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II Kings 25:3

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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.

Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 3

Ever since David's time Jerusalem had been a celebrated place, beautiful for situation and the joy of the whole earth: while the book of psalms lasts that name will sound great. In the New Testament we read much of it, when it was, as here, ripening again for its ruin. In the close of the Bible we read of a new Jerusalem. Every thing therefore that concerns Jerusalem is worthy our regard. In this chapter we have, I. The utter destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, the city besieged and taken (Kg2 25:1-4), the houses burnt (Kg2 25:8, Kg2 25:9), and wall broken down (Kg2 25:10), and the inhabitants carried away into captivity (Kg2 25:11, Kg2 25:12). The glory of Jerusalem was, 1. That it was the royal city, where were set "the thrones of the house of David;" but that glory has now departed, for the prince is made a most miserable prisoner, the seed royal is destroyed (Kg2 25:5-7), and the principal officers are put to death (Kg2 25:18-21). 2. That it was the holy city, where was the testimony of Israel; but that glory has departed, for Solomon's temple is burnt to the ground (Kg2 25:9) and the sacred vessels that remained are carried away to Babylon (Kg2 25:13-17). Thus has Jerusalem become as a widow, Lam 1:1. Ichabod - Where is the glory? II. The distraction and dispersion of the remnant that was left in Judah under Gedaliah (Kg2 25:22-26). III. The countenance which, after thirty-seven years' imprisonment, was given to Jehoiachin the captive king of Judah (Kg2 25:27-30).

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Ezekiel 5:12rank 3

A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them.

Leviticus 26:26rank 3

When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.

Jeremiah 38:2rank 3

“This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live.

Ezekiel 7:15rank 3

The sword is outside; plague and famine are within. Those in the country will die by the sword, and those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague.

Ezekiel 14:21rank 3

For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—in order to cut off from it both man and beast?

Jeremiah 52:6rank 3

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.

Jeremiah 37:21rank 2

So King Zedekiah gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread daily from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Zechariah 8:19rank 2

“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months will become times of joy and gladness, cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore you are to love both truth and peace.”

Ezekiel 5:10rank 2

As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’

Jeremiah 39:2rank 2

And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached.

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