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BACKGROUND:

king period known for
Josiah 640 - 609 bc (31 years- Jeremiah came in the 13th yr of his reign)
  • Came to the throne at 8 yrs old, ruling for 31 yrs
  • One of the most Godly kings in all of Judah despite inheriting a throne where corruption was its worst ever in the 400 year history of Judah.
  • Reinstated God's law as Judah's way of life and worshipped the Lord in the restored temple.
  • 2 Ki 23:25 - "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with the Law of Moses."
Jehoahaz 609 bc (3 months)
  • Son of Josiah who reigned only 3 months
  • He chose evil !
  • Pharoah of Egypt took Jehoahaz captive and Jehoahaz died in captivity
  • During this time, Babylon becomes a world power
Jehoiakim 609 - 597 bc (11 years)
  • Put on the throne by Egypt, while his brother Jehoahaz was in prison in Egypt
  • First, Jehoiakim was a puppet king under Egypt and then under Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon
  • Burned the scroll of God's word dictated by Jeremiah.
  • He revolted against Nebuchadnezzar and was carried off and died in captivity
Jehoiachin 597 bc (3 months)
  • Grandson of Josiah
  • He was a political prisoner in Babylon for 37 yrs.
  • He was then treated kindly, treated as royalty and dining with the king.
Zedekiah 597 - 586 bc (11 years)
  • Son of Josiah, the third son to reign.
  • For 2 yrs, Babylon laid seige outside the city to cause a famine
  • Main portion of people had been carried off to Babylon
  • Jeremiah pleaded with Zedekiah to submit to Babylon and be carried off into captivity
  • Zedekiah imprisons Jeremiah
  • Zedekiah follows the advice of Egypt and rebels against Babylon
  • Jeremiah prophesies 70 yrs of exile
  • Zedekiah's sons were slain before his eyes and his own eyes were put out and he was carried in chains to Babylon.
None 586 bc
  • The end of the 510 yr Jewish kingdom begun under Saul and, at its apex, under King David.

THE SUFFERING (some information provided by Rich Vincent, Singles minister, College Park Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN):



THE RESPONSE (some information provided by Rich Vincent, Singles minister, College Park Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN):


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