Day 182 - Read 2 Kings 24-25
The Lord sent the enemies of Judah to destroy it because of the sins of Manasseh. Jehoiakim died and his son Jehoiachin, who was eighteen years old began to reign in his place. He reigned for three months. Jehoiachin gave himself over to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The treasures of the king and the treasures of the house of God were taken as the Lord had foretold. All men of valor were taken to Babylon. Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s twenty-one-year-old uncle was made king of Judah. His name was changed to Zedekiah. He reigned for eleven years. Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon besieged Jerusalem, gouged the eyes of Zedekiah, and exiled him to Babylon. Evil-merodach, the next king of Babylon, released Jehoiachin in his thirty-seventh year in exile.