jerusalem, where his corpse was thrown. Jehoiakim’s death fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah:

“Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:”They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’

“He will have the burial of a donkey - dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.” - Jeremiah 22:18-19.

After Jehoiakim’s death, his eighteen-year-old son, Jehoiachin became the king of Judah. However, the teenage king reigned for just three months as his reign was cut short when Nebuchadnezzar came down to Jerusalem. He captured all of the country’s officials and tens of thousands of others. He also plundered all the treasures of Solomon’s Temple and the King’s Palace and took them with him to Babylon.

Then nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah to the throne, and subjugated the neighbouring empires - including Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon - to Zedekiah. His reign lasted 11 years, before he, too, conspired with the Egyptians and rebelled against Babylon, despite his promise to remain loyal to Nebuchadnezzar.

JLG · Apr 27, 2023

75) Looking for Jeremiah

A Crushing Response to Zedekiah’s Rebellion

Nebuchadnezzar had always been cautious of conflict with Israel and its Holy Temple, as he did not believe that God would sanction the destruction of Jerusalem.

In order to establish the divine intention, Nebuchadnezzar, after he had enlisted the services of a sorcerer, fired several arrows in the direction of different nations. All the arrows he fired split, apart from the one in the direction of Jerusalem. He then perceived it as a sign that he would be victorious.

Nevertheless, he was worried that he would meet the same fate as Sennacherib, the Assyrian king who had miraculously vanquished several years earlier, so he set up his headquarters in Riblah, present-day Syria near the border with Lebanon and he sent his general, Nebuzaradan to destroy Judah.

Nebuchadnezzar warned Nebuzaradan that he would face defeat if he allowed the Jews to pray and repent of their evil ways. He also instructed him to drive them out as if they were being hunted by a lion and not to stop until they reached the rivers of Babylon.

JLG · Apr 27, 2023

76) Looking for Jeremiah

Nebuchadnezzar Destroys Jerusalem

Nebuchadnezzar barricaded Jerusalem for nearly two years and eventually breached the walls of the city in the month of Tammuz, that is, July 587 BC.

He had arrayed Nebuzaradan with 300 mules loaded with iron axes that could cut iron. All, but one, were destroyed in an effort to open one of the gates of Jerusalem. While briefly considering the withdrawal from the city, Nebuzaradan made a final attempt with the remaining axe as the gates gave way on July 7.

On July 9, 587 BC, Nebuzaradan then went on to destroy the Holy Temple, the palace of the King, and all its dwellings by fire. While Zedekiah initially managed to escape through an underground passage leading to Jericho, he was captured, after his soldiers had deserted him, and taken away to appear before Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah.

JLG · Apr 28, 2023

77) Looking for Jeremiah

Exile to Babylon

Once there, the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before him, blinded him, tied him in chains, and sent him as a prisoner to Babylon. Then he took King Solomon’s throne and attempted to preside over Zedekiah’s fate sitting on it, but he was stopped from doing so. When the Jews arrived in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar spared no effort to humiliate them. He made them march down the riverbank, bound and naked, while he watched from a royal ship on the water. Among the exiles were Jewish youths whose beauty was so striking. Nebuchadnezzar had them executed and their bodies mutilated and trampled underfoot to prevent the Chaldean women from seeing their beauty and desiring it. A daring attempt by some 80,000 young priests to escape ended in tragedy.

JLG · Apr 28, 2023

78) Looking for Jeremiah

The Dreams and idolatry of Nebuchadnezzar

The stories concerning Nebuchadnezzar’s attempts to ensnare the Jews in the practice of idolatry, the insanity that followed him for seven years, his good acts toward the Jewish poor in his later years, and other narratives have been chronicled in diverse writings. You can read more about Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible book of Daniel.

JLG · Apr 28, 2023

79) Looking for Jeremiah

The Death of Nebuchadnezzar

The prophet Daniel had been one of Nebuchadnezzar’s trusted advisors during the reign of the king and was elevated to a new place of influence because of his ability to interpret dreams.

One day, Nebuchadnezzar woke up from one of his dreams, frightened. He found himself in a dream living like a farm animal, eating grass from the field, and losing his ability to reason. He then asked Daniel for an interpretation. Daniel told him that he would quickly fall into an animal-like life and that the only way to keep his mental health from failing was to offer charity.

Nebuchadnezzar opened his storehouses and for a year gave charity to those who wanted it most, especially the recently-exiled Jews.

As the year went by, he grew resentful and closed his storehouses, thereby stopping the giving of the charity, because his mental health had shown no decline.

Nebuchadnezzar then began to behave like an animal and had to be removed from the throne. He was in his state for seven years. His son, Evil-Merodach (Amel-Mardul) ruled in his place as regent during the period of Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity. After the seven years had elapsed, Nebuchadnezzar returned to his senses and emerged from his exile where he found his son seated on his throne. Immediately, Evil-Merodach was thrown into prison for life and held responsible for what had happened to his father. He remained there until the death of Nebuchadnezzar in 562 BC.

As long as Nebuchadnezzar lived, no man smiled. Therefore, at his death, the entire world burst forth in triumphant jubilation.

Upon the death of his father, the Babylonian advisors asked Evil-Merodach to take up his rightful place, which he declined until he was certain his father was really dead. The advisors then exhume Nebuchadnezzar’s body and then proceeded to stab the corpse repeatedly beforev dragging it through the streets of Babylon. This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy:

“But you are cast youtube of your grave like a rejected branch, covered by those slain with the sword, and dumped into a rocky pit, like a carcass trampled underfoot.” Isaiah 14:19

JLG · Apr 28, 2023

Map of the Twelve Tribes of Israel Joshua divides the land 1400 BC

JLG · Apr 28, 2023

Divided Kingdom of Northern Israel and Judah Map

JLG · Apr 28, 2023

https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/israel_map2.htm

JLG · Apr 29, 2023

80) Looking for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 3:18

In those

הָהֵ֔מָּה (hā·hêm·māh)

Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural

Strong's 1992: They

days

בַּיָּמִ֣ים (bay·yā·mîm)

Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural

Strong's 3117: A day

the house

בֵית־ (ḇêṯ-)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 1004: A house

of Judah

יְהוּדָ֖ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

will walk

יֵלְכ֥וּ (yê·lə·ḵū)

Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

with

עַל־ (‘al-)

Preposition

Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the house

בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)

Noun - masculine singular construct

Strong's 1004: A house

of Israel,

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)

Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

and they will come

וְיָבֹ֤אוּ (wə·yā·ḇō·’ū)

Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural

Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

together

יַחְדָּו֙ (yaḥ·dāw)

Adverb

Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly

from the land

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ)

Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct

Strong's 776: Earth, land

of the north

צָפ֔וֹן (ṣā·p̄ō·wn)

Noun - feminine singular

Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter

to

עַל־ (‘al-)

Preposition

Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the land

הָאָ֕רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)

Article | Noun - feminine singular

Strong's 776: Earth, land

I have given your ancestors

אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·ḵem)

Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural

Strong's 1: Father

as an inheritance.

הִנְחַ֖לְתִּי (hin·ḥal·tî)

Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular

Strong's 5157: To inherit, to occupy, to bequeath, distribute, instate

Judah and Israel will walk together!

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