2 Kings 25:1

Authorized King James Version

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And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

Original Language Analysis

וַיְהִי֩ H1961
וַיְהִי֩
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 23
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בִשְׁנַ֨ת year H8141
בִשְׁנַ֨ת year
Strong's: H8141
Word #: 2 of 23
a year (as a revolution of time)
הַתְּשִׁיעִ֜ית And it came to pass in the ninth H8671
הַתְּשִׁיעִ֜ית And it came to pass in the ninth
Strong's: H8671
Word #: 3 of 23
ninth
לְמָלְכ֗וֹ of his reign H4427
לְמָלְכ֗וֹ of his reign
Strong's: H4427
Word #: 4 of 23
to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel
לַחֹדֶשׁ֒ day of the month H2320
לַחֹדֶשׁ֒ day of the month
Strong's: H2320
Word #: 5 of 23
the new moon; by implication, a month
הָֽעֲשִׂירִי֮ in the tenth H6224
הָֽעֲשִׂירִי֮ in the tenth
Strong's: H6224
Word #: 6 of 23
tenth; by abbreviation, tenth month or (feminine) part
בֶּֽעָשׂ֣וֹר in the tenth H6218
בֶּֽעָשׂ֣וֹר in the tenth
Strong's: H6218
Word #: 7 of 23
ten; by abbreviated form ten strings, and so a decachord
לַחֹדֶשׁ֒ day of the month H2320
לַחֹדֶשׁ֒ day of the month
Strong's: H2320
Word #: 8 of 23
the new moon; by implication, a month
בָּ֠א came H935
בָּ֠א came
Strong's: H935
Word #: 9 of 23
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
נְבֻֽכַדְנֶאצַּ֨ר that Nebuchadnezzar H5019
נְבֻֽכַדְנֶאצַּ֨ר that Nebuchadnezzar
Strong's: H5019
Word #: 10 of 23
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
מֶֽלֶךְ king H4428
מֶֽלֶךְ king
Strong's: H4428
Word #: 11 of 23
a king
בָּבֶ֜ל of Babylon H894
בָּבֶ֜ל of Babylon
Strong's: H894
Word #: 12 of 23
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
ה֧וּא H1931
ה֧וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 13 of 23
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
וְכָל H3605
וְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 14 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חֵיל֛וֹ he and all his host H2428
חֵיל֛וֹ he and all his host
Strong's: H2428
Word #: 15 of 23
probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 16 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם against Jerusalem H3389
יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם against Jerusalem
Strong's: H3389
Word #: 17 of 23
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
וַיִּ֣חַן and pitched H2583
וַיִּ֣חַן and pitched
Strong's: H2583
Word #: 18 of 23
properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch a tent; generally to encamp (for abode or s
עָלֶ֑יהָ H5921
עָלֶ֑יהָ
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 19 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וַיִּבְנ֥וּ against it and they built H1129
וַיִּבְנ֥וּ against it and they built
Strong's: H1129
Word #: 20 of 23
to build (literally and figuratively)
עָלֶ֖יהָ H5921
עָלֶ֖יהָ
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 21 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
דָּיֵ֥ק forts H1785
דָּיֵ֥ק forts
Strong's: H1785
Word #: 22 of 23
a battering-tower
סָבִֽיב׃ against it round about H5439
סָבִֽיב׃ against it round about
Strong's: H5439
Word #: 23 of 23
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around

Analysis & Commentary

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 25: Covenant curses fulfilled completely. The reference to kingship reminds readers that all human authority is subordinate to God's ultimate kingship. As Judah approaches exile, these events fulfill prophetic warnings and demonstrate that God's patience with covenant violation is not infinite.

The narrative demonstrates God's justice in judging covenant unfaithfulness while maintaining His ultimate purposes for redemption.

Historical Context

Historical Setting: 2 Kings 25 takes place during the final collapse of Judah and Babylonian exile, early 6th century BCE, 605-586 BCE. The chapter's theme (Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction) reflects the historical reality of the final collapse of Judah, destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and exile to Babylon as covenant curses are fully realized. Archaeological evidence from this period includes royal inscriptions, administrative documents, and material culture that corroborate the biblical account while providing additional context for understanding the political and social dynamics at work.

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