2 Kings 25:1-7
25:1 a Siege ramps were characteristic of ancient Near Eastern warfare. Attackers built tall earthen ramps and towers to give them a more advantageous position (see Jer 52:14 b; Ezek 21:22 c).25:4 d Using battering rams (Ezek 4:2 e), the Babylonians broke down a section of Jerusalem’s wall and penetrated the city. At nightfall, King Zedekiah and the remaining troops escaped through the gate at the southeastern corner of the city into the Kidron Valley, attempting to reach the Jordan Valley.
25:6 f Riblah, formerly an Assyrian administrative center, served as Nebuchadnezzar’s battle headquarters, as it had for the Egyptians (23:33 g).
25:7 h gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes: Rebellious leaders were commonly blinded in the ancient Near East. However, Zedekiah’s blinding seems especially cruel; the last image he had was of his sons being slaughtered.
• True to the prophetic word, Zedekiah was taken into captivity, where he died (Jer 32:4-5 i; 34:3 j; 52:11 k; Ezek 12:11-14 l).
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