Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Put them to death at Riblah"
Text: Jeremiah 52:27
JUDGMENT OF THE LEADERS OF JUDAH
Nebuchadnezzar was determined to destroy all possible resistance from Judah. He arrested other key leaders.
“The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest,
Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.
He also took out of the city an officer who had charge of the men of war,
seven men of the king’s close associates who were found in the city,
the principal scribe of the army who mustered the people of the land,
and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the midst of the city.
And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took these and brought them
to the king of Babylon at Riblah. Then the king of Babylon struck them
and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath.
Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land.”
Jeremiah 52:24-27
1. “The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest,
and the three doorkeepers”
a) Arrests were made by Nebuzaradan.
b) The following were religious leaders:
i) Seraiah the chief priest.
ii) Zephaniah the second chief (deputy chief priest).
c) Three door keepers.
These were high-ranking religious officers (Levites).
2. “He also took out of the city an officer who had charge of the men of war,
seven men of the king’s close associates who were found in the city,
the principal scribe of the army who mustered the people of the land,
and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the midst of the city”
a) Military personnel were also arrested.
b) The officer in charge of the men of war.
c) Seven close associates of the king.
d) The principal scribe of the army who mustered people of the land
in times of emergency.
e) Sixty men who were in the city (their identities were not disclosed).
3. “And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took these
and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah”
a) Nebuzaradan brought all these people to Riblah.
b) They were brought to face judgment from Nebuchadnezzar.
4. “Then the king of Babylon struck them and put them to death at Riblah
in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land”
a) The king had only one verdict.
b) He found them guilty.
c) He sentenced all of them to death.
5. “Judah”
a) The Southern kingdom had come to a tragic end.
b) The remnant of Judah were exiled to Babylon.